Miata Mailing List: September 1998, Message #74

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Howdy Gang,

	I haven't participated in the list for a few weeks, due to a dose of Miata
induced depression.  You guys aren't gonna believe this.

	It all started the in the first week of June.  I had just bought my Miata
('94 M Edition) and was having the time of my life.  I had fallen in love
with the car in the early '90's and was ecstatic to have one.  About 1500
miles into ownership though, I noticed a thunk coming from behind the seat
when I would come off the clutch into hard acceleration.  I drove it down to
the dealership where I had bought it and was told that it was nothing to
worry about.  I figured that was great, I mean, I didn't care if it went
"thunk" just as long as it wasn't doing any damage.  I drove it out to
Pennsylvania a couple of times, and just generally all over the place,
noticing that it was getting easier and easier to make that thunk noise.
Not good, I thought.  I took it back to the dealership and asked them to
look at it.  As it turned out, now out of warranty, I needed a new LSD.
HMMMMMMM...  Coincidence?  I think not.  So they put in the new LSD, and I'm
back out livin' large again.  I mean, really, what's $1200 between complete
strangers anyway?  = P
	The following weekend, I set off on a long road trip that had me going to
Pennsylvania and back to NYC twice in two days.  To the non east coaster,
that's 1200 miles total.  I got halfway there.  A friend of mine was along
for the ride, and while dropping him off in Manhattan,  (44th and Broadway),
an RPS shipping truck took issue with the side of my car *crunch*.  I nearly
killed the guy.  I couldn't believe it.  The car was just driveable, so we
took it to NJ where my friend lived.
The insurance adjuster came and told me that not only would they cover the
accident (not always the case in NYC), but they had shops in the area that
did work for them only, for the quoted price.  I thought I was in heaven.
It was only gonna cost me my deductible to get this car fixed!!! *WRONG*  My
insurance company called me the next day (Geico Insurance Co.,  write that
one down) to tell me that due to unpaid parking tickets (???) they had
"short-termed" my policy and it had expired 24 hours prior to the accident.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT SH*T!!!  But hey, what's $2400 between friends anyway.
So off to the body shop we go.  I found a place that seemed to do good work,
and they gave me a decent rate, so I gave them the car.  Here we go again...
I get the car back two weeks later and drive it over to the mechanics for a
overall tune-up.  When I get there, I realize that the door does not lock.
So I go inside and pick up the phone. "Hi, Chick, it's John Bottomley" I
said.  "John Who???"  Riiiiiiiiight...  Oh well, I finally convince him that
he will in fact see me in court if he doesn't fix the car so he agrees to
get it done.  One week later the mechanic is done with it, and it's time for
Chick to look at it again.  "Hi, Chick, it's John Bottomley" I said.  "John
Who???"   Riiiiiight...So after that run around again, he picks up the car,
and then proceeds to tell me that the lock isn't broken.  Riiiiiight....  I
finally told him not to worry about it.  I'll find someone else to fix the
goddamn lock.  I am supposed to be picking the car up later this week.  I
haven't been in possession of the car the third week of June, I've made
three car payments, roughly $4000 in repairs and I have yet to drive the
think 5000 miles.  Can you believe that shit...

John Bottomley
Team Under Repair