Just got back from the repair shop, where a new turbocharger had to be installed in my 2001 Volvo. I've had the car since November 2007 and it always ran fine. It was due for state inspection in August 2008, and to my astonishment, it failed spectacularly -- five separate things prevented it from passing. It was in such horrid shape that, when I drove it from the inspection station to the shop and showed the printout to the Volvo guy there, the first thing he asked was, "Does the car start?"
Of course the car started; I'd had no problems with it at all. He then inquired whether the "Check Engine" light had been on, and I'd never seen it come on once.
I brought the car back the next day and they ran it through a full work-up. In addition to several electrical issues, they reported that the turbocharger was almost completely shot to hell. How on Earth could this have happened without even the simplest warning signs?
As I found out today, here's how: at the dealership that sold me the car (a new car dealership, by the way), someone removed the instrument panel from the dashboard, stuck a piece of electrical tape over the "Check Engine" light, and put the panel back in. It had been on the entire time I'd owned the car, hidden behind a piece of tape. I'm surprised it didn't start a fucking fire in the dash.
So $3000 for a new turbocharger and sundry other repairs later, I have a functional car; in other words, the car I thought I was buying back in November.
The lesson? Uh... There probably isn't one. I'm screwed. You're screwed.
Or maybe: "Don't buy a used car in Texas"?
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Will check back in tonight during the game with the Rat Bastard League fantasy draft wrap-up and NFL season preview, but let's get the pick for tonight's "Kickoff Classic" out there now: Giants 27, Redskins 17. Big day for Gummo Manning and the newly enriched Plaxico Burress against a shaky-looking Redskins defense.
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3 comments:
The third quarter is over and the verdict is in. The Giants are decent, not good, pretty much like last year. Eli Manning still isn't a good quarterback. He's thrown only one pick so far, but he's had two other sure picks dropped. One other one pick was dropped as well, though that one was less sure.
As for my Redskins, well, their defense is fine. Not great, but decent. If guys keep getting hurt they're not going to hold up over the season.
Their offense, however, is horrendous. They can't do anything. Three different times they've completed passes on third down, but the receiver ran the pattern too short so they didn't get the first down. And those are the positives.
Its going to be a long season.
Where's the Texas Hammer (local attorney) when you need him??!!
That dealership needs to get the duck sick. so does the Redskins offense. We also discovered that Wolf Blitzer is a Skins fan tonight.
Seriously, Eli could have easily had four interceptions last night. I am now advocating for the Redskins receivers to be moved to the defensive backfield the next time they play the Giants. If they aren't going to be used on offense, at least they can catch all of Eli's passes.
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