I’m not doing that, but it’s also too hot here and I’m in a pretty foul/depressed mood. Hopefully we figure it out, right?
The place I went for paint/body work has changed hands since then, and they moved to a new, much larger looking location (Stuart's in Plano). I vaguely recall reading that the new owners aren't nearly as good as the old ones.
Hekotat
If you find a good one let me know as well...
Mrs. Haus
. The only actual new car I've ever purchased was the 2013 Ford Escape which is her daily driver. It's coming up on 13 years old now. I had fully accepted that it was time to probably shop for her a CPO replacement. I had started shopping. Then she comes to me with the statement that she still loves her car (only has 63k miles on it), but needs a backup camera, new tires, and wants wireless Android Auto, and some scratches small door dings (from 13 years of Dallas parking lots) and such taken care of.
This relates to this weeks decision on the part of
Both I, and my bank account, love my wife.
First stop yesterday was getting a new radio/head unit dropped in. Went with a Sony XAV-AX4000, plus some black magic module to attach it to the cars onboard computer. It came supporting a backup camera, and wireless Android Auto, so I figured it took care of the need. But I was quite pleasantly surprised. Her car had idiot lights for "you have low tire, but I'm not telling you which" and limited gauges. This stereo was suddenly able to display full pressure on each tire with warning thresholds. It had a full set of gauges digital in it (RPM, oil, the whole 9 yards and would even clock you 0-60 for you). On top of that her car now has digital climate controls on screen. The only thing it didn't support was that the backup camera guide lines in my Caddy turn when turn the wheel and these don't. But I wasn't expecting that as it involves a whole set of steering sensors. Apparently the thing would even support proximity sensors for backup and collision detection if the car had them installed (so now I'm looking at aftermarket sensor packages that might work).
$1500 well spent. (had a local Sound/audio place install it all).
Next stop today is new tires. And to pick up rubbing/polishing/wax compounds to see about taking care of the scratches myself, but there's a small door ding I don't have the dentless repair kit to handle myself. Total project cost on this will be under $3000 as opposed to a CPO Lexus compact SUV which was what we were narrowing in on. I already did one of those "headlight polishing" kits to un-yellow and defog the headlamp lenses.
I'm not sure I'd bring my car to the dealership for body work unless they have a full and busy body shop. Bring it to people that do the work every day.
While I have never done dent pulling, you melt and cast metal, so I assume you are fairly handy. Maybe search through AutogeekOnline.net or YouTube videos on how to pull small dents and do it yourself. I have had the whole front clip off my car before and while not exactly easy, it's not all that hard either, if that's what it takes (it shouldn't).
This relates to this weeks decision on the part of
Both I, and my bank account, love my wife.
First stop yesterday was getting a new radio/head unit dropped in. Went with a Sony XAV-AX4000, plus some black magic module to attach it to the cars onboard computer. It came supporting a backup camera, and wireless Android Auto, so I figured it took care of the need. But I was quite pleasantly surprised. Her car had idiot lights for "you have low tire, but I'm not telling you which" and limited gauges. This stereo was suddenly able to display full pressure on each tire with warning thresholds. It had a full set of gauges digital in it (RPM, oil, the whole 9 yards and would even clock you 0-60 for you). On top of that her car now has digital climate controls on screen. The only thing it didn't support was that the backup camera guide lines in my Caddy turn when turn the wheel and these don't. But I wasn't expecting that as it involves a whole set of steering sensors. Apparently the thing would even support proximity sensors for backup and collision detection if the car had them installed (so now I'm looking at aftermarket sensor packages that might work).
$1500 well spent. (had a local Sound/audio place install it all).
Next stop today is new tires. And to pick up rubbing/polishing/wax compounds to see about taking care of the scratches myself, but there's a small door ding I don't have the dentless repair kit to handle myself. Total project cost on this will be under $3000 as opposed to a CPO Lexus compact SUV which was what we were narrowing in on. I already did one of those "headlight polishing" kits to un-yellow and defog the headlamp lenses.
Yeah, I've already ordered a paintless dent pulling kit (the glue gun and puller style) and it looks pretty basic to do. That's one ding she has on her drivers door. As mentioned I have all the gear already to do cut, buff, and polish for any surface scratching.
Cad
Yes
Ouch, that looks a bit rough on the paint, and yeah, since you are ordering a new panel there is no getting around going to a body shop.
The dynamic guidelines just use the vehicle's steering angle sensor. Pretty sure that vintage of Escape should have that since you need it for vehicle dynamic control - it needs to know if you happen to be turning so it doesn't think wheels are slipping from the differential in wheel speeds (among other things).
This relates to this weeks decision on the part of
Both I, and my bank account, love my wife.
First stop yesterday was getting a new radio/head unit dropped in. Went with a Sony XAV-AX4000, plus some black magic module to attach it to the cars onboard computer. It came supporting a backup camera, and wireless Android Auto, so I figured it took care of the need. But I was quite pleasantly surprised. Her car had idiot lights for "you have low tire, but I'm not telling you which" and limited gauges. This stereo was suddenly able to display full pressure on each tire with warning thresholds. It had a full set of gauges digital in it (RPM, oil, the whole 9 yards and would even clock you 0-60 for you). On top of that her car now has digital climate controls on screen. The only thing it didn't support was that the backup camera guide lines in my Caddy turn when turn the wheel and these don't. But I wasn't expecting that as it involves a whole set of steering sensors. Apparently the thing would even support proximity sensors for backup and collision detection if the car had them installed (so now I'm looking at aftermarket sensor packages that might work).
$1500 well spent. (had a local Sound/audio place install it all).
Next stop today is new tires. And to pick up rubbing/polishing/wax compounds to see about taking care of the scratches myself, but there's a small door ding I don't have the dentless repair kit to handle myself. Total project cost on this will be under $3000 as opposed to a CPO Lexus compact SUV which was what we were narrowing in on. I already did one of those "headlight polishing" kits to un-yellow and defog the headlamp lenses.
Yeah, the "black magic box" is called a Maestro box. I was suspect of it and if I really needed it, but seeing what it's delivering I'm definitely flipped on that opinion.
