THE TRUE VALUE OF YOUR SAFETY

Is $12,000 a lot of money to you?

If you answer NO, you're an arrogant ass who doesn't know the value of a dollar, or what's going on in the United States economically.

For everyone else:

My entire life I've had hand me down cars. My all time favorite was a puke green Gremlin that constantly had problems. But, when it rode it was a blast to drive. Maybe it's because I was a teenager and just beginning to live, but man I long for that car.

Like 99.9% of people, I can't fix anything on a car. My father was a mechanic and he would help me with tune-ups, oil changes and brake replacement. In his later years, even he couldn't make out the workings of newfangled engines with their computer parts, emission thingies and all the other crap that goes into making the enviornment and passengers safer and more efficient.

In 1988 I bought the cheapest model Hyundai for $6000 and had it till I left Long Island in 1996. I sold it for $500 to a friend who was still driving it years later. It served me and him well.

2010 we've been driving an Oldsmobile Acheiva that Karen's mom gave us when her son bought her a new car in 2004. It has more then served us well, as we got it with 97,000 miles and it now has 169,000. But, it failed inspection and the mechanic that's been servicing it for all these years said it's not worth the money to fix. So, we're in the market for a new car.

We don't want to buy used because we don't want someone else's headaches. You just never know how the previous owner drove. For thousands of dollars you don't want a lemon. So, we want a new car. We want a car we can ruin on our own, without help from strangers.

This past Saturday we went from dealer to dealer and put this very simple question to each salesman "What is your cheapest car with air-conditioning, a CD player and automatic transmission". Basically the answer was the same $11000 when all is said and done. Taxes, and all the other WTF fees are not included yet. Hyundai still has the best warranties, but the biggest asshole salesmen around (that's a whole other post).

Can you believe at some dealerships, if you go with the most basic model of their base car, you do not get a radio? Now a base model is still $10,000 and for that you're not worthy of a radio. That's ridiculous and WRONG. But, that's not the kicker.

So what do 99% of new car dealers have in common?

If you're only willing to spend $11,000 you will not get ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. How fucked up is that?

Even people who don't know about cars, know the safety of Anti-Lock brakes. This is your SAFETY. This helps keep you alive. It's the most basic fundamental piece of equipment on any vehicle. It's proven to save lives. It's the #1 piece of equipment on your car. Hell, at EPCOT it's part of the TEST TRACK ride. Turning a corner with old-fashioned brakes where you skid or "Now lets try it using the ABS system" where you make the same smooth turn without the skid.

SHOULDN'T THIS BE STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON EVERY CAR? This is common sense.

Fuck common sense, and fuck any consumer who buys a vehicle under $12000. Your safety means nothing to these car makers. Don't ever let them tell you otherwise. Safety is our chief concern! But, only if you buy a fully equipped car.

But, the shit that really gets my goat is; You can't just add ABS to a base system. It's a $2000 plus package that includes these other safety features "power windows and door locks". Really? I don't like power windows and doors.. I can roll down my own window, and unlock my door.

I am completely dumbfounded by this.

We ended up purchasing a Toyota Yaris, which surprisingly enough is the only base model car that has standard ABS.

Thank you Toyota for looking out for us lo-end buyers.