SMASH!!!

the new car sounds fun. I know what you mean about the payments though.
Still it sounds fun and post a picture.

enjoy the new car, but be careful not to inhale too deeply. People love that new car smell but I heard it's poisonous. LOL

just popped in to see how everyone was..glad to hear there recoveries are going well..and a new car! Wow! enjoy!

lovekitties wrote:enjoy the new car, but be careful not to inhale too deeply. People love that new car smell but I heard it's poisonous. LOL

LK's right! All that off-gassing from new plastics and fabrics. Drive with a window down while the nice weather lasts to air it out!

I actually hate the smell of new cars, so the windows have been down and vents wide open. :-) Soon enough, it will smell like horses and kitties, so I'm not worried.

I'll post a picture soon. I have one on the phone. I just need to pull it to a posting site.

Looking forward to that!

Suzzzz wrote:

lovekitties wrote:enjoy the new car, but be careful not to inhale too deeply. People love that new car smell but I heard it's poisonous. LOL

LK's right! All that off-gassing from new plastics and fabrics. Drive with a window down while the nice weather lasts to air it out!

Did you know that plastic off-gassing is what puts that odd film on the inside of your windshield too?

I went to visit a friend in Northern VA this weekend. Yesterday, after the huge storm, we ventured out in the traffic to see her horse. As we were going off the Interstate, we went over a bridge expansion joint that SHREDDED the right rear tire of the new car. :-( The sensor told me about the flat tire, but one of the features of new cars is that they don't come with spares. So, we got to wait in the 100 degree weather for a tow truck. Fortunately, the local tire place had power and was able to fix the car. It wasn't what I planned, but it could have been much worse. I guess the new car has had its first real adventure!

Sounds like, but what's up with the no spare?

As I mentioned, my boss recently got an Elantra too, and he mentioned some time ago that there are no longer spare tires provided, in an effort to decrease weight, and therefore increase gas mileage. That doesn't help in this case though...

They also don't include a spare tire unless you pay through the nose for it as an 'Option".

No spare tire included in a new car?? That is outrageous! What bonehead allowed THAT regulation to lapse or be altered? Let me guess. The fat boys on Capitol Hill all snug in the auto industry's pocket.

Hoo boy, don't get me started.

We won't sounds like you were getting start foaming at the mouth.

Now this makes me wonder if my parents two vehicles have a spare tire. One is a '08 and the other is from last year. I should look into it later.

I think I'm going to the junk yard to find one that will fit my car. I am pretty sure I can get a rim for about $25 and then just find a used tire for about the same money. I don't mind not having one but it was inconvenient. The new cars have a "fix-a-flat" kit in the trunk, but no jack, no lug wrench and no spare. Seems like they assume people are willing to sit around and wait for a tow.

Hyundai does have free roadside assistance. I called that number since I was pretty sure AAA was busy with storm recovery calls. The guy was really nice, and I didn't have to come up with tow money AND tire money.

Your cell phone carrier may also offer a roadside
assistance plan.

[quote="bpaquet"]I think I'm going to the junk yard to find one that will fit my car. I am pretty sure I can get a rim for about $25 and then just find a used tire for about the same money. I don't mind not having one but it was inconvenient. The new cars have a "fix-a-flat" kit in the trunk, but no jack, no lug wrench and no spare. Seems like they assume people are willing to sit around and wait for a tow.quote]

Don't count on finding a tire that cheap at the junkyard. My mechanic has been looking for good used tires for my car for nearly two years now. He says the used ones are almost as expensive as brand new. Remember Cash for Clunkers? That's where all the spare parts went that we can't find now......the crushers. I was extremely lucky he found a replacement for the rear tail light when my car was hit last year.

According to my dad, there is a spare tire for both of their vehicles. I should ask where they are in each vehicle, in case I'm with one of them and get stuck with a flat and know where it is. My parents have AAA.

for a long time now they have had what they call do-nuts as spares, instead of real tires. I remember when my friend got her last car, she invested in getting a regular tire , just before our annual trip to Michigan. we were very glad we did when there was an accident and one of her tires was actually shredded. and we didn't have to do the rest of the trip on a donut.

I drive with TWO spares in the trunk, ever since I got two flat tires at the same time but only had one spare. Sooo, I was still stranded. Swore that wouldn't happen to me again.

Those donuts were only good for residential driving and then only about
25 miles.

I had a car once with one of those in the trunk.......it was flat too.