I'd kill someone if I weren't so calm...

Okay, here's the car saga. As I've mentioned before, we've been out some looking for a replacement car for the ex-Saturn, and we'd found this 99 Saturn SW2 wagon. Looked decent, was actually manual (which is surprisingly hard to find), was a decent price, etc etc. So we did a test drive Monday night, and all seemed mostly ok--except for it made this rattling/chugging sound from the back end (like in the muffler/exhaust area) when we turned it off.

We discuss it with the dealership, and decide that we like the car, and will buy it if they fix that chug noise problem. Probably just the muffler, no problem they say--and so they work on it yesterday, and we pick it up and sign the paperwork in the evening. But when James drives it home--*chug*. WTF? Seems the problem is still there--and it gets louder and more pronounced if the car's been good and warmed up. So James calls the dealer while I'm at my guitar lesson (hadn't practiced at all last wk, so I *SUCKED*), and they agree to come get it this morning and relook at the problem--and refix it,naturally.

Fast forward to this morning, when the car we picked up last night *WON'T EVEN START*. Two important things here: yes, we've still got the rental, and we also have this three-day money back guarantee from the dealership. So James calls them from work and lets them have it *big time*, and is really, really hard-assed at them (*applauds*). Basically, they are coming to get the car. They get *one* more chance to fix what is causing it to chug and of course what is causing it to not start. We have told them that they *will* tell us what the old problem was and why their original fix didn't work. Then they will tell us *exactly* what the problem is this time, and give us documentation as to what they're doing to fix it. And then when all is corrected to our satisfaction, they *will* restart that three-day money back guarantee time period, so we have a chance to use it and test it. (Not to mention so we have a chance to have a diagnostic center go over it with a fine-tooth comb to prove the problem's been fixed and that there are no new problems waiting to happen.)

It could still be a good car--it could be some stupid thing since the last owner let it sit a bit before trading it in. Cars that go for a few months without being used can be quirky before their systems smoothed out again. But they are going to have to *prove* this to us--I was taking a bit on faith since I trust the Saturn company, and since the ex-Saturn was so good and reliable the years we had it. But now they are going to have to work extra hard and treat us extra nice to keep us as customers. If it's not fixed to our satisfaction, or if *anything* else happens in those three days after we retrieve the car, or if the diagnostic center finds *anything* else wrong, it's going back and we're getting our money back--and I can guarandamnedtee you we'll never buy another Saturn again.

I'm surprisingly calm considering how pissed I was last night, and how even more irate I got this am when the situation got worse. James and I had a good yelling match at each other, and I was screaming with the radio all the way into work--didn't help traffic reeked and I ended up getting here late. But now that James has given them the whatfor (and I've straightened out a filing problem with the dr's office regarding my visit the day of the accident--I said file to USAA, not self pay! *flails*), and that we've got a plan of attack, I feel like we're a bit more in control.

I think I feel better, too, in that this crap won't interfere with me going to Wichita this weekend. Since we're either giving the SW2 back, or having James put it through its paces for three days after today/tomorrow, I won't be using it for an out of town trip. Though we've previously agreed that the other guys' insurance is to stop paying after today, we're going to keep the rental and pay for it ourselves through the weekend at least--I'll use it for the trip, and we'll continue to use it until finding a different car if the SW2 doesn't work out.

One way or another, something will work. I hate hitting all these speed bumps, but oh well. We deal. We (meaning I ^^; ) just bitch a lot in the process. It does irk me tho, that the guy who hit me basically had everything done for him since he was driving a company van, so they did all the work for repairing/replacing his vehicle, working with insurance/paperwork, etc. Tho he did have a citation to deal with, and may have even lost his job--companies will stick it to an employee like that, even if it was an accident. Guess it all comes out even in the end.

In any case, focusing on Friday. Everything'll be dandy if I just focus on Friday. >D Oh, and Kea? I know KC/Overland Park is about an hour or so away from Wichita, but I *so* have to get to the Rainforest Cafe at least once while we're hanging out. I just *need* to, ya know? ^^; *flails* I'm so odd... *sigh*

Part deux (pronounced duh)

Just a quick addendum thingy to this am's post. To fix the chugging on the SW2, the dealer has replaced the flex pipe assembly (where they'd previously only tightened it). And the not starting issues it was having was due to a grounding wire not being tightened properly when the fuel sender assembly was previously replaced (when the car was traded in)--basically it was only partially tightened, and was coming loose intermittently. Grounding wire not making contact=no signal to send fuel, therefore no start. So said wire was tightened.

They're picking James up, and taking him down to Bellevue to retrieve the vehicle--at which point he is signing a document that our 3-day money back thing is restarting as of tonight. Being the sort of person he is, I imagine James will be listening to that car like a hawk and putting it to the test. Anything else happens within the next three days, and it's outta here. But with luck, all the bugs are worked out now. And it goes into the diagnostic center tomorrow (not associated with the dealer) for tests and analysis--they give it a clean bill of health, so to speak, and we're fine. They find any problems, it goes back, we get our funds back and try again. But again, with luck, it'll be fine now.

Maybe now things'll start settling down. I'm still taking the rental out of town, and will return it to Enterprise Tuesday (figures they'd be closed Monday evening. ^^; ).

Gotta see Michael tonight, and not surprisingly I don't really feel like it. It's just that can be tough sometimes, and I just don't have the energy reserves to go through any sort of emotional wringer. I've been running on high-gear-adrenaline-blast-go-go-go for too, too many days in a row now, and I'm just drained dry. Tired, stressed, stretched too thin. Bleh. But after having cancelled on him for how many weeks in a row?, I don't think it would go over well if I did so again. Especially since I'd want to for the reason of going out to do something mindless and fun or staying home and reading fanfics and holing up alone--either sounds like a lovely recharge. But no dice. :p Bleh. Man, I could use some alone-fic reading time in such a bad way...

Geez, this was supposed to be short. >_< *flails*