Post: #1

Cars are stupid. However, there is no way I could live in the area I do without one.

I haul around lots of surfboards, Asian girls, fishing equipment, and other items that require a large vehicle.

In December of 2008 I purchased a Hybrid Chevrolet Tahoe made by mainland government owned GM. Thus far, this has been a nightmare.

Last night I went to drive the damn thing somewhere and it was just dead again. The tow man picked it up this morning and Enterprise just dropped off the non-hybrid rental Cadillac I have become familiar with.

The guy gave me a receipt, and I put it into my folder of rental receipts associated with the truck. I added up all of the days I have had the rental they've given me and it is outrageous... 78 Days! This also the 21st tow receipt I have.

This doesn't account for the total number of days the truck has been undriveable. After the 4th or 5th visit to the dealer I began to demand the luxury Cadillac. Some days it was unavailable. This is probably because they had to give it to other Hybrid owners who's piece of shits were broke down.

The dealer has told me how lucky I am GM has such an excellent warranty program. That just fries me.

I have never seen a savings at the gas pump because I'm constantly driving the less efficient rental car, or the other less efficient vehicles I own. For some reason a tax lawyer has to give you, I didn't qualify for federal tax credits either, only state.

I was also under the impression that owning that bullshit was better for the environment. Not so when you consider the amount of fuel used and greenhouse gasses and shit emitted by the big tow wagon to get the truck 50 miles to the dealer. Also to consider is the amount of energy consumed getting replacement parts shipped to Hawaii.

In order to get my money back under Hawaii's lemon laws, I'm going to need to hire a consumer protection attorney.

This is a big part of what's wrong with America.

When my Warrior ancestors first came to these Islands they handled shit right. If somebody sold them a bad canoe they went to the guy that made it and clubbed him in the head until the canoe was right. If it was still not made right they took his wife.

I could go beat the car salesman's ass but the dealer says this isn't their fault. I can't beat the guy who answers the phone after 7 to 10 minutes at the "Customer Care" center because he's in Mumbai.

Nobody is actually willing to take responsibility. The ballsiest thing you can do these days is get a lawyer. That's gay.

To conclude. Buying a hybrid is bad for your finances.

Aloha!

Post: #2

Kona,

Truth be told, I drive less than anyone I know. Even in California.

No joke, I have something like 60 cab, town car, and limo drivers in my cell.

Cars suck. The biggest Myth going is a nice car gets you girls. I have had sick cars, and the most you get is some guy yapping to you about how dope your ride is.

I am really digging Cartagena, and any city where driving is not necessary.

You also touch on an important point about how corporate biz sucks.

No one takes responsibility, you are right.

Why does food suck so bad in America? Because it is all corporate owned and people are just working jobs.

Street food in Cartagena is insane. Why?

Because the guy serving you street food is providing to his wife and kids with it. It has to be good.

He takes responsibility.

Post: #3

Both of you guys touch on great points. The corporate attitude of "I'm not responsible for anything" sucks and spreads like a virus.

About hybrids. I think they are dumb and overpriced. They are mostly for the SWPL crowd who want to brag about how into the environment they are and how they spent last weekend "roughing" it in the wilderness with their overpriced camping equipment.

To get the gas mileage the car companies claim, you have to be driving in a certain manner and on level ground.

G is right about nice cars. They are about as important as what kind of TV you have, as only guys will come up to you and comment on it. The only good part about nice cars is driving fast, which does get woman's pussy wet, but street bikes under 15 g's can go just as fast and are way more exciting than a euro sports car. Much less work to maintain as well.

Post: #4

American's have this techno fetishist thing going on. A solid low tech solution will never do when there's whizz bang "high tech" approach. You see the same in almost any aspect of medical care. I'm pretty sure driving a light car conservatively gets you the same savings as a hybrid. I'm sure you come out well ahead considering the upfront cost and that the hybrid's battery or one of it's electrical drive component will need replacement.

I was driving about once a month so I sold the car and now motorcycle or cab as necessary. The internet has made it very easy to go car-less. Order your groceries online and also get an Amazon Prime membership, and then if you're not commuting by car, what do you really need to drive for? If you're living somewhere you can't walk at all you just have shitty taste and need to move. Also, rolling into meetings in a suit with a motorcycle helmet makes a bit of an impression.

Post: #5

"Order your groceries online and also get an Amazon Prime membership, and then if you're not commuting by car, what do you really need to drive for? If you're living somewhere you can't walk at all you just have shitty taste and need to move. Also, rolling into meetings in a suit with a motorcycle helmet makes a bit of an impression."

You nailed it.

I order all my groceries online. Do I really need to pick up in person which bottle of detergent I want? No.

I walk to my farmers market for all my produce. Way better than the corporate grocery store mass produced crap.

Additionally, if you are drinking and driving with girls on dates, you are a dui waiting to happen.

I always laugh when my friends are so "busy with errands".

I ask, "What errands?"

They say, "Change my oil, get my car washed, get some gas, swing by the dealership for some crappy recall etc"

Little do they know if they had no car, they would have no errands.

More time for kicking back and swooping.

You got to live life right.

Post: #6

(03-02-2010 09:57 PM)UgSlayer Wrote:  G is right about nice cars. They are about as important as what kind of TV you have

The hybrid vehicle in question has a tv in it! It's nice to watch it while you're waiting for a tow.

The G was also right about the myth of girls liking the fancy cars. Don't think for a second that myth isn't Detroit manufactured.

Where I live, and with what I do to make money, a truck is just necessary. Its a tool just as important as my fishing pole. I traded the freedom of living car-free for quality of waves/life.

Not having the truck screws with my business.

Out of all the people directly involved in my hybrid drama only me and the tow truck driver can see things my way. He owns his truck, and it's his lifeline. No tows, no money.

Everyone else involved; from the car salesman to the CEO of GM to the lawyer I gotta pay to sue both, only knows how to follow policies that screw folks like me and the tow man.

They only know how to middle-man robbing us of our independence and have no idea how to make their own.

I'm upset. I live my life in a manner in which I feel nobody gets over on me. I think Government Motors just got me pretty good.

The lawyer pointed out the only funny part of this whle ordeal. There's a typo in the warranty paperwork, and although it's correct in most other sections, it states the warranty lasts:

"100,00 miles or 160,000 kilometers, whichever comes first"

Aloha!