Locate an Auto Repair Shop in Pittsfield, Vermont

Pittsfield, VT Car Consumer Discussions

Re: Lightning [1racefan]

by user777 on Mon Jul 02 09:01:13 PDT 2007

well, it's possible the manufacturer might be interested to see the extent of the damage. you might want to call corporate depending on the car if you get in the spot that noone wants it, and you are taking a bath. i don't know how if any manufacuturers actually put their vehicles through this sort of simulated strike. i remember long ago a GE transformer and switchgear division in Pittsfield MA had a lightning laboratory for more or less controllable / repeatable hits on equipment, but I don't think cars were ever run through it. :surprise: I think you are right, the PCM/ECU can't be cheap. You might want to speak with the repair shop and ask them about their plan of attach and when / how they'll make the call one way or the other.

Camry LE at 20846 OTD price from MA

by leotsk on Fri Apr 27 19:02:07 PDT 2007

I was researching for the last four weeks to buy a car. This forum gave me a lot of information and it was of great help. I posting this message to help people like me who don’t have any negotiation power or perseverance to survive in the world of pressurizing old fashioned sales people. I enquired the price of Altima through phone. I was foolish to drive 150 miles to the dealer believing the price he had offered me. Reach there, I come to know from them that it was a trick to get me to their dealership. The sales manager seems to be proud of this tactic and he bragged that he sold 200 cars last month in the same way. For your information forum users, I am talking about Quirk Nissan. The next day, I started looking for a different car. Test drove two other mid sized sedans, decided on Toyota Camry. Got a better deal in my own small town. No negotiations, all through phone. Thanks to the cost numbers I got from the forum. Camry LE price - 19587 (including floor mat 199+ Mud guard 0$) MA tax 5% - 979 $ Doc Fee 160$ Inspection 29$, title 86$, title preparation 5$ Total OTD price - 20846$ Local bank finance is available at 5.9% . The office people very nice and I was watching them dealing with other customers when I was there. Altogether it was a pleasant experience and the sales people were very different from the ususal bunch I have seen in other places. The dealership is Haddad Motors, Pittsfield MA. I am happy with the car and deal i got. thanks once again for helping with all the information. I will post any valuable information i get in future

RE: Transmission [cajuncycler]

by jimpimms on Wed Aug 30 06:14:28 PDT 2006

I have an LX, and it's my first A/T in 44 years of driving, so I may be more in tune with using the Shiftronic feature than most. Although I leave it in Drive most of the time, I've found that the Shiftronic feature really shines when passing. We have a number of two-lane 50-55 mph roads in western Mass./eastern NY, but many of the locals seem to be comfortable doing all of 45 mph. Because of the hilly terrain and the plethora of curves, passing opportunities are limited, and even when allowed, the passing "window" is often fairly small -- nearly non-existent during peak tourist seasons. I tend to drive 55-65 mph on these roads, depending on conditions and the jurisdiction, so I consider 45 mph akin to crawling. All my previous cars had I-4 engines (about 20:1 weight to hp ratios), so I learned to develop a successful passing technique. With the I-4s, I would get up a "head of steam" by downshifting to 2nd or 3rd and accelerating hard in my lane, while simultaneously estimating the oncoming car's approach and my approach to the car I'm attempting to pass, then jumping out into the oncoming lane and getting back in, in the least amount of time possible. It takes practice to get the timing right, and I practiced often. It's much easier with the Sonata's V-6 engine (about a 15:1 weight to hp ratio), as it has more than enough instant acceleration -- except when I kick it down in Drive and lose precious seconds as it searches for what it thinks is the right gear. Now I just drop it into 3rd -- or even 2nd, depending on speed -- and floor it, which launches the car in seconds to 65-70, while circumventing that (potentially fatal) transmission lag. When I'm back in, I shift it back up to 5th, then back over to Drive. This technique also works well on Interstates, when I need to accelerate rapidly to avoid potential problems (e.g., 18-wheelers about to move into the passing lane, traffic merging from entrance ramps, or blowing around SUVs hogging the passing lane). While the Shiftronic lacks the true fun-factor of a real manual, it certainly mitigates much of the boredom -- and drawbacks -- of a typical automatic. :)

$$$ Maintenance per year

by ideafix on Wed Mar 08 21:24:48 PST 2006

Hi... newbie here. I was trying to plan for the road ahead (I'm picking my new freebie on Friday), and I would like to make an estimate on how much would the service be for it. So far it seems very cheap, but would like to check with you. Considering 5K intervals between oil change and rotate tires (x3 times a year) ~$50 each? 15K inspection (First year) ~$70? 30K air filter change (2nd year) ~$100? 45K inspection (3rd year) ~$70? 60K CVT service (4th year) ~$500? 75K inspection (5th year) ~$70? That would make about $1560 service for the first 5 years. Are those numbers right, or am I off? I kind of estimated them based on my previous car cost, but the big services were at 7k intervals, not at 15k. Also, my dealer has a promotion... they put you a sticker on either the windshield or the rear windshield (name?) with their name, and as long as you have it, they give you free oil changes. I wonder if it is worth it (the sticker is not BIG but it is not small either). Don't know, depending on the price of the oil change, if I can save, say, 150 bucks per year, I guess I'll keep it... In the long run (say those 5 years) would bring the service cost down to about $810. What do you think about my estimates. Please let me know if I'm far off on those numbers. :confuse: Also, is there any service that I should be considering that is not included in the service / warranty? Thanks a lot for your help!

Re: Broken Windshield [cumptrnrd]

by jimpimms on Sun Apr 23 07:37:30 PDT 2006

It sounds like your windshield problem is a stress fracture and should be covered under warranty. Here in Massa2schitts, full glass insurance coverage is only $8 per year. Considering all the light trucks on the road without rear mud flaps (i.e., a 12" to 18" gap to hurl road debris at following vehicles), one would be crazy not to opt for it.

24.7 MPG Highway

by ideafix on Sun Apr 02 17:37:14 PDT 2006

Hey again. Well, it turns out that I made a kind of unplanned medium-long trip today to Providence, RI. About 300 miles round trip, and I had filled the tank just 2 days ago (as narrated in the previous post). 24.7 MPG, mostly Highway (I'd say about 85% of the tank). I'm kind of surprised by the 7 mpg difference between town and highway, but I guess that's the way it is. Well, Freebie still has only 1000 miles on it, and I'd hope that by 3000, I get at least 27/22, as advertised. ;)