Here we go again (UPDATE: He actually went and did it)

Kinja'd!!! by "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
Published 02/02/2017 at 15:16

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Kinja'd!!!

Time for another chapter in the saga that seemingly will not die: the one of my dad deciding he wants to get rid of one of our German cars every single time something breaks , and then getting over it after a month or so , and then repeating. Well, I’m away at school right now, and this morning I got a call from him. It’s the same story as always. Yesterday while he was driving the X3, a “Drivetrain Malfunction” warning popped up and the car lurched a bit, then drove normally. And of course, while on his way to drop it off at the shop, he passed a dealership that had just taken in a 2011 Genesis V8 and listed it for $13,000. His latest idea is to trade in his 110,000 mile BMW even on the 60,000 mile Hyundai, drive the Hyundai for 12-18 months, and then get back into something more expensive and “permanent” (this being a relative term for him). Once again, I cannot figure out the actual logic here other than wanting to save on repairs for a year or so. I’m also sure it’s a moot point, and he’s just going to fix the X3 and keep on driving it for the remainging year or so until he’d get something new anyway.

UPDATE : Just got off the phone with him. He called my bluff, big time. After just 18 months, the X3 is gone. He is now the proud owner of a 385 horsepower Korean luxobarge. I’m genuinely not sure how I feel about this. I’m sure the Hyundai won’t have fit-and-finish levels quite on the same level as the Bimmer, but it does have a lot of things going for it that I like. We’ll be gaining radar-guided cruise control and *an* air conditioned seat, and of course that big V8 mated to RWD. I’ve also been promised that I get to do burnouts in it when he picks me up in two weeks, so there’s that. Either way, he’s very happy, and that’s what matters.


Replies (62)

Kinja'd!!! "Denver Is Stuck In The 90s" (denver80222)
02/02/2017 at 15:25, STARS: 5

It seems like your dad should stop buying used. Also start buying camrys

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
02/02/2017 at 15:30, STARS: 8

Wow.

So, what’s his Oppo handle?

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/02/2017 at 15:31, STARS: 0

No kidding.

He mostly likes to be melodramatic. When something on the X3 breaks, he’ll say something like “I checked online and the same part for a Lexus GS is only 1/3 as much. German car repairs are a ripoff, I’m trading it in on a Lexus.” Then he gets the car back from its repair and he stops mentioning it again.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/02/2017 at 15:31, STARS: 2

COTD

Kinja'd!!! "Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
02/02/2017 at 15:32, STARS: 3

Same with my mom. Everytime something on her car breaks (2002 E39 with over 200k miles) she’s like “This is the last repair. I’ll only have it done so that I’m not in a total hurry to pick a car and can choose wisely.” Then she gets her car back, all is fine and well for a few weeks, she falls in love with it again... Rinse and repeat.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/02/2017 at 15:32, STARS: 0

This is exactly what’s happening.

Kinja'd!!! "Rico" (ricorich)
02/02/2017 at 15:34, STARS: 2

I’d take a Lexus over a comparable Hyundai.

Kinja'd!!! "Land_Yacht_225" (nadenator)
02/02/2017 at 15:35, STARS: 1

My car needs a $500 repair because the shift lock broke? I hear about it from my mother for a month, and she demands I sell my car. Her beloved S-Type R blows a coolant hose a week ago and then yesterday strands her in the boonies with a no-start, shift-lock inoperable electrical problem...not a word.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/02/2017 at 15:37, STARS: 0

Same

Kinja'd!!! "CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
02/02/2017 at 15:39, STARS: 1

The Genesis is a solid choice though.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/02/2017 at 15:42, STARS: 0

I mean it’s fine I suppose. I’d prefer the 5.0 obviously but not my call.

Kinja'd!!! "CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
02/02/2017 at 15:48, STARS: 1

Well, whatever either of us thinks is probably irrelevant to your dad’s actions.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/02/2017 at 15:51, STARS: 0

That’s true. But as I said, I can basically guarantee he won’t follow through with any of this.

Kinja'd!!! "CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
02/02/2017 at 15:53, STARS: 3

You should get him on here so we can all encourage him to drop the x3 for whatever flavor-of-the-week he’s looking at.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/02/2017 at 15:54, STARS: 2

Oh Christ...

Kinja'd!!! "CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
02/02/2017 at 15:56, STARS: 3

*rubs hands together and cackles evilly*

Kinja'd!!! "boredalways" (boredalway666)
02/02/2017 at 16:13, STARS: 0

I would just blame Trump for it and keep it moving.

Kinja'd!!! "Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
02/02/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 0

He ought to ask them whether the car needs anything else to go for a year. Does he put a lot of miles on?

Kinja'd!!! "Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
02/02/2017 at 16:19, STARS: 2

Fun fact: the first time you start an awd BMW after disconnecting the battery, it gives you a WARNING 4x4 SYSTEM MALFUNCTION screen until the steering angle sensor calibrates itself, which happens after you drive about...20 feet. I got a little worried the first time it happened to me because I was parked while checking some CEL codes while sorting out my catless downpipe install, and the 4x4 warning stayed on because I wasn’t moving.

Kinja'd!!! "Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
02/02/2017 at 16:20, STARS: 1

LS 460 might be the answer.

Kinja'd!!! "Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich)
02/02/2017 at 16:20, STARS: 2

“the one of my dad deciding he wants to get rid of one of our German cars every single time something breaks ,”

My suggestion? Tell him to hand you the keys and you’ll take care of it...

Kinja'd!!!

On a more serious note, it sounds like your dad wants a luxury vehicle, but not the reliability hassles that go with a Euro car as it ages.

So in my view, he should look at getting a Lexus since they have consistently been proven to be durable, reliable and well built vehicles.

In terms of reliability, the Genesis is mostly ‘average’ according to consumer reports... with trouble areas in the audio system, some power equipment, the climate control system and for some years, brake issues.

It’s likely to be better than that BMW, but likely to be not as good as a Lexus.

Kinja'd!!! "Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich)
02/02/2017 at 16:21, STARS: 1

Nah... he wants luxury. So he should get a Lexus ES350...

;-)

Kinja'd!!! "Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich)
02/02/2017 at 16:23, STARS: 1

If your dad starts saying it’s a hUUUUUUge disaster and the parts are THE WORST DEAL EVER, I have bad news for you... your dad is turning into Donald Trump.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/02/2017 at 16:42, STARS: 1

Always a solid plan. Especially if he dicedes to get another X3 but then changes his mind because it costs 20% more right off the bat.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/02/2017 at 16:44, STARS: 0

Around 25,000 a year.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/02/2017 at 16:45, STARS: 0

Could that also happen shortly after using the car to jumpstart another car?

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/02/2017 at 16:46, STARS: 0

I agree, and he likes them too. This just happens to be the car he drove past. Like I said, no logic.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/02/2017 at 16:48, STARS: 1

Point well taken. My guess is his next purchase will be a current-generation GS350 in a year or so.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/02/2017 at 16:49, STARS: 0

He abhors Donald Trump on a cellular level so that could be interesting.

Kinja'd!!! "Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
02/02/2017 at 17:01, STARS: 0

25K is no issue for a Lexus - in fact, a guy called in to Car Talk about an LS400 w/ 350K on it and he’d never even replaced the plugs/wires. And there are a few in car service fleets - I’ve ridden in the back of two, and it’s a very nice place to live.

Kinja'd!!! "Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
02/02/2017 at 17:09, STARS: 1

Maybe? If power were interrupted to whichever computer controls the steering angle sensor and it needed to recalibrate itself.

I’d use a scanner that can read ABS/ESC in addition to CEL codes, to check for stored codes. If it says anything like loss of battery or steering angle sensor then there’s a good chance it’s nothing to worry about.

Usually the Bosch scanners that they have at O’Reilly can do ABS/ESC codes.

Kinja'd!!! "V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches" (jbv12)
02/03/2017 at 00:33, STARS: 0

Mine has just under 226K and she’s going strong!

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/10/2017 at 19:17, STARS: 0

...did you call him?

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/10/2017 at 19:17, STARS: 0

So apparently this time it wasn’t just more bitching.

Kinja'd!!! "jkm7680" (jkm7680)
02/10/2017 at 19:24, STARS: 0

Ew @ the homie-g wheels.

Kinja'd!!! "jkm7680" (jkm7680)
02/10/2017 at 19:25, STARS: 0

350k and no plugs/wires?

That’s a lie. Maybe he didn’t, but someone else did.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/10/2017 at 19:25, STARS: 0

They may go if he decides to keep it long term, but it may not be around long enough for us to bother.

Kinja'd!!! "Twinpowermeansoneturbo" (twinpower)
02/10/2017 at 19:26, STARS: 1

Take it from a guy who pretty much only buys German luxury cars, but the Genesis is a lot nicer than the X3. Also given that the X3 was at 110k and the Genesis is only at 60k, its a swap that sort of makes sense. That being said, I would never personally buy a Genesis.

Kinja'd!!! "jkm7680" (jkm7680)
02/10/2017 at 19:27, STARS: 1

maybe when I come into town to steal the A8s wheels, I’ll steal those wheels as well and smelt them into a dildo for thehondabro.

Kinja'd!!! "E92M3" (E46M3)
02/10/2017 at 19:40, STARS: 0

He should just go get a RX350 and call it a day.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/10/2017 at 19:42, STARS: 2

When he retires and becomes an old woman I’m sure he’ll get right on that.

Kinja'd!!! "Mid Engine" (jdlogan2006)
02/10/2017 at 19:42, STARS: 0

I would tend to agree with you, but the front grill on Lexus’ for the last several years is a HUGE turn off.

Kinja'd!!! "Rico" (ricorich)
02/10/2017 at 19:51, STARS: 1

Hey on the bright side I’m looking forward to your impressions and review of the car after you have some seat time.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/10/2017 at 19:55, STARS: 1

So am I, in a sense.

Kinja'd!!! "My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
02/10/2017 at 19:56, STARS: 1

TBH the asian luxury manufacturers interiors really aren’t on par with the germans. You will have greatly less headaches with them though.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/10/2017 at 19:59, STARS: 1

I would say the most recent crop of Lexuses are, but that’s it.

Kinja'd!!! "My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
02/10/2017 at 20:04, STARS: 1

I’ll have to check them out. Pittsburgh’s auto show is next week. Last year both Lexus and Infinity were a bit of a fail. Nice compared to cars years ago, but BMW impressed the hell out of me with the 7 series. That car felt like the future.

Kinja'd!!! "Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
02/10/2017 at 20:09, STARS: 1

My dad went to a Chevy dealer every 3 years for 26 plus years way back when and ordered yet another Impala, With no A/C in DC, which was not good when you wanted to get a date. Consider yourself lucky.

Kinja'd!!! "Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
02/10/2017 at 20:10, STARS: 3

BMW has the most “meh” of the German interiors, so you’re not losing too much by going to a Genesis. Plus that V8 power is going to be addictive.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/10/2017 at 20:12, STARS: 1

I mean, I do have my own car.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/10/2017 at 20:13, STARS: 0

Interestingly, it’s not any quicker than the BMW. I’m sure I’ll prefer the way it delivers power though.

Kinja'd!!! "Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
02/10/2017 at 20:42, STARS: 0

LS400? If it’s going to happen with any car, it would be that one. Engineered within an inch of its life.

Kinja'd!!! "Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
02/10/2017 at 20:44, STARS: 1

And I did not ... still, if you had to date in a giant Hyundai, it would almost certainly work,

Kinja'd!!! "jkm7680" (jkm7680)
02/10/2017 at 21:05, STARS: 0

I very, very highly doubt that.

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
02/10/2017 at 21:14, STARS: 1

Outstanding! Does it have the extra options package?

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/10/2017 at 21:51, STARS: 0

It’s is fully loaded. Every option available on the 2011 Genesis.

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
02/10/2017 at 22:26, STARS: 1

Fabulous. I envy you.

Kinja'd!!! "TheD0k_2many toys 2little time" (thed0ck)
02/11/2017 at 11:31, STARS: 1

good choice. i hate working on german cars.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
02/11/2017 at 11:34, STARS: 0

Yup. In the last two months both of my parents traded in their German cars for Asian ones after finally getting sick of the repair bills.

Kinja'd!!! "TheD0k_2many toys 2little time" (thed0ck)
02/11/2017 at 11:40, STARS: 1

good choices haha. German cars are good up until about 100k miles

Kinja'd!!! "CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
02/12/2017 at 19:50, STARS: 1

Twice.

Kinja'd!!! "E92M3" (E46M3)
02/12/2017 at 20:06, STARS: 0

He’s pretty close to being there with his Korean version of Lexus GS.