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A bunch of people asked for a thread, so here goes - After this past Virginia City Hillclimb I concluded that I had done all I could with the M3. I'd driven the car as fast as it was going to go without reliability-crippling modifications. I originally thought that in order to go really fast it was going to be Z06 or GTR time, and the Viper wasn't really a consideration. Too expensive, too exotic, too much of an "old man keeps it locked up" kind of car. Then I heard about Chrysler finally admitting that having hundreds of these things languishing on lots, sometimes over a year, was a bad thing, and that they had repriced them. It's about the cost of a well optioned M4, or a completely-stripped out 991. But I've been down this road before, the "cheap" American option that trumps all the exotics. My hope is that this car lives up to its reputation for being well built and having a solid drivetrain. Ironically the radio (which is chrysler parts bin Uconnect poo poo) won't play any sound, which is apparently a known issue with these cars and it needs a firmware update. Daily driver? Sort of. I don't go to an office on a daily basis so it probably won't see as many miles. But I'm going to keep it as my only car for now, because I'm a strong believer in the "drive it, don't hide it" mentality, although I'm not going to be street parking it in San Francisco anytime soon. These things are not nearly as expensive as you'd think - Chrysler repriced them, and although there are plenty of dealerships clinging to the hope that someone fresh off the stock option train will come in and buy one for sticker, there's between 25-35K to be taken off the price. There's one in LA right now in Downey marked down to 78K, for example, but I don't like red despite the fact the black will basically be impossible to keep looking good. So the car itself - I've gone completely full throttle a couple times and the thrust is unreal. The sound is whatever Clarkson metaphor you like but it resonates in your head and combines the accuracy and poise of a 458 in the corners with a brute force drivetrain that somehow manages to feel light. It blips throttle instantly and perfectly, the engine doesn't feel heavy, and I felt right at home driving it once I got used to the much taller gearing. That's glowing praise coming from a car as perfectly dialed in as the V8 M3. Its shell is all carbon fiber, CFRP or some combination of materials. I bought the car after hard negotiation and after closely examining it I'm stunned what I got for my money. It has manual Sabelt racing buckets in tan leather, red  seat belts, CF aero bits (with plastic scrapers!) some absurdly overdone 18 speaker radio with a backup camera, and probably a bunch of poo poo I'm forgetting. The computers have all manner of stuff like G-meter and lap timer and so forth. The tires are gigantic, 295/30/18 in Photos so far:         I'll try to get some of the interior as well as the CF bits tomorrow. I have to take it in to get the stupid radio updated, but so far I've only driven it with the windows down anyway 
Das Volk fucked around with this message at 17:53 on Sep 30, 2014 |
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Sep 27, 2014 13:27
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Mighty Horse posted:You know that parts bin poo poo radio is considered the best oem system out right now, right? So much so ferrari droped the crap they developed and use them now.... I just found it completely hilarious that of all the things that wouldn't work, it would be that the stereo wouldn't produce sound. I can tell it's a sweet system, I just have to use my imagination right now.
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Sep 27, 2014 17:10
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These are great seats:  And when it comes to "standard equipment" on a car you really can't beat this as a feature: 
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Sep 27, 2014 20:33
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Huggable Bear King posted:Stupid question but how is the gas millage? So far it's at 14.4... the M3 made 14.8 I'll definitely take some video once break-in is done with, I am really curious to see if there's flame on overrun from the exhaust.
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Sep 27, 2014 23:14
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GentlemanofLeisure posted:Holy poo poo those rears are massive! Congrats on the pickup, seems to check all your boxes. Hopefully this slice of Americana will work out well for you this time. Plan on taking it to the next hill climb I assume? Yeah, this year's hill I was simply stuck at the same mark I'd done in the vette and the M3s. I decided then that I'd buy something a lot faster, I just didn't think it would be this soon.
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Sep 28, 2014 01:47
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Residency Evil posted:Nice. How's the ride around town? It's so easy to drive - you can tell SRT tuned the drive by wire so that the power comes when you really pin the throttle - complete opposite of the M3 with its overreactive throttle because of the low torque. It's a little loud, but the sound system is louder, so it balances out. MrChips posted:No, there have been a few AI threads goldmined now. I'm really happy about everyone's positive reaction to this thing, people on the street love it, AI seems to love it, and it's going to be a very loooong time before I can imagine replacing it. LloydDobler posted:I just had to do the math. If I understand tire sizing right, a 355 is fourteen inches wide. Daaaamn. 14 INCH TIRES
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Sep 28, 2014 05:27
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Comrade Flynn posted:I take full credit for giving you this idea. ONE OF US
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Sep 28, 2014 06:26
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I've got some good and potentially not so good habits I picked up from driving the M3. The M3 had very little torque but really short gears, so I'm used to rev matching and using the lowest possible gear to pass. This is great because the manual says the primary thing to avoid during the first 500 miles is lugging the engine. OTOH, it also means that I'm finding second at like 50 MPH and flooring it, causing this to happen: The engine revs much more freely than I ever thought possible for an engine its size as well, so I get to enjoy both the overrun and the ability to just stab the throttle with the clutch in for awesome noise. I'm going to stick my gopro to the car hopefully tonight and see if I can get some decent video.
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Sep 28, 2014 22:34
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Somehow the insurance is only $400 more a year than the M3. I ran my gopro tonight but all I hear is wind noise, even with the closed back on, so I'll have to do it again while recording audio separately.
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Sep 30, 2014 04:03
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For now we'll have to do with a start & rev: http://youtu.be/oZy-K0gut_U Also this: 
Das Volk fucked around with this message at 06:47 on Sep 30, 2014 |
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Sep 30, 2014 05:40
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ShittyPostmakerPro posted:To be honest, that's how the price of most things end up working out in the UK And that is pretty much why I left. I do miss being able to drive to the Nurburgring in 4 hours though.
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Oct 1, 2014 03:50
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Yup, I think my favorite car there was that Alpina Z1. I'm actually having a hard time finding the space to really go WOT so actual video may have to wait until I can get it on the track. Thunderhill is running some days, but I'm for sure at Laguna with Norcal SAAC the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Does anyone have any definitive information on the DB levels of the Viper? I'm worried the side pipes will be more likely to trigger the 92DB limit, and I'm curious if anyone's found any kind of solution.
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Oct 4, 2014 18:37
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Small update, I got the car dyno'ed. Borelli was kind enough to dyno it for free for bringing the car out during their annual event this evening. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1npMYvV-Bc
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Oct 17, 2014 06:32
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mobby_6kl posted:This makes more power/torque at idle than a BP miata does at redline, doesn't it? The power meters in it claim about 150 ft-lbs when moving off idle, so yeah. Speaking of meters, I'm only one hard right hander away from pegging it in all 4 directions:
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Oct 28, 2014 08:32
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Time for an update. I'm taking the car to Laguna Seca next Friday, and this will be a good opportunity to get in some time on my second favorite track. Then off to LV for the SRT trackday the following monday. I've been driving the car hard and a few things have come up. One, the stock suspension is totally inadequate - it pitches, it dives, it yaws, and none of that is good. The car needs to be planted and predictable, and while it's extremely good it can be a lot better, so I'm installing MCS two way adjustables (remote reservoir) with some custom springs and upgraded swaybar links. The American Car Curse has returned a bit too, the trans is grinding into reverse unless in a gear first, and I think the third gear synchro was shot from day 1. The stereo is still screwed up too. The dealership I took it to was REALLY bad though and I've got appointments lined up for a much better place to look at it as well as a case open with the SRT team. I'll get some video of the track day up once it happens.
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Nov 18, 2014 11:59
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from an SRT specialist I've been working with:quote:Tell them to order a new transmission because if they do a “70%” sheet that they would need the cost to replace it is a better option. We have replaced a transmission before already on a low mile GenV so it is not unheard of. Tell them to get on it; there is 1 on back order now (part has been updated like 6 times!) so the sooner they order the sooner they will release one for you. Have them order it as a “vehicle down” order. 
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Nov 19, 2014 22:13
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Tekne posted:That's the case for most sports cars except the Viper for some reason. Ralph indicated that 25% of Viper owners take their cars to the track/drag strip. Going by the Gen V forum, the number seems accurate with all the members who do just that, so it might be worthwhile for DV to read the race threads for handling quirks or potential problems. The only tune I might consider would be for the sake of killing off the skip shift once the transmission is fixed. There's no way I'm doing power mods right now, the car needs suspension and brakes. drgitlin posted:Track day != racing. Does hillclimbing count, since there's a timer?
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Nov 21, 2014 00:34
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Raluek posted:If it helps the manufacturers sell more cool cars without getting dong-razzled by the EPA, I'm all for it. Even better if it can be turned off in software or with a resistor in place of the solenoid. I'd rather they do something like that than say "Welp, guess we have to only offer an automatic, the stick won't make EPA numbers." It seems doubly ridiculous in the Viper because it has skip shift but gets a double helping of the gas guzzler tax anyways, which means it was a wasted exercise. Edit: Top Gear was right. The M3 was perfect. It is the benchmark. Everything else has to stand up to it, and I'm realizing what a massive hurdle that is now. Das Volk fucked around with this message at 09:04 on Nov 21, 2014 |
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Nov 21, 2014 04:44
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sean10mm posted:The closest thing on the horizon might be the upcoming GT350 of all things. Mega-RPM V8 with a proper 6 speed and Torsen LSD plus magnetic ride control suspension. No, but I almost immediately hated the Corvette. The Viper not so; some adjustment cleared up the grinding in the forward gears so now it's just reverse that needs fixing, which I can live with for the moment. I can not overstate how much fun this car is to drive. I saw a new TST on the T/A and I agree with nearly everything he says https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd1b18ccH3E I'll put up with a lot from this car. Like a girl I fell in love with, I will attach "but it's so worth it" to any detractive statement I make about it. I also like having a special hotline I can call that manages my service appointments and tries to get me manual Challengers as loaners.
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Nov 27, 2014 10:50
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meatpimp posted:Pfft. Its g-meter only goes up to 1.25, Volk's Viper goes to 1.5. Or how it looks on a flatbed..  Yeahhh so much for that. Threw a rod at 4200 miles. Das Volk fucked around with this message at 03:12 on Nov 30, 2014 |
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Nov 30, 2014 03:07
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IOwnCalculus posted:I'm sorry, that really loving sucks, but at the same time this is just getting comical. I really should just buy a GT350 at this point, and park it near people I don't like. I've owned 5 BMWs and had no issues with them outside of my inability to torque a brake caliper bolt. If Dodge aren't assholes like GM were about the car's many failures I might accept a 2015 as a replacement. So far ChryCo has been really good/responsive about the problems I've been having, which is more than I can say about GM when I had that loving Vette. Difference between the Viper and Vette: I hated the Vette when I took it in to be put down, I still love the Viper.
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Nov 30, 2014 05:01
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n8r posted:Why would they give you a new car? Wouldn't they just replace the motor? At 4200 miles a car that needs a motor and tranny work is more likely to be a buyback/trade.
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Nov 30, 2014 11:18
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Larrymer posted:I think you must be the problem. In the sense that I'm not meant to own an American car, I suppose that's possible. I only manage to break American cars though. MrChips posted:My guess is that the abuse at the hands of the dealership ran a bit deeper than a cooked amp and lunched third gear synchro... This too. I'm going to keep on owning one if I can, but that's up to Chrysler now. I'm going to want a new car at this point - I don't think something with a new motor and trans is going to bode well for resale. Das Volk fucked around with this message at 22:59 on Nov 30, 2014 |
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Nov 30, 2014 22:57
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Data Graham posted:Will your red-phone concierge be able to help you with that, or are you going to be stuck trying to accuse the same dealership you got the thing from (and want a new car from) of shenanigans? They will help yes, and it'll be a different dealership. Here's me trying to limp it out of the street: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U239EnVMvYI
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Nov 30, 2014 23:06
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Larrymer posted:Guess you haven't heard of the new z06. I'm pretty sure it will beat the viper in about every measurable category, including price. GM were huge assholes about the problems I had with my Corvette from the get-go. Chrysler seems to care about the reputation of their halo cars at least.
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Nov 30, 2014 23:08
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Mighty Horse posted:I knew Das Volk buying a Mopar was going to be a problem. I've had the opportunity to talk to the VOA chair out here and apparently this has happened several times in varying circumstances with the Gen 5 cars. Everyone has assured me that they'll take care of it, so I guess it's down to the time it takes now.
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Dec 2, 2014 23:06
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Here's a photo of the culprit. There's little bits of metal hanging around in the oil pickup, the pan, and I imagine lots of other places.
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Dec 5, 2014 21:25
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Bob NewSCART posted:Can someone link me to all previous das volk threads? This is amazing and horrible. Thanks, I'm sure I'll get it back fixed or another one like it, I'm just missing driving the thing now. Here's the final thread I posted about the Corvette, it's all I could find (you might need archives): http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=2936086 It does seem a little weird that I beat on my M3's for years without skipping a beat, and the minute I go back to an American car something like this happens.
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Dec 6, 2014 23:14
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Tremek posted:Banks won't stand up a loan for a Ford GT. Also, 2x what the Viper cost. This. Also if I was going to destroy a Ford product it'd be a GT350.
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Dec 7, 2014 06:00
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meatpimp posted:Any updates, DV? How receptive / apologetic has Dodge been with the problem? Honestly Dodge/SRT has been really great. Today they said they're replacing the motor for sure now, and I put in a request to replace the car contingent on the fact that heavy-duty repairs like this will likely end up on a CarFax. We'll see how that pans out, but I'll either end up with a new one or some recompense for all the repairs and downtime, in addition to a brand new and fully updated drivetrain. They communicate well, they don't argue, they didn't accuse me of anything (which I had come to expect) and at least for SRT vehicles the customer service is awesome.
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Dec 9, 2014 01:44
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KillHour posted:Yes, of course. Das Volk spent nearly 6 figures of his own money on a car he irrationally hates (multiple times), just to purposefully destroy them to prove how terrible domestic cars are to nerds on an internet forum. It all makes sense, now! That's right, I'm a German spy!  Just because the car broke, doesn't mean I can't get one that isn't broken. I don't know if I've communicated this effectively but I love the Viper, it's as close as I'll ever get to riding a nuclear bomb waving a cowboy hat, and I have no intention of replacing it with something else. If I'm lucky they'll let me ask for a new one and I'll pick out a competition blue one instead, but that's about it. The T/A 2.0 I drove at LVMS: 
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Dec 9, 2014 20:12
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I did it because I was highly entertained by the notion that I was a German spy. Loads of parts are incoming for the car, I will hopefully talk replacement next week but really I just want to get back behind the wheel at this point. I miss having an idiotically overpowered car to drive around.
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Dec 14, 2014 06:17
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The Viper does make me miss the M3's insane brakes. Turns out several people on VOA have had this happen. The earlier iterations of the engines would consume a huge amount of oil without warning, and the car has no oil light, just a pressure warning, which didn't go off. The dealer says they don't have any way of knowing if this is what happened or if there was a machining problem, so they're replacing the engine. I don't know where Chrysler stands still on replacing the car, but if they really do get it all fixed up I might tell them to throw on the T/A suspension and brakes and call it even. We'll see what happens I suppose.
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Dec 15, 2014 00:28
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meatpimp posted:Any updates DV? The hits keep on coming, I told them to check the clutch assembly (they could have done this weeks ago BTW) because I felt like it was dragging, and it turns out the clutch disk is wearing unevenly. No flywheel problems either, just uneven wear on the clutch  The requirements for CA Lemon Law have now been met. Dodge will give me a brand new replacement car, or they'll give me a refund. If they fight with me over a replacement, I'll get my refund and be done with it. I don't even know what I would replace it with but I cannot believe how hosed this car is for 4200 miles of non-track driving, it's a basket case now and I'm not keeping this one.
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Dec 24, 2014 02:11
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Mat_Drinks posted:What's the word among the Dodge Viper community in terms of these kind of occurrences? To me it seems like someone must have taken it out for a heck of a joy ride and just beaten the absolute poo poo out of it after it had pretty much just driven off of the boat. This is not an isolated incident, several people told me that the early motors can suffer from sudden oil starvation and machining problems with the #8 rod bearing. While I maintain my vehicles carefully it's also true that I will drive them as hard as possible whenever I can. I think one of the things that I've done twice accidentally now is buy a car that was recently redesigned. The C6 I had was a first year run of the LS3 facelift, and this car's build date indicates it was built not even a full year into the new production cycle. When I talk to Chrysler about a replacement, I'm going to stress that I get one with a late build date, or if they can pull it off reasonably quickly, a build to order.
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Dec 24, 2014 23:16
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Got a call from Chrysler this afternoon, and got an offer for either a buyback or any new Viper I want.
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Jan 6, 2015 00:06
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I will probably take them up on a T/A or a GTS, if there aren't any gotchas and the guy was being serious when he said any car I want. It'll at least solve the soft suspension issue, and if it's a T/A the brakes too. Also, I apparently will get the current car back while they process the exchange... 
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Jan 6, 2015 03:17
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jamal posted:You mean you wouldn't rather have JRZs and Stoptech trophy brakes? Well, I can't get them for free. But I suppose I should consider what parts need to go on the car. The goal is to break the current record at the Hill with this car, so I'll hit you up on Facebook for suggestions.
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Jan 6, 2015 03:44
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Safety Dance posted:Hole-in-block and all? code:
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Jan 6, 2015 04:58
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ssjonizuka posted:I saw your snap. I'm waiting for details. I hit a bump, and the airbag sensor warning and traction control lights went on, and now the traction control light is on permanently Also the dealer hosed the hood up covering it with drops of something then what looked like steel wool to clean it off, and then curbed the wheel. This poor loving car.   I hope whoever ends up with it pays a steep discount.
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Jan 10, 2015 09:35
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