Have YOU Ever Had A NAGGING Issue That Made You SELL A Car?

So, yesterday I found myself at one of my doctors. No, it's not the same doctor who turned out to be a huge enthusiast and AutoSpies fan. This is another one. And like most folks I build a relationship with, it doesn't take too long for me to talk about my love for automobiles and what I do in my spare time.

That means car talk happens pretty often with those who know a bit about me.

Funny enough this doctor started talking to me about her latest automotive-related frustration. The owner of a Lexus GS350 "from last year," she noted that she's already looking to get rid of it. Being curious, I had to ask why.

You wouldn't believe the factor leading to her decision.

It turns out that the infotainment systems user experience is so annoying that she has difficulty accessing the preset radio stations. And, she cannot program the presets. She finds this deeply annoying as did I when I've had Lexus press vehicles. It took me about 10 minutes to figure it out when I last had a GS F and by that point I was a bit flush.

While I am sure that a Lexus dealership employee gave her a full briefing on the vehicle and its various details — as this is standard procedure on any luxury vehicle purchase — the reality is that this information sometimes goes in one ear and out the other. Clearly, it didn't stick and she's trading up.

That said, I just have to ask: Have YOU ever sold a car due to a NAGGING issue like this? Let us know your experiences, Spies!

TheSteve - 12/15/2016 12:01:01 AM

+2 Boost

Rust.

TomM - 12/15/2016 5:32:13 PM

+1 Boost

I agree - it is Rust that would have me end my relationship with a car. I can normally fix most anything mechanical - so the cost does not affect me like it would others -
HOWEVER - studies have shown that the Automatic Transmission that is the most expensive thing most drivers will repair (Now in the $3-5000 range) - far fewer will actually replace a blown engine - due to problems with the electrical system and computers.

iamdabest1 - 12/15/2016 12:49:45 AM

+2 Boost

mazda millena S, and mitsubishi 3000gt-sl both cars were plagued with electrical probs.

mre30 - 12/15/2016 7:46:21 AM

+1 Boost

I purchase all my cars outright, so the factors making me trade them in for a new one are mechanical issues.

On my last S550 - a mouse/mice nested in the engine compartment and chewed thru the main wiring harness. MB Manhattan pieced it together over 3 days but it was not the same, so it was traded.

I had a Mercedes SUV that was always parked near a sprinkler head (unknown to me) when we moved to a new house and the (unknown to me) soaking the car got every night ruined the rear wheel bearings. I fought with the dealer on that one and it was only when I came home from a trip late at night that I realized I choose the wrong parking spot!

My latest trade (a BMW) was because the dealer did not have the parts to fix the defective Takata airbag for 18 months. Traded that one on a Bentley GTC.

For those of you in the automotive retailing business, please share with us how your stores deal with Takata trade-in's. The Bentley dealer told me, my trade would sit in storage until the part was available because they legally couldn't sell it. Is that true?

In our throwaway culture, I like buying and enjoying cars without being forced to turn them every 27, 36, 42 months due to a lease end. I usually keep them for 6 or 7 years.

MDarringer - 12/15/2016 8:31:11 AM

+1 Boost

We tend to dealer trade anything that is not the brand of the dealer. If it's a Ford--for example--and we perform the recall, we get money from Ford to do it. If it's a recall say on a Chevy Malibu at a Ford dealer we would send the vehicle to Chevrolet and they would get the recall $$. That's not money in our pocket. We simply aren't interested in selling used versions of brands we don't carry. If all the recalls have been performed, MAYBE.

My wife used to love Jettas but every one of them was a reliability nightmare. VWs have electrical demons and so we dumped the car for a Kia Optima

atc98092 - 12/15/2016 8:05:33 AM

+3 Boost

I've had things that stop me from buying one in the first place. Most recently, I really liked the Jetta Hybrid, but I refused to buy a car with the horrendous RNS-315 radio. That radio alone kept me from considering several different VW models. They've finally replaced that radio (as well as the RNS-510, which suffers from its own issues but still far better), but at the moment VW doesn't offer anything I want. That's why I bought something used, to tide me over after my Passat goes back in two weeks. I now have the luxury to wait for someone to market something that I want.

MDarringer - 12/15/2016 7:29:37 PM

-2 Boost

I'm assuming "aspy" is short for "Aspergers"??

Runamukk - 12/15/2016 8:51:25 AM

+2 Boost

Regarding Takata airbags the Mercedes dealer I work for gives clients current wholesale value minus 90 days worth of extra depreciation and parks them in a garage until resolved. Most take over 90 days so we usually take a hit.

TauronB2G - 12/15/2016 2:28:36 PM

+2 Boost

Right now I'm driving a 14 E350 sedan and an 11 E550 convertible. My 14 has this stop/start that's just annoying and and the transmission sometimes shifts harder than I'm used too. The stop start isn't a deal breaker but I'm watching the transmission. My 11 has been virtually perfect. The biggest issue with both cars have been the dealer experiences. I swear they will charge and overcharge for just about everything.
T

TomM - 12/15/2016 5:27:54 PM

+2 Boost

For the 2014 - this car - and many others - have a computer controlled transmission that "learns" from its driver. IF you drive normally - it will adjust to normal shifts - if you drive spiritedly - the shifts will be harder - and if you drive slowly - the shifts will get softer. It takes 50-100 miles of combined driving - and the problem is that when you drive long distances - at higher allowed speeds - it may take that as being more spirited and adjust for strong later shifts. That is why is happens only sometimes - and seems to go away after you drive normally again. In addition - all auto tranmissions have a problem when you accelerate and then suddenly let go of the accelerator. THey are getting better at the computer programs that control these things but I expect there will always be little glitches where the computer cannot read your mind. THis is also often a problem when two different drivers with two different driving styles regularly drive the car.

TomM - 12/15/2016 5:38:39 PM

+2 Boost

By the way - about your dealer experiences - For most of my life - we either dealt with small local dealerships - where you could actually know and talk to the owner. For a while - my Brother was a Lincoln/Mercury dealer - and he was the Service Manager for the dealership. He won numerous awards before he got sick and had to get out. These big dealerships are the problem - they do outsell the small ones - but there is no personal involvement in the process. I once bought a car at a large dealership in another state (My car caught fire - I needed a car) - and I almost got off their parking lot before the car died and would not start. They had to TOW my car back to the service department - and the next day - I sat in my car the whole day - waiting for service - and when I went back in- they told me that they checked my car - and found nothing wrong - I asked for the names of the people who did this - because the car NEVER moved - and got into a big argument - then insisted the car was Okay - so I asked them to start it - which it would not (THe fuel pump failed).

TauronB2G - 12/15/2016 11:11:02 PM

+2 Boost

Yeah ummmm Tom these are my 4th & 5th Mercedes. I can tell something is up with my transmission. These are hard kick downs that are jarring and I've never had these issues with any of my cars. It's going in next month for a check if the transmission.

TomM - 12/17/2016 9:34:53 AM

+1 Boost

I was not trying to ridicule anyone with my response - the problem I tried to point out - about computer's learning how you drive - has been a problem for all the manufacturers - and has caused multiple needed computer re-flashes (well known in Jeeps and Chrylers). If it seemed that way - I apologize. I do not doubt that you have that problem - nor do I doubt that you have experience with Mercedes before - but this type of programming is New to many cars - and I just wanted to point out what could be different - that might cause your problem.

mini22 - 12/17/2016 12:17:31 AM

+1 Boost

Well yes. It was a 2001 Subaru WRX. It was reasonably quick, it had good handling. I put some money into it by removing and after market spoiler. I also had to replace the clutch. The problem I encountered was that getting into the car 6 times out of 10 resulted in me banging my right shin against the underside of the dash board. There was a very sharp plastic edge on that car. My right shin really began to hurt after a while. Finally what was the straw that broke the camels back was when I cut opened up my shin and needed stiches.I ended up trading it in for a 2004 Mazda RX8.

MDarringer - 12/17/2016 10:33:39 AM

+1 Boost

You mean the Super Beetle engine wasn't the culprit?