Roxtar
04-02-2006, 01:51 AM
Hi all. You all seem like car jocks like myself (personally, I'm a Subaru guy. I own two 2.5 RS's, and looking at an STi.)
Just a question for ya. Even more, more like a short story I would like to share, and would like to get some opinions on. This was taken from my Myspace profile, www.myspace.com/roxtarryan .
I rarely say I have a bad day. Heck, I'm the kind of guy who can find something good in a terrible situation. For example, today.
"Today was the picture perfect weekend; I got paid yesterday, so the bank was full, it was 75, and not a cloud in the sky. The first great weekend since I've been here. I decided that, hell, why not drive out to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, which is a good 160 miles from here. I had some breakfast, then went to the rental agency because I had to renew my contract with them. I had it re-upped until May 12th. By 11:15am, I was on the road. The car I had rented was a 2005 Pontiac Grand Am. Barely used.
I decided because it was such a nice day, and because of massive highway construction, I would take scenic route 66. Beautiful route, on a beautiful day. I get back on the highway after the construction, and as I get to the outskirts of St. Louis, my driver side tire blows out. The car only has 22k miles!!!!!!
***PAUSE*** dude, Chuck Norris has his own cartoon show. on adult swim. and it looks like its from the 80's. Damn. And he has a fat sumo sidekick.
Anyways, I manage to get the car over, and do some damage surveying. The shredded tire caused some, lets say, collateral damage. The front bumper, fog light, the fender, the rim, and the driver side door are damaged. The wheel well, and the side-skirt are gone. Gone. No more. Ceased to be. The driver's side door can barely be open, using brute strength. I called up the insurance agency's road side assistance (We'll call him R.S.A.) to report what's happened, and they tell me to change the tire. I explain the collateral damage, and tell them to send a tow. Further talking with them, I ask if this is a common problem, and I'm told that there have been a few issues with the 2005 Pontiac Grand Am's tires blowing out unexpectedly. Awesome work GM. From the tow truck, the car, and I, ended up going to the Pontiac dealership. For several hours. Between RSA and local taxi companies, I'm told that RSA's business card can't be used to get me a taxi to the nearest rental office. So, out comes the government credit card, which can only be used to emergency purposes, and this is one in my opinion.
So, as per RSA's guidance, I head to the nearest rental office, a good 40 miles away, and the rental office, after some deliberation, can't give me another rental because its not in their authority. See, they have to call up the office where I first rented from back at Ft. Leonardwood, which closed at noon (BTW, its about 530pm right now. Awesome.) I'm told that I could wait until that office opens, on frickin' MONDAY, to get another vehicle, or I could get another one, at my own expense.
I decided to go with option #2, but modified it. I made sure a message was left on the original rental agency's phone, then called up my first seargent. See, this government credit card is starting to pay off. He told me to do what it takes. With the old policy cancelled, I ended up with a gorgeous 2006 Mitsubishi Galant. I ended up making my way up to Scott AFB, and low and behold, the uniform store was closed. By this time, it was 7pm, and the store closed at 5. Worthwhile trip. So, I just stop by the Post Exhange, pick me up a new shirt (sitting in the sun for 4 hours, I kind of sweated through it) and a backpack to throw my stuff in, and head home, another 2 hour drive ahead of me.
Yet, through all of this, I was very cheerful and was pretty chill about the whole thing, no matter how far it got. I have to give some props to Anthony at Enterprise Rentacar at the St. Louis airport, he was a great guy to help me out. Also, in general, the whole company in general (despite a few issues, however, like the break in communication between RSA telling me I can get another vehicle with no issues, them not being able to contact the Ft. Leonardwood office, and them not being able to supply a taxi service), is pretty good. If it wasn't for the perfect day, I probobly would've been midly upset by this. But, being to war in Afghanistan, you tend to get pretty patient about little things. And, I had my PSP with a couple of movies and a car charger with me.
So, General Motors, WTF is up with the tires blowing on BRAND NEW vehicles with only 22k miles on them?!?! I could've been freakin killed!"
Now, in all honesty, seriously. Tires blowing out? And, it isn't just me, according to the road side assistance people, this is almost a common issue. Examing all of the other tires, there was minor issues, but nothing that might not have been done during the short run while running on a rim, and the car has been driven normally the entire time. No offense all, I'm sure its not all Pontiacs, but I'll stick with my RS.
Just a question for ya. Even more, more like a short story I would like to share, and would like to get some opinions on. This was taken from my Myspace profile, www.myspace.com/roxtarryan .
I rarely say I have a bad day. Heck, I'm the kind of guy who can find something good in a terrible situation. For example, today.
"Today was the picture perfect weekend; I got paid yesterday, so the bank was full, it was 75, and not a cloud in the sky. The first great weekend since I've been here. I decided that, hell, why not drive out to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, which is a good 160 miles from here. I had some breakfast, then went to the rental agency because I had to renew my contract with them. I had it re-upped until May 12th. By 11:15am, I was on the road. The car I had rented was a 2005 Pontiac Grand Am. Barely used.
I decided because it was such a nice day, and because of massive highway construction, I would take scenic route 66. Beautiful route, on a beautiful day. I get back on the highway after the construction, and as I get to the outskirts of St. Louis, my driver side tire blows out. The car only has 22k miles!!!!!!
***PAUSE*** dude, Chuck Norris has his own cartoon show. on adult swim. and it looks like its from the 80's. Damn. And he has a fat sumo sidekick.
Anyways, I manage to get the car over, and do some damage surveying. The shredded tire caused some, lets say, collateral damage. The front bumper, fog light, the fender, the rim, and the driver side door are damaged. The wheel well, and the side-skirt are gone. Gone. No more. Ceased to be. The driver's side door can barely be open, using brute strength. I called up the insurance agency's road side assistance (We'll call him R.S.A.) to report what's happened, and they tell me to change the tire. I explain the collateral damage, and tell them to send a tow. Further talking with them, I ask if this is a common problem, and I'm told that there have been a few issues with the 2005 Pontiac Grand Am's tires blowing out unexpectedly. Awesome work GM. From the tow truck, the car, and I, ended up going to the Pontiac dealership. For several hours. Between RSA and local taxi companies, I'm told that RSA's business card can't be used to get me a taxi to the nearest rental office. So, out comes the government credit card, which can only be used to emergency purposes, and this is one in my opinion.
So, as per RSA's guidance, I head to the nearest rental office, a good 40 miles away, and the rental office, after some deliberation, can't give me another rental because its not in their authority. See, they have to call up the office where I first rented from back at Ft. Leonardwood, which closed at noon (BTW, its about 530pm right now. Awesome.) I'm told that I could wait until that office opens, on frickin' MONDAY, to get another vehicle, or I could get another one, at my own expense.
I decided to go with option #2, but modified it. I made sure a message was left on the original rental agency's phone, then called up my first seargent. See, this government credit card is starting to pay off. He told me to do what it takes. With the old policy cancelled, I ended up with a gorgeous 2006 Mitsubishi Galant. I ended up making my way up to Scott AFB, and low and behold, the uniform store was closed. By this time, it was 7pm, and the store closed at 5. Worthwhile trip. So, I just stop by the Post Exhange, pick me up a new shirt (sitting in the sun for 4 hours, I kind of sweated through it) and a backpack to throw my stuff in, and head home, another 2 hour drive ahead of me.
Yet, through all of this, I was very cheerful and was pretty chill about the whole thing, no matter how far it got. I have to give some props to Anthony at Enterprise Rentacar at the St. Louis airport, he was a great guy to help me out. Also, in general, the whole company in general (despite a few issues, however, like the break in communication between RSA telling me I can get another vehicle with no issues, them not being able to contact the Ft. Leonardwood office, and them not being able to supply a taxi service), is pretty good. If it wasn't for the perfect day, I probobly would've been midly upset by this. But, being to war in Afghanistan, you tend to get pretty patient about little things. And, I had my PSP with a couple of movies and a car charger with me.
So, General Motors, WTF is up with the tires blowing on BRAND NEW vehicles with only 22k miles on them?!?! I could've been freakin killed!"
Now, in all honesty, seriously. Tires blowing out? And, it isn't just me, according to the road side assistance people, this is almost a common issue. Examing all of the other tires, there was minor issues, but nothing that might not have been done during the short run while running on a rim, and the car has been driven normally the entire time. No offense all, I'm sure its not all Pontiacs, but I'll stick with my RS.