Re: MY NICE 164 is simply the coolest

[Nizam Zambri <nizam@domain.elided>]

While we're airing laundry, I simply have to say my 164 is an Italian 
Camry.  Turned 90,000 miles 4 days ago, lots of urban cycle (stop, go, 
stop, idle for a looong time, go, stop again, yuck .. oh AC on the whole 
time, this is California and I have to remain beautiful)

That car sounds like it has been abused mechanically, and once the PO 
decided he/she has had enough ... let it go for, probably for a "good deal"
 too.

Sorry, no sympathy from me here.  I don't know how much you paid for it, 
and I don't usually question such things but I can give you e-mail 
addresses and phone numbers of my yuppie friends who bought used BMW 745's,
 BMW 750's, M3's and 528i's for a "good deal" and they have the SAME 
maintenance sticker shock as you did.  This is after spending more than 
$20,000 ... I'll bet you paid no more than half that.

My wife used to be in car sales, and had this story to tell. One day a 
customer rolled in to trade his Infiniti Q45 with 30,000 miles.  It was 
IMMACULATE in appearance, almost "new in box".  Due to its external 
appearance, the salesguy didn't feel a quick mechanical check was 
necessary, as he had to make a sale that day.  So, the customer got a 
great deal in trade-in value and happily drove off in his new Audi.  
Before they put the Q45 in the used-car section, it went in for an oil 
change and other maintenance items.  To the mechanic's horror, the oil was 
pure sludge.  The car had never seen an oil change since new.  They gave 
the car away to an auction house since the dealership had a reputation to 
upkeep.

Lesson learned; check the car out thoroughly before you buy it.  This 
happens to dealers too.  I don't care what car it is.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune.  It's not the car.

Nizam
94 164 Camr... uh, 164LS / Super

p/s I spend less than $1K/yr on maintenance including oil changes (Castrol 
Syntec) but I do all maintenance work myself.  $2K/yr is typical ... and 
it'll still make you grin ear to ear unlike the Japanese Camry's.
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