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I have chronic depression. I've been clinically diagnosed. So actually getting dressed and leaving the house takes a rather extreme amount of effort, much more than the average human being.
Today, I decided I would like to go for a drive. It took me around three hours to convince myself that pants were a good idea, and I put on my jacket and started the car.
So I turn on Harvey Danger, pull out of the driveway, and then...and then the battery light came on, and there was a burning smell. So I got all of 500 feet outside the driveway before I turned around and came back.
Let's count the issues this car has had in the 6 months I've owned it:
• Front charger plug does not work (not a huge issue, just a mild annoyance)
• Vacuum pump leaks ($700+ repair cost, not fixed yet due to not NEEDING it entirely)
• Battery died. This would be normal, as I'm suspecting it was never changed and the car is five years old which is the life of a battery, except it died in a spectacular fashion involving a severe amount of corrosion which is extremely dangerous. Also ruined the battery cables. $450 repair cost, had to be done to actually drive the car.
And now, I'm guessing from the battery warning lights along with the burning smell, it appears to have an alternator issue.
Talking to the manager at the dealer last time, I swore that I would be finding a new car if it had an alternator issue. Well. Looks like that's happening.
I expected these issues with my 20-year old car. A 5-year old car that I bought from an official dealer? Not so much.
I think that if I get another car, it probably will not be a Volvo.
Today, I decided I would like to go for a drive. It took me around three hours to convince myself that pants were a good idea, and I put on my jacket and started the car.
So I turn on Harvey Danger, pull out of the driveway, and then...and then the battery light came on, and there was a burning smell. So I got all of 500 feet outside the driveway before I turned around and came back.
Let's count the issues this car has had in the 6 months I've owned it:
• Front charger plug does not work (not a huge issue, just a mild annoyance)
• Vacuum pump leaks ($700+ repair cost, not fixed yet due to not NEEDING it entirely)
• Battery died. This would be normal, as I'm suspecting it was never changed and the car is five years old which is the life of a battery, except it died in a spectacular fashion involving a severe amount of corrosion which is extremely dangerous. Also ruined the battery cables. $450 repair cost, had to be done to actually drive the car.
And now, I'm guessing from the battery warning lights along with the burning smell, it appears to have an alternator issue.
Talking to the manager at the dealer last time, I swore that I would be finding a new car if it had an alternator issue. Well. Looks like that's happening.
I expected these issues with my 20-year old car. A 5-year old car that I bought from an official dealer? Not so much.
I think that if I get another car, it probably will not be a Volvo.
