I think I mentioned the problems with my NEW car before on here but can't remember. There have just been too many things going on besides planning for this trip. One good thing is that I have all my moms in place and each has their own job this week for our schools "appreciation week". Monday kicks it off with custodian/lunch lady appreciation day. I'm hoping that all my hard work planning the daily "to do's" for this week comes out working like a well oiled machine!
One thing that is not working like a well oiled anything is my darn car!!! It has had a rattle in the engine since the day we brought it home. It has been in the shop countless times for this and they can't find what it is. They have hooked it up to every computer and even taken us for a ride while it's hooked up to these gadgets to show us that it is not interfering with the performance of the vehicle so we SHOULD be okay. SHOULD??? Gee, that makes me feel SOOOO MUCH BETTER ABOUT SPENDING A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY ON AN SUV WITH AN ENGINE RATTLE!!!! Besides, I can assure you, this car DOES have something wrong with it....they just can't find it.
Aside from the rattle, the car has had an extremely loud noise that periodically comes over the speakers when the car is OFF and the radio is OFF and the keys aren't even in the ignition!!!
It's been in for that problem at least 4 times previously. 1 week ago it was in again and they FINALLY changed the amplifier. Only time will tell if that actually fixed the problem.
Other problems have been..... the audio skips sounds, and the DVD got stuck in the DVD player. I pushed eject and it raised the DVD but it wouldn't push it out. I could see it just inside the slit, spinning around but doing nothing else.
They didn't replace the DVD player but they did find a ground wire that was messed up. They fixed that and i haven't had the audio problems since then. They reset the computer and I haven't had a DVD issue again but we haven't really put it to the ultimate test yet.......a 12 hour trip!!
The last problem is that when I turn the key, all the dash lights come on and the radio comes on but the car does nothing. It's just blank. It doesn't turn over and try to start. I then turn the key off and then back on and it starts up like nothing ever happened.
It's done this probably about 3 -4 times in the past but I blew it off as me getting in and going too fast with putting the key in and turning. (yes i know i was kidding myself...it SHOULD still work no matter what) So yesterday it did this to me TWICE. I had to call them back AGAIN. Which means that I have to bring my vehicle back in the shop on Monday!!!! Did I mention that we leave at 5am on Friday???? What if they say it's nothing again?? Or what if they say it's something this time but can't get a part in, in time????? I AM LIVID BY THIS POINT.
I have already filed complaints with General Motors. I have filed many complaints with this dealership. As of now the sales lady is asking me to trust her. She says she is ordering me a new vehicle which will be traded for my lemon but it will take 6-8 weeks for it to come in!!!!! She said it's fine to take this one on our trip but to call her with ANYTHING that it does so that she can document it. Well that's all fine and dandy but WHAT IF IT LEAVES US ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD????????
For those of you who are wondering if we have another vehicle, the answer is yes. But it's DH's truck. I really do not wish to take that long of a trip in a truck. Plus, all of our luggage would be outside in the bed of the truck and if it rains......what a wonderful mess that would be.
So, as you can see....on top of all the other "normal-ish" pre-trip things I've been dealing with...I've also been dealling with this huge problem that I can't even begin to explain how sad, upset, mad, aggrivated, I am. This car was purchased in December. It has been in the shop more than it has been in my possession. I have driven at least 5 or 6 loaner cars at around 1 week each. I have made 2 payments on this new car.
WISH US LUCK ON THE TRIP!!!!!!
I can't wait to hear all about it when you guys get back!!!
I know what you mean about the ship model. I thought of the same thing when I saw it.
It makes you think....."What were we thinking?!?" What were our parents thinking?!? 
