Oh dang, i could fix that here at my house! Emma, you are lucky its so minor. Sorry to hear about the damage, but itll be fine when they fix it. It wont end up like your trunk experience, because front ends are easier to work on because everything comes off. The rear is all one piece to the body.

Ouch! Nasty crap there Emma. Glad you weren't hurt and here's hoping this matter is solved very quickly.

The accident I had in 2007 was caused by an older lady (in her late 60s) turning left in front of me. My Jimmy was written off (Frame bent) but Shutterbug and I walked away. What really sucked was that the Jimmy was in excellent working order and I had just paid off the bill for the front end (upper/lower ball joints and front differential) two weeks prior to the accident. Fortunately, those were factored in and we ended up with an extra $300 on top of what was paid out to us.

As for your woes about Enterprise, I'm not too surprised. I dealt with them three times and am not generally impressed with them. We've been lied to, had to go pick up the car ourselves as they don't drop off cars and the car we had last year was woefully inadequate for winter driving. It was a 2007 Charger with summer tires, no washer fluid and no scrapers/snow brushes. We were stranded a few times when it snowed. I prefer to stick with Budget. At least we had much better service with them.

Posted by turbozutek As sammy points out, an airbag wasn't called for in that situation. A device called a directional accelerometer (normally mounted under the back passenger seat) ensures that the airbags are only fired in a DIRECT front impact - and then only at certain combinations of speed and angle of attack. Had the bag fired while you were being pushed to the side, it may do more harm than good (especially with those WACKY full size airbags which are required by the American 'safety' standards) so just as well it didn't.

Exactly. Both accidents I had, the air bags didn't go off at all. Both were off set crashes and not head on. Both times Shutterbug and I were able to walk away even though both vehicles were written off.

My experience with Enterprise was shitty as well. I scheduled the work on my car two weeks in advance, calling Enterprise and making sure that they would have a Chevy Cavalier for me to drive the week my car would be in the body shop. They assured me that a 2003 Cavalier (this was in 04, i believe) would be available, gassed up and ready for me that afternoon. So the Enterprise comes all the way down from Plattsburgh (50 miles one way), picks me up and takes me back to their office. So, where's my Cavalier?

-Well, we don't have one, but we have a 2003 Protege or the 2002 Durango you came up in. *Smiles the vacuous smile of clueless customer service*

Um... I don't want a Protege or a Durango. I drive 52 miles a day to work! I had reserved this car two weeks in advance and now you're telling me, now that my car is in pieces, that I have the choice of two cars I did not want?

-Yes *more smiles*

i looked at the Protege... what a piece of shit. The car had 23,000 miles on the odometer. It was an SE model with bald tires, the interior was disgusting. There was this crusty/slimy (depending where you touched) haze on the windshield. There was dog hair everywhere. It smelled like coffee, cheap cigarettes, saint bernard and used food.

I'm not taking that car like that. (but I did)
i get out on the road... the car shakes, the transmission is shifting funnt, the brakes are warped so bad I don't think that the car is going to stop half the time. Everything rattles. I call them back and tell them the car isn't even safe for a demolition derby! They smile over the phone and tell me (ME!) to 'make the best of it'. I took it to work that night and the car wouldn't move unless it ran for 15 minutes... This car was a fucking wreck. Three days after I got it, the transmission starts slipping in overdrive. I call them back. More smiles.
Finally, my car is done. On the way back to return the car, overdrive checks out. About two miles before my exit on the Interstate, Drive says happy trails. Going down Route 3, about a mile from the Enterprise office, 2nd gear says Adios. Pulling into their lot, just about to the block, the transmission gives up the ghost.

never again will i get a car from Enterprise!

That waws all really hard for eme to read. Got up to take more meds. My rental (a mazda 6) is in gdood condition besiedes the bald tires (it shows me that "omgz im slipiin!" sign on jsut about every DRY corner) and is from hertz.

SAnd the other girl admitted fault at the accident and her insurance company has been basically bending overr backwards for me since i called them and filed the claim AT the scene. I Think that is how Progressive gets customers.

I dont have anythgin else tos ay right now good nite.

Posted by Emma Peel I Think that is how Progressive gets customers.

I've been with Progressive for five years and I absolutely love them. I've only had to file one claim with them and they had my car fixed within a week from a repair shop that I chose.

Also, may I have some of your drugs please?

Christ, I'd say those meds are awesome!

Chris...

I want some too!! Share Emma

Posted by Emma Peel That waws all really hard for eme to read. Got up to take more meds. My rental (a mazda 6) is in gdood condition besiedes the bald tires (it shows me that "omgz im slipiin!" sign on jsut about every DRY corner) and is from hertz. SAnd the other girl admitted fault at the accident and her insurance company has been basically bending overr backwards for me since i called them and filed the claim AT the scene. I Think that is how Progressive gets customers. I dont have anythgin else tos ay right now good nite.

Good luck Emma. Keep all paperwork in a very safe place and be ready for any more possible shit storms.

I just had a nice visitor today. This is in regard to the accident that I had last year which totalled my vehicle. Despite the fact that I was not charged (in fact the cop told me that my driving may have saved some lives that night), I am now being sued by one of the passengers of the other vehicle. Among the numerous horse shit claims, I've been accused of being impaired and was using a cell phone at the time. Fucking bullshit!!!! If I was impaired, the cop would have busted me and I don't even own a cell phone. Talk about frivolous law suit and slander. Whoever made all the accusations against me obviously didn't do their homework.

I won't go into much detail now as I'm fighting this horse shit! Hopefully it will blow over very quickly. As for me getting money out of this, either way I don't care at this point as long as I don't get fucked!

_{sorry for the obscenities but I am madder than hell right now!}

I've rented from Enterprise twice, once when the insurance company was paying and once on my own. I've never had a problem with them. My parents rented a car from hertz, though, and that thing was dirty as hell. I think it just depends on the franchise you get it from.

Don't even get me fucking started on Dollar Thrifty. Dirty fuckers.

Chris...

The wiper blades on my Hertz Mazda 6 are very poor. Tried to clean some highway gunk off my windshield and they wiped very little fluid away. ... Regardless, the bubbly-magnified-distorted view of the road that I got (and froze to my windshield, eventually) was far better than the gunky one.


Talked to the body shop and also the adjuster.

Body shop guy, Toyota Bob (normally it is just "Bob" but I think he deserves the "Toyota" part, as well), insists that this insurance company cannot put anything less than OEM parts on my car.

Stupid Lauren, the MALE crotch-adjuster, disagrees. He says that they are allowed to use USED and 3rd-party reproductions (used 3rd-party reproductions?) to restore my car to working condition. In this case, Keystone.

I told Lauren that at the very least, every damn last piece of my car better be BRAND NEW. He can take his junkyard and shove it up his ass, because if I'm not getting new OEM parts, this 3rd-party shit will at least be NEW.


Toyota Bob isn't happy about this. Toyota Bob is now in a little side-debate with Lauren the Male crotch-adjuster.

We'll see how that turns out.


Also, I hate HATE HATE ABS. HATE. They throw off my braking when it is nasty out. God damn it. They kick in at the worst times, therefore making my braking technique less effective than if I just held the fucking brake to the floor. Seriously, when did driving begin requiring less brain and more stereotypical-stupid-woman skills? Christ.

Posted by Emma Peel Body shop guy, Toyota Bob (normally it is just "Bob" but I think he deserves the "Toyota" part, as well), insists that this insurance company cannot put anything less than OEM parts on my car.

Of course he is going to say that. He'll make a killing on the OEM 'Yota parts.

Stupid Lauren, the MALE crotch-adjuster, disagrees. He says that they are allowed to use USED and 3rd-party reproductions (used 3rd-party reproductions?) to restore my car to working condition. In this case, Keystone.

as i said, i went through this and the insurance company won.

I told Lauren that at the very least, every damn last piece of my car better be BRAND NEW. He can take his junkyard and shove it up his ass, because if I'm not getting new OEM parts, this 3rd-party shit will at least be NEW.

they don't care. they've got your money.
sorry, Emma... insurance companies are scum.

Toyota Bob isn't happy about this. Toyota Bob is now in a little side-debate with Lauren the Male crotch-adjuster.

Of course Toyota Bob isn't happy... his profit margin on this job went out the window. Now, he'll have to pad the bill to the insurance company with blend time. This is an OLD game, Emma.

Also, I hate HATE HATE ABS. HATE. They throw off my braking when it is nasty out. God damn it. They kick in at the worst times, therefore making my braking technique less effective than if I just held the fucking brake to the floor. Seriously, when did driving begin requiring less brain and more stereotypical-stupid-woman skills? Christ.

Since the government of our collective countries thought it would be a fine idea if the lowest common denominator of drivers out there were protected from themselves.

Posted by Samurai they don't care. they've got your money. sorry, Emma... insurance companies are scum.

No, they don't have MY money. They have that stupid bitch's money. As far as I'm concerned, I'm going to yell and scream (with very big words and in a very professional manner, mind you) until I run out of breath AND I get what I want. THAT is an old game, my friend ;)

I don't care THAT much, though, as long as they're exactly the same...

Of course Toyota Bob isn't happy... his profit margin on this job went out the window. Now, he'll have to pad the bill to the insurance company with blend time. This is an OLD game, Emma.

I know. I've dated many-a-car guy. I think Toyota Bob will be okay.

Since the government of our collective countries thought it would be a fine idea if the lowest common denominator of drivers out there were protected from themselves.

Heeheehee...

Posted by Emma Peel Also, I hate HATE HATE ABS. HATE. They throw off my braking when it is nasty out. God damn it. They kick in at the worst times, therefore making my braking technique less effective than if I just held the fucking brake to the floor. Seriously, when did driving begin requiring less brain and more stereotypical-stupid-woman skills? Christ.

I think I can see the problem with your car and your ABS.


_{Your attitude to it.}

How can it 'kick in at the worst time' !? The computer monitors for a loss of traction and activates the cycle when it sees one: that's the best time. Seriously. If your even activating it in the first place at low speed: your doing it wrong!

And holding the pedal to the floor / locking the wheels on a non ABS car = LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE with LESS CONTROL than in an ABS car. So I'm not sure how it's messing up your braking technique?

Sorry aboot that!

Posted by Samurai Since the government of our collective countries thought it would be a fine idea if the lowest common denominator of drivers out there were protected from themselves.

Can you scan every wheel on your car at 40 times a second and then break / release them at the same rate, individually on EACH WHEEL through a single brake pedal ?

No?

Bottom line = humans do a less good job of these things than a super fast machine designed to do it. If you guys are having problems in an ABS equipped car, your doing it wrong.

Simple as.

It's the same old argument when we first put synchromesh in gearboxes, power in power brakes and seat-belts in our cars... People who didn't like change or improvement were upset.

Best get with the times and update your skills


or


pull the fuse from the ABS ECU (good luck with your insurance company if you get in an accident with that last idea though... Seriously)!

Chris...

Posted by turbozutek And holding the pedal to the floor / locking the wheels on a non ABS car = LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE with LESS CONTROL than in an ABS car. So I'm not sure how it's messing up your braking technique?

Reading comprehension: You needs it. ;)
I'm saying that pushing the pedal to the floor=poor braking technique, but is the only choice with ABS. Because it is ALWAYS on in this fucking car. ALWAYS. In my old Grand Am, I RARELY dealt with ABS. In this thing, it is almost ALWAYS on. Maybe it is annoying because I ALREADY consider potential loss of traction BEFORE I'm 10 feet from the intersection.



Another complaint: Stability control.
I haven't thought of that phrase since I saw the crazy concept-commercial for it, some years ago.

It was re-brought to my immediate attention as soon as it snowed.
AHHHHHHHHH. If I didn't have laryngitis right now, I'd be SCREAMING in frustration.

Yeah, it is great that it (apparently?) disengages the gas when I'm TRYING OT FUCKING DRIVE, but... It seriously is the biggest pussy thing ever. Seriously. The car's thought process seems to go something like this:

1) OMGZ IS THAT SNOW ON TEH GROWND???!1/1?!!?1/!?!3?2?!?!219191010101010101
2) I BETTER DISENGAGE THE GAS PEDAL WHILE SHE'S TRYING TO MAKE IT UP A FUCKING HILL!


Seriously. My neighborhood. Slight, gradual hills. Also, not plowed very often. We have this nice little layer of crunchy snow on the ground.

IT TAKES ME FOUR FUCKING MINUTES to drive a 5th of a mile! OH MY GOD.
By "drive" I mean IDLE the entire distance. The only thing my foot on the gas pedal does is keep the car moving at a good 2-3mph.

Worse, I was trying to get out of a friend's "driveway," which consists of GRAVEL and about an inch of this crunchy snow. This combination seems to be the driver-of-a-car-with-stability-control's worst fucking nightmare.


I had PLENTY of traction (or at least enough that it would have been fine in my Camry), but it was the fact that this god damn thing basically was trying to IDLE up the hill towards the street (about a 5-foot-long hill) and would just roll backwards. Yes, this is when I get pissed and just punch the gas pedal, to see if this is really fucking happening. I had to back ALL THE WAY UP, and get a running start at the hill. It took me TWICE, since this "running start" was me getting about a second to gently press the gas before it was disengaged despite my miniscule use of it.


*cries* I'd call the shop and bug em to see how my car is doing, except I lost my voice.

On that note, I'm going down to the court house now because I'm supposed to be contesting a speeding ticket tomorrow. I'm pretty sure that they won't appreciate my squeaks in court, since the "yes" (NOT "YEAH") and "no"'s have to be AUDIBLE.

I'm going to write the clerk of court a ransom short note describing my vocal disability heh.

Posted by turbozutek pull the fuse from the ABS ECU (good luck with your insurance company if you get in an accident with that last idea though... Seriously)! Chris...

I see your point, Chris, and in most cases, ABS is there for the right reasons. However, I find it is a crutch for most drivers.

in most cases, a human can outdrive ABS. What I mean by 'outdrive' is that if you are a good driver, you can drive for conditions. It's rare that the ABS ever comes on in my Cobalt. In the Lumina, despite the worn front pads and the excessively long pedal travel, the wheels rarely lock on, unless I am having fun with the parking brake.

one of the things that i always went by when I was learning how to 'drive' a car was that you have to drive it as if the brakes are gone or marginal. That means learning proper downshift technique, corner attack, judging road conditions correctly... so few people ever get that deep into it. The just mash the brake pedal to the floor and hope their computer has a good idea of what is going on. With my 96 and 98 Cavaliers, I had the ABS disconnected. I can't do that with the Cobalt because of the warranty. My 2005 Cobalt coupe did not have ABS and 98 Lumina I drive to work doesn't have ABS at all!

that's just my opinion on it. everyone is going to have one. I just feel that it should be optional, but then again, few people are informed enough to know whether or not they need it.

Posted by Emma Peel I'm saying that pushing the pedal to the floor=poor braking technique, but is the only choice with ABS.

Maybe it's my comprehension again, but is there any way that statement makes any sense? Clarity of expression - I'll send you some!

ABS gives you proportinal pedal control in exactly the same way as a regularly braked car does.

Posted by Emma Peel Because it is ALWAYS on in this fucking car. ALWAYS. In my old Grand Am, I RARELY dealt with ABS. In this thing, it is almost ALWAYS on. Maybe it is annoying because I ALREADY consider potential loss of traction BEFORE I'm 10 feet from the intersection.

The ABS only activates if there's a reason. Try and brake gently and you'll never feel it pulse. If you DO feel it pulse on, it's because you braked too hard or it was genuinly needed.

OR your tyres are shite... That's worth checking too, of course.

Again, it's all technique and not a problem with the car; but you.

Posted by Emma Peel Another complaint: Stability control. I haven't thought of that phrase since I saw the crazy concept-commercial for it, some years ago. It was re-brought to my immediate attention as soon as it snowed. AHHHHHHHHH. If I didn't have laryngitis right now, I'd be SCREAMING in frustration. Yeah, it is great that it (apparently?) disengages the gas when I'm TRYING OT FUCKING DRIVE, but... It seriously is the biggest pussy thing ever. Seriously. The car's thought process seems to go something like this: 1) OMGZ IS THAT SNOW ON TEH GROWND???!1/1?!!?1/!?!3?2?!?!219191010101010101 2) I BETTER DISENGAGE THE GAS PEDAL WHILE SHE'S TRYING TO MAKE IT UP A FUCKING HILL!

Well that's not 'stability control' (ESP) but 'Traction Control' you describe.

Now that IS annoying - but it's the shit fuck ass lazy and cheap "part of the cruise control" method the US has adopted... Here in Europe the system doesn't reduce engine output at all, rather it brakes the wheel which is slipping - restoring its traction on ice and snow.

Here, I can drive up a VERY steep hill covered in sheet ice at any speed I like, thanks to the system... No throttle reduction (automatic or manual) involved.

This episode of Fifth Gear explains it pretty well:

http://uk.youtube....tE&feature=related

Unfortunately, the North American continent is WELL behind the times on this technology so... sorry aboot that!?

Chris...

Posted by turbozutek Maybe it's my comprehension again, but is there any way that statement makes any sense? Clarity of expression - I'll send you some!

I don't even know how to rephrase. Isn't "=" universal? ;)
I was saying that I DON'T brake hard. In fact, I'm very light on my brakes. I mean... you have to realize that I'm driving a RENTAL with ABS right now. I normally drive a car without it. It is generally uncharacteristic of me to simply stomp on the brake, ESPECIALLY in the middle of winter.

OR your tyres are shite... That's worth checking too, of course.

ACTUALLY, you have an excellent point. The day I got this car, the ground was dry. I was actually slipping around DRY corners (it was above freezing out, as well) from a complete stop. That traction thing was popping on going around DRY corners. It was so bad that I simply stopped making "right on reds" for fear that I'd lose the ability to accelerate if the tires slipped.
... But the ABS wasn't kicking in, then.

Again, it's all technique and not a problem with the car; but you.

Sorry, I'm just not seasoned enough with ABS and traction control cars. I mean... I was taught HOW to "drive" when I was 14, learned how to operate a stick-shift when I was 16, and over the next 6 years learned how to REALLY DRIVE from a Toyota Tech in an ae86 (uhhh... hatchi roku over there, I think?), who makes most of his money in drifting events. I dunno. He'd probably say I'm a damn good driver, but that's just someone who's actually spent countless hours with me in a car. I mean... he doesn't have your expert internet-knowledge of how I drive

Well that's not 'stability control' (ESP) but 'Traction Control' you describe.

I find I can reduce the bullshit coming out of this car if I use the snazzy semi-manual controls they gave me. I always wondered why they included that on automatic cars... Now I know: It is for when people who KNOW how to drive get fucking sick of having to idle at the first notion of possible slippage.

Here in Europe the system doesn't reduce engine output at all, rather it brakes the wheel which is slipping - restoring its traction on ice and snow. Here, I can drive up a VERY steep hill covered in sheet ice at any speed I like, thanks to the system... No throttle reduction (automatic or manual) involved.

...Quoting an asshole frenchman, "Stupichd Amerikans! I speet at yew!"

This episode of Fifth Gear explains it pretty well: http://uk.youtube....tE&feature=related

I'll watch that when I get to a computer with sound. Thanks.

Posted by Samurai My experience with Enterprise was shitty as well. I scheduled the work on my car two weeks in advance, calling Enterprise and making sure that they would have a Chevy Cavalier for me to drive the week my car would be in the body shop. They assured me that a 2003 Cavalier (this was in 04, i believe) would be available, gassed up and ready for me that afternoon. So the Enterprise comes all the way down from Plattsburgh (50 miles one way), picks me up and takes me back to their office. So, where's my Cavalier? -Well, we don't have one, but we have a 2003 Protege or the 2002 Durango you came up in. *Smiles the vacuous smile of clueless customer service* Um... I don't want a Protege or a Durango. I drive 52 miles a day to work! I had reserved this car two weeks in advance and now you're telling me, now that my car is in pieces, that I have the choice of two cars I did not want? -Yes *more smiles* i looked at the Protege... what a piece of shit. The car had 23,000 miles on the odometer. It was an SE model with bald tires, the interior was disgusting. There was this crusty/slimy (depending where you touched) haze on the windshield. There was dog hair everywhere. It smelled like coffee, cheap cigarettes, saint bernard and used food. I'm not taking that car like that. (but I did) i get out on the road... the car shakes, the transmission is shifting funnt, the brakes are warped so bad I don't think that the car is going to stop half the time. Everything rattles. I call them back and tell them the car isn't even safe for a demolition derby! They smile over the phone and tell me (ME!) to 'make the best of it'. I took it to work that night and the car wouldn't move unless it ran for 15 minutes... This car was a fucking wreck. Three days after I got it, the transmission starts slipping in overdrive. I call them back. More smiles. Finally, my car is done. On the way back to return the car, overdrive checks out. About two miles before my exit on the Interstate, Drive says happy trails. Going down Route 3, about a mile from the Enterprise office, 2nd gear says Adios. Pulling into their lot, just about to the block, the transmission gives up the ghost. never again will i get a car from Enterprise!

been away so i'm coming in late on this. but i will give a +1 to Enterprise sucking. my ex's roommate worked for Enterprise and i got to learn a lot about them from her roommate and her coworkers when we would go out drinking. most of them take pride in screwing people over as much as possible since the company treats their employees like shit and it just rolls downhill towards the customer. reservations mean nothing to them (much like in the Seinfeld episode that made fun of this.) Enterprise locations are given X amount of cars based on performance and it's a big thing to keep them so while one location may be out the one up the road will have 20 sitting on the lot and won't give them to the other location just because it's a good way to screw over the other location and make the location that has cars looks better come review time.

they are notorious for also pulling the "discovered damage" trick days or weeks after you have returned the car. i rented from them when i went out to wisconsin for a few days for a wedding and 2 days later called to ask me about a dent that they discovered. it was not there when i picked up or dropped the car and they signed off that the car was dent free when i dropped it off. i told them to pound sand, a few weeks later i got a phone call and letter wanting $500 + time that the car was out of service (a figure they were yet to figure out) from me. a few polite yet firm calls to the managers and district managers made this go away.

fortunately enterprise management is very quick to make things go away since they don't want customer's complaining since it directly affects their bonuses, which is a large part of their compensation. in cases where they won't give you a car due to some BS in the past, start going up the chain, they should pretty quickly give you the keys to a car and get you out the door quickly.




cliff notes: enterprise is evil. i will never rent from them again.