Locate an Auto Repair Shop in Counselor, New Mexico

Counselor, NM Car Consumer Discussions

Re: I wasn't really in the market in the first place... [duke23]

by graphicguy on Thu Oct 02 05:50:49 PDT 2008

duke....this was a long time coming. 72 month loans...financing any warm body that walked into the showroom....rolling thousands of negative equity from an old car, into a new sled. Some of it is the consumer's fault. Some of it is the financial institutions fault. Some of it is the dealer's fault. I don't expect any dealer's sales person to be someone's "credit counselor". They're there to sell cars. Not to spoon feed a customer on the ill-advised transactions they're about to make. But, at some point, someone has to say...."hey, this is a risk we don't want to take". The credit institutions are finally saying that right now. It's a shame that someone has to be forced to see economic reality, but we're now at that point. The last stat I saw about the approval of new car loans has the dealerships saying they're getting approval for about 60% of applicants. That's down a whopping 30% from where they were a few months ago (90%). I expect that number to go even lower.

Re: G37 warranty [athens]

by brodway on Mon May 19 06:11:21 PDT 2008

Counselor, i'm not sure what the liability aspect of a claim has to do with dollars and cents of a lease, but there several flaws in your valuation analysis of purchasing versus leasing. You fail to state the obvious. Succintly, that the cost of driving a 1995 vehicle will obviously be significantly less than a vehicle 6-8 years younger. If you are ok driving a vehicle that long that is fine, but some of us prefer to drive a new vehicle every 24 to 36 months, and there is an inherent cost involved in doing so that your analysis fails to incorporate into the equation. Furthermore, if you chose to lease a vehicle that is 3-4 years old, which is now actually done and referred to as a second hand lease, the cost of such lease would be a fraction of the cost of a new vehicle. Your analysis fails to discount this as well. So if comparing apples to apples, let's consider the reduction of a lease expense vs. the loss of equity in an owned vehicle and run from there. I can go on and on, but its a mute point. Those who want to own, will always find an argument that owning is cheaper than leasing, but having done both on numerous occassions, i would say it's a toss up, and if you like driving a car for 10 years, then absolutely go ahead and purchase. I, for one enjoy the smell of a new car every 3 years and lean towards leasing when the numbers make sense.

Well, it's a Story...

by laurasdada on Tue Apr 29 14:29:30 PDT 2008

Since I've posted a couple of other types of stories here, and most didn't seem to mind, I'm at it again. I've posted this a couple of other places, so forgive me if it is redundant for anyone... Greetings! Just back from a road trip/family vacation to Washingmachine, DC. TL was flawless, packed to the gills with the four of us and detritus, encountering several traffic jams and some local driving, drove 1124 miles and averaged 49mph and 27 mpg. I'm sure y'all have been, but if not, I most highly recommend a trip to our Nation's Capitol. If nothing else, it reminded/reinforced that the idea, conception, governmental model and ideals of this country are just so right. I'll leave the execution of our ideals throughout history to your discussion. Where is George Washington when we need him? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you... Toured the Capitol Building, sat in the House Gallery and was entertained by a Representative from the Great State of South Carolina. Thank you, Rep. Barrett for a fun, enlightening time. Watched a resolution presented and objected to regarding The Delta Queen. Kids were getting fidgety, so had to leave before all the yeas and nays were tallied, it was a close race. Fabulous tour guide, Albert Caswell the "unofficial Poet Laureate" of the Capitol. Also, rode to the top of the Washington Monument, toured the Bureau of Engraving and Printing ("The buck starts here!") several Smithsonian Museums, showed the kids the White House. I had two very emotional moments, chilling, prideful, patriotic, depressing, scary...: First was at the National Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport. Go, do not miss this museum! One section of the museum was dominated by a large, familiar looking, shiny metal aircraft. As I drew closer, I noted the name: THE Enola Gay. Stopped me in my tracks, as a cold shudder engulfed my body. A show-stopper for me... The Second was the Vietnam Memorial. Crowded, beautiful, chilling, depressing, stunning, reverant. I would imagine any Baby-Boomer would have such feelings. I looked through the index for the name of my summer camp counselor who, if memory servers, received a draft number in the 30s that summer oh so long ago. To this day, I remember his name, the look on his face when he received his number. Much to my relief, his name was not on the wall. "Tin soldiers and Nixon coming, we're finally on our own..." Also visited the WWII and Korean monuments which were also sobering, but Vietnam was, unfortunately, "my war." Stopped in front of the IRS building and booed rather loudly. Stayed in Landover, MD. Took the T, I mean Metro, into the city daily. A relatively clean, efficient subway system. One funny note: Each day the Metro would go by RFK stadium just before going underground. ONe day it appeared that there was a tractor-trailer school training future 18-wheel drivers in the parking lot of RFK. The next day, one of the very tall light towers was on the ground in that same parking lot, no sign of the tractor-trailer folks! Great vacation, so much to see and do. Almost all free, but you do need tickets for the Washington Monument tour, Capitol and Bureau of Engraving. All worth it. Go, even if you've gone before.

To expound on my prior post

by laurasdada on Mon Apr 28 14:19:23 PDT 2008

Greetings! Just back from a road trip/family vacation to Washingmachine, DC. TL was flawless, packed to the gills with the four of us and detritus, encountering several traffic jams and some local driving, drove 1124 miles and averaged 49mph and 27 mpg. I'm sure y'all have been, but if not, I most highly recommend a trip to our Nation's Capitol. If nothing else, it reminded/reinforced that the idea, conception, governmental model and ideals of this country are just so right. I'll leave the execution of our ideals throughout history to your discussion. Where is George Washington when we need him? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you... Toured the Capitol Building, sat in the House Gallery and was entertained by a Representative from the Great State of South Carolina. Thank you, Rep. Barrett for a fun, enlightening time. Watched a resolution presented and objected to regarding The Delta Queen. Kids were getting fidgety, so had to leave before all the yeas and nays were tallied, it was a close race. Fabulous tour guide, Albert Caswell the "unofficial Poet Laureate" of the Capitol. Also, rode to the top of the Washington Monument, toured the Bureau of Engraving and Printing ("The buck starts here!") several Smithsonian Museums, showed the kids the White House. I had two very emotional moments, chilling, prideful, patriotic, depressing, scary...: First was at the National Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport. Go, do not miss this museum! One section of the museum was dominated by a large, familiar looking, shiny metal aircraft. As I drew closer, I noted the name: THE Enola Gay. Stopped me in my tracks, as a cold shudder engulfed my body. A show-stopper for me... The Second was the Vietnam Memorial. Crowded, beautiful, chilling, depressing, stunning, reverant. I would imagine any Baby-Boomer would have such feelings. I looked through the index for the name of my summer camp counselor who, if memory servers, received a draft number in the 30s that summer oh so long ago. To this day, I remember his name, the look on his face when he received his number. Much to my relief, his name was not on the wall. "Tin soldiers and Nixon coming, we're finally on our own..." Also visited the WWII and Korean monuments which were also sobering, but Vietnam was, unfortunately, "my war." Stopped in front of the IRS building and booed rather loudly. Stayed in Landover, MD. Took the T, I mean Metro, into the city daily. A relatively clean, efficient subway system. One funny note: Each day the Metro would go by RFK stadium just before going underground. ONe day it appeared that there was a tractor-trailer school training future 18-wheel drivers in the parking lot of RFK. The next day, one of the very tall light towers was on the ground in that same parking lot, no sign of the tractor-trailer folks! Great vacation, so much to see and do. Almost all free, but you do need tickets for the Washington Monument tour, Capitol and Bureau of Engraving. All worth it. Go, even if you've gone before.

This is Our Country

by laurasdada on Mon Apr 28 14:14:10 PDT 2008

Greetings! Just back from a road trip/family vacation to Washingmachine, DC. TL was flawless, packed to the gills with the four of us and detritus, encountering several traffic jams and some local driving, drove 1124 miles and averaged 49mph and 27 mpg. I'm sure y'all have been, but if not, I most highly recommend a trip to our Nation's Capitol. If nothing else, it reminded/reinforced that the idea, conception, governmental model and ideals of this country are just so right. I'll leave the execution of our ideals throughout history to your discussion. Where is George Washington when we need him? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you... Toured the Capitol Building, sat in the House Gallery and was entertained by a Representative from the Great State of South Carolina. Thank you, Rep. Barrett for a fun, enlightening time. Watched a resolution presented and objected to regarding The Delta Queen. Kids were getting fidgety, so had to leave before all the yeas and nays were tallied, it was a close race. Fabulous tour guide, Albert Caswell the "unofficial Poet Laureate" of the Capitol. Also, rode to the top of the Washington Monument, toured the Bureau of Engraving and Printing ("The buck starts here!") several Smithsonian Museums, showed the kids the White House. I had two very emotional moments, chilling, prideful, patriotic, depressing, scary...: First was at the National Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport. Go, do not miss this museum! One section of the museum was dominated by a large, familiar looking, shiny metal aircraft. As I drew closer, I noted the name: THE Enola Gay. Stopped me in my tracks, as a cold shudder engulfed my body. A show-stopper for me... The Second was the Vietnam Memorial. Crowded, beautiful, chilling, depressing, stunning, reverant. I would imagine any Baby-Boomer would have such feelings. I looked through the index for the name of my summer camp counselor who, if memory servers, received a draft number in the 30s that summer oh so long ago. To this day, I remember his name, the look on his face when he received his number. Much to my relief, his name was not on the wall. "Tin soldiers and Nixon coming, we're finally on our own..." Also visited the WWII and Korean monuments which were also sobering, but Vietnam was, unfortunately, "my war." Stopped in front of the IRS building and booed rather loudly. Stayed in Landover, MD. Took the T, I mean Metro, into the city daily. A relatively clean, efficient subway system. One funny note: Each day the Metro would go by RFK stadium just before going underground. ONe day it appeared that there was a tractor-trailer school training future 18-wheel drivers in the parking lot of RFK. The next day, one of the very tall light towers was on the ground in that same parking lot, no sign of the tractor-trailer folks! Great vacation, so much to see and do. Almost all free, but you do need tickets for the Washington Monument tour, Capitol and Bureau of Engraving. All worth it. Go, even if you've gone before.

The "big sludge"

by bob57 on Wed Apr 23 15:00:16 PDT 2008

Years ago while having my 2000 Sienna oil changed at the dealer (always at ~ 3000 miles) I read an internal memo (I think it was internal - dealers name on top of page - and I'm reading it upside down on his desk - did that to my boss too...) that service counselors strongly urge owners of '99 - '01 Sienna's to have the engine flushed every 30,000 miles regardless of oil change intervals. I'm not totally sure of the year range but definitely the 2000 Sienna was there. Of course at the same time I'm reading & they were telling me that there is no sludge problem and blaming it on the owners. Yeah, they knew - hence, the extended warranty. I still have the Toyota, it's been a good van. They just got caught with their pants down back then - and yeah, I had the engine flushed.