Post
by janeintoronto » Sat Sep 21, 2019 3:05 pm
Well, I'm sorry to say, my Fiero is history. No it is not economical to just hand it to a dealer, but my circumstances make it impractical to sell it privately.
I offer this advice:
Why You Should Keep Your Fiero:
With your new car, you will receive an inch thick manual. For cheaper cars, you will need to sit in your garage all night to read it off the display.
Some info in this manual will be terrifying. An example is: how to repair your gearshifter.
That is why you only get the manual AFTER you buy the car.
Note: you will still not be able to pre-set your radio stations. This is in another manual you may not be entitled to.
The gear shift may be designed by someone who never learned why automatics still have 1st & 2nd gears.
It is also designed for people who cannot drive standard but who still want to look cool.
Identifying which gear you are in on a bright day will cause presbyopia.
Good luck being in the middle of the road with a dead car. The car believes it should never be put in neutral unless it is running, no matter how many car wash attendants are asphyxiated. You do not argue with new cars.
Just when you thought it was normal to apply a little gas when starting up, now they tell you to step on the brake. Your foot will now be confused and this can lead to serious accidents once in gear. After a week, it will still take several minutes to remember how to start the car. You will also
forget to turn it off. It won't matter because many things will still run anyway. See battery below.
The car will blink when you are close by. It thinks you are glad to see it because of the enormous key fob destroying your jeans' pocket. This key fob will cost $500. Changing its battery requires more tools and force than does a dollar store flashlight.
There is a good chance you will set off the car alarm right beside the first tee.
They don't sell those nice cozy Fiero fabric seats anymore. If you don't like black vinyl, be prepared to pay.
There's a "free" standard screwdriver so you can feel like a real mechanic. However, the car has no standard fasteners.
Removing the battery requires disassembling the car.
If you thought it was a chore maintaining the Fiero's battery over the winter, know that today's car, with more blinking lights than a Christmas tree, will insist on a highway excursion every 3 weeks. The dealer will be happy to sell you a trickle charger.
When you have reached maximum fatigue and stress and you are finally taking delivery of your electronic wonder, the dealer will try to sell you additional warranty products. You will do this.
You cannot turn off the seat belt buzzer. Again, you do not argue with new cars.
Airbags are not mandatory in Canada. Good luck submitting the form for removal. Car dealers say do not put your robust 12+ year old child 24" away from the front passenger airbag, but they will insist that your five foot wife, daughter or osteoporotic auntie drive sitting only 10" away from an explosive device. Airbags are part of planned obsolescence. They destroy the dash and crack the windshield for no reason, then you have to buy a new car. If you survive. That is why dealers ignore your deactivation request.
Asked what happened to that guy who was planning to build inexpensive basic cars, one wit replied, "Somebody probably shot him."