<TID> Re: linux on laptop

[Net Llama!]

On 02/14/04 19:03, Joel Hammer wrote:

> On Sat, Feb 14, 2004 at 04:55:50PM -0800, Net Llama! wrote:
> 
> 
>>In this case, i meant it both ways.  I owned a Saturn about 4 years ago. 
>> One of the most overpriced, poorly built cars I ever had the 
>>displeasure of driving (or owning).  Amazing marketing though.
> 
> 
> I have had one for about 7 years (The cheap model ?S
> series). I got the 5 year/60,000 mile carcare plan. The
> plan paid for itself just in oil changes, and I got a free
> ring job in the bargain. I didn't pay a penny in repairs
> or routine maintenance for five years. My daughter bought
> a Corolla,  a very fine car, and boy do they smack it
> to you when you buy it (How about a 1500 dollar dealer
> hold-back?) and on routine maintenance.

Well mine was a 95 SL1.  After putting about 5k miles on it one of the 
piston rods blew.  That was 4 days arguing with the dealer, being 
treated like a criminal because "this never happens unless you've abused 
the vehicle".  At 25k miles the AC died.  Another 2 days at the dealer 
with more dirty looks.  At 51k miles the engine block cracked, leaking 
oil into the radiator, and simultaneously cooking & disintegrating it. 
This turned out to be an official recall, yet they still tried to charge 
me for "supplimental parts".  At 65k miles the tranny dropped, and by 
then it wasn't even under warranty any longer, so it was $3k out of my 
own pocket.  I drove the PoS until just before moving to California. 
Neither my wife nor I had any faith that we'd make it x-country in it 
alive, and traded it in 3 weeks before moving.

> My Saturn has 80,000 miles on it and, aside from the ring
> job, not a single problem. Excellent car in snow. Handles

No argument there.  I'll admit that for a car of its size, it did handle 
well in snow.  But i think that had more to do with its very low center 
of gravity than any flare for engineering.

I purchased a VW Passat in 2002, and have had an amazing experience. 
The car is pure joy to drive, and i havn't had a single problem with it. 
  I can't imagine not owning a german car ever again.  If i have it my 
way, i'll prolly upgrade to an Audi in a year or so.

-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
L. Friedman                       	       netllama at linux-sxs.org
Linux Step-by-step & TyGeMo: 		    http://netllama.ipfox.com

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