Locate an Auto Repair Shop in Bow, New Hampshire

Bow, NH Car Consumer Discussions

tires

by melodyw on Sun Nov 16 04:01:06 PST 2008

The dealer is in Naperville Illinois. I finally caved after a little more research with tire dealers. One interesting story I was told was that during shipment the cars can be strapped down so tightly that the wheels bow outward. Haven’t a clue if anything I was told was accurate. I split the fee for 4 new tires and an alignment. Went for the Michlin brand tire. My car is now better than brand new in terms of a smooth ride. I even increased gas efficiency! However, I will not be taking my Lexus back to the dealer for any routine service and will be documenting all service and problems to CYA just in case of future issues with this or anything else. Good Luck! Melody

Re: UAW Contact with GM [jae5]

by 210delray on Thu Nov 13 11:00:26 PST 2008

You know, I was thinking. The domestic automakers received their first shot across the bow way back in the fall of 1973, when the Middle East oil spigots were turned off for us. That's 35 years ago, and I remember it well (didn't have a car then, fortunately). This means they knew that the days of the American love affair with the big sedan (those rear-wheel-drive V8 beasts with no "handling" to speak of) were "some day" going to end. But carmakers kicked and screamed and all we got was a rather weak CAFE law in 1975 that wasn't fundamentally changed until last year. Meanwhile the imports came in with a vengeance, starting with small cars and small pickups and gradually working up the food chain. In fact, 1975 was the year Toyota overtook VW as the number 1 import, and it never looked back. For all of this delay and denial (and not just about fuel economy but quality also), the Detroit 3 deserve a no-strings handout in 2008? Not if I had anything to say about it. "Some day" has arrived.

Re: [sixfive]

by kernick on Tue Nov 11 14:27:47 PST 2008

I wonder what you would think if you actually worked in one of the companies. I used to be an engineer who made materials for the Patriot missile. You move on. they axe the "man in charge", who may have been there about 2 weeks. Wagoner wasn't there just 2 weeks. I'm not earning several million $'s like he was, and surrounded by supposedly brilliant financial guys. Maybe he should have cut GM by 25%-50% of production jettisonning all the losing brands, when he took over. He did not make the correct decisions to get ahead of these issues, always reacting. Anyway the Captain or the President are responsible from Day 1. Take a look at that ship again and realize that I that it has the 50 megaton anchor of 50 years of bad decisions welded right to the bow. I can kind of agree. Wagoner may have taken over a ship that was doomed. He may not be responsible for the shape GM is in as it did take years of bad decisions and commitments to end up in this quandry. He voluntarily took the job, and since then he has been responsible - whether trying to plug the holes, or announcing "Abandon Ship". How is this years leadership going to turn that ship around in these times. I still don't understand why GM as a corporation - the corporate entity itself, not talking about the the plants and workers, has to survive. Why can't GM selloff the assets and divisions for whatever they get, to other corporations? Why can't these divisions then with new owners pick new suppliers if they wish, hire old union workers or new union workers, and hire new management with Toyota-like manufatcuring,and hire new designers and such? I wouldn't mind supporting a Chevy division owned and financed by GM, Buick might be owned by Microsoft, Pontiac could go to Boeing ... maybe each of these divisions is only worth a few million dollars. I'm sure a company like GE or Microsoft would gamble a few million to pickup the assets of a car company. Heck even people like Roger Penske or Bernie Ecclestein (or Stone?) from F1 would like a car company? GM or Ford should be allowed to fail, and someone can come in and setup an efficient operation. The alternative - to continue to overpay GM employees for their inefficent system, for mostly mediocre products, under the FALSE threat that this would drag down the economy, or Detroit is ridiculous. What you have is a bunch of people who make a lot of $ or have a lot invested in businesses, who will lose, lying to the public about the consequences. They have a lot to lose and are thus ttrying to make a case for us to continue their way of life. I'm sorry I don't live as good as they have or do, and do not feel like I need to support them and this wasteful system indefinitely, thru my taxes! :mad: :mad: Any of you who think GM and Ford need saving, let us know how much stock you're buying; or better yet get some bankers to give them a loan.

puckering top

by itsdee on Tue Nov 11 13:09:26 PST 2008

We have a 2003 convertible with a beige top. The fabric on the lower left side is heavily puckered. We had to replace a smashed broken rear glass (vandals.) I've noticed, a year later, that there is some black material showing on part of the window. I brought it to a different upholstery shop and said there is a hole in the bow for centering the window. He checked the dimensions and said it was about 3 inches off. He redrilled a new hole in order to adjust the window. Could this have been a manufacturer problem? Was the original puckering due to shrinkage and the shifting of the bow? The dealer saw it before it was brought to the 2nd upholsterer and was unable to help. Is there anyone else with the puckering problem or any problems with the top as I described?

no title

by sixfive on Tue Nov 11 11:24:14 PST 2008

"Let's put this in terms of GM being a ship and the executives of GM being the officers. The ship was in poor shape when the weather was good (economy growing), as it was sleaking water (losing money on daily operations and market-share declining). Now you're telling me the captain is surprised when the officers could see stormclouds gathering and a storm comes which is a normal occurrence (economic downturns occur every decade or 2). Yes it is bad storm, but the captain, officers and crew should have prepared for it. The consequences of bad leadership, planning, and execution are failure. They all need to go; we should not reward incompetence (or whatever you call it) and let it continue. " I wonder what you would think if you actually worked in one of the companies. The board essentially lvies by your creed, above. And so everytime an issue which is entrenched in 30 years of bad decisions comes to a head, they axe the "man in charge", who may have been there about 2 weeks. So now we have a bunch of short sighted CEO's who have to worry about next quarter rather than long term viability. It's this very shortsighted take on the world that has caused most of these problems in the first place. Take a look at that ship again and realize that i that it has the 50 megaton anchor of 50 years of bad decisions welded right to the bow. How is this years leadership going to turn that ship around in these times. Most everyone agrees they were turning for the better. The last person to blame is Wagoner. Blame the UAW and the crap designs and the beancounters. Don't blame the messenger.

my price from dealer

by gray11 on Mon Nov 10 09:24:38 PST 2008

Any one else price one recently? This is for 2008 with every option $47,250 plus tax, title, and dealer fee is the lowest possible price I can go which will still be a net loss to the store after commissions and related expenses to the transaction (assuming of course you still are requesting the XM radio…). can provide the following items/services in addition to that price: 1,000 mile / 30 day settings and inspection free of charge. 5,000 lube-oil-filter service free of charge. 2 Lexus key chains (one for you and your wife) Delivery of the vehicle to your home or business so you do not need to come back in to the store (with a Holiday bow on top!). A quality demonstration of the vehicle’s features for you and your wife conducted by an 18 year veteran Lexus Master Certified Product Consultant who will do an excellent job of continuing service after the sale.