Topic: My Vehicular History Thread by DKaz

[Great_Big_Abyss]

You sold the Sequoia? If so did that turn out OK for you?

Ignore: I missed your announcement a few pages back. Back to the same owner? Thats funny.

Unfortunately the going price for a Sequoia dropped dramatically, I still got $3500 for it but I did pay $800 for the tires. So it cost me $2000 to own the Sequoia for 11 months. Probably the worst I’ve performed on any vehicle. Snagging the Matrix for the price I did made up for it. I’m in my comfort zone with sub $2000 vehicles.

You performed poorly on it because you only kept it for a year.

[ktm525]

You sold the Sequoia? If so did that turn out OK for you?

Ignore: I missed your announcement a few pages back. Back to the same owner? Thats funny.

Unfortunately the going price for a Sequoia dropped dramatically, I still got $3500 for it but I did pay $800 for the tires. So it cost me $2000 to own the Sequoia for 11 months. Probably the worst I’ve performed on any vehicle. Snagging the Matrix for the price I did made up for it. I’m in my comfort zone with sub $2000 vehicles.

That Matrix looks like a fantastic buy. Nicely done.

Thanks! To be honest, “would Arthur Dent buy this?” was my mantra.

1) Can you rent a truck with the towing capacity you need?
2) Are you allowed to tow with said truck?

Yes, UHaul allows towing with their pickup trucks and Enterprise Truck Rental allows towing with 3/4 and 1 ton pickup trucks.

I see a trailer sale in the future. The circle of life when it comes to trailer ownership lol.

Noooooo we love our trailer.

My prediction was based on my belief you couldn't rent a tow vehicle. I guess it's safe for now.

[dkaz]

So a problem with EL gauges is that they’re always on and can cause people to forget to turn on their taillights. We see it all the time. Usually the lights in daytime mode are blindingly bright so that should be an indicator that taillights aren’t on, but it is not in the Matrix.

Fortunately, I was able to get my Sony head unit that I brought over from the Sequoia to dim properly when the lights are on. It is blindingly bright in daytime mode. This should help prevent me from driving around invisible. The Matrix never got auto headlights so it may have just been a Vibe option.


https://youtu.be/oGx_qPCIvos

[Seafoam]

So a problem with EL gauges is that they’re always on and can cause people to forget to turn on their taillights. We see it all the time. Usually the lights in daytime mode are blindingly bright so that should be an indicator that taillights aren’t on, but it is not in the Matrix.

Fortunately, I was able to get my Sony head unit that I brought over from the Sequoia to dim properly when the lights are on. It is blindingly bright in daytime mode. This should help prevent me from driving around invisible. The Matrix never got auto headlights so it may have just been a Vibe option.


https://youtu.be/oGx_qPCIvos

Maybe you could retrofit that feature from a junked Vibe. Although most of them are still on the road.

[tortoise]

Do the lights turn off when the car is turned off?

If so just leave them on all the time. That's what I do with both of our cars.

[dirtyjeffer]

Maybe you could retrofit that feature from a junked Vibe. Although most of them are still on the road.

yea, good luck...they're either still on the road or were written off in an accident. 

[dkaz]

I was reading the Pontiac Vibe owners manual and it seems the automatic light control works when the lights are in the off position, unless the parking brakes are up. Interesting. I’ll have to see how straightforward the retrofit is. Having to drill into my dash to wire and mount a light sensor has me a little skittish. If I’m pretty bad at leaving the lights off while driving, I’ll figure something out, but I don’t think my blindingly bright head unit will let me be bad.

[tortoise]

Again, why can't you just leave them on all the time?

[pi314]

Again, why can't you just leave them on all the time?

They don't turn off in my dad's 2011 Corolla. You gotta flick them off.

DKaz does your car make a chime? IIRC my buddy's 07 didn't so that's definitely a risk. You'll probably build the habit fast though.

[tortoise]

Huh. That sucks.

Since my Highlander turns them off and a mid 90s Corolla did too I assumed it was the Toyota way.

[dkaz]

Yea no auto off in my Matrix like my Sequoia and Sienna did, although neither of those vehicles had EL gauges so no fear there. Leaving my lights in the time would make my head unit screen unreadable during the day anyway.

[Firm]

I was reading the Pontiac Vibe owners manual and it seems the automatic light control works when the lights are in the off position, unless the parking brakes are up. Interesting. I’ll have to see how straightforward the retrofit is. Having to drill into my dash to wire and mount a light sensor has me a little skittish. If I’m pretty bad at leaving the lights off while driving, I’ll figure something out, but I don’t think my blindingly bright head unit will let me be bad.

That's an old GM thing....no 'auto' position, just 'off' that works as auto. My guess is that GM retrofitted the auto system to the Vibe.

[dkaz]

Took better photos of the Matrix.





Whatever is on the paint did not wash off so I need to detail it.


Body damage on the rear quarter panel, poorly painted over but I’ll live with it at this time.

[rrocket]

^^Looks good!

Missing center cap would annoy me the most I think.   

[EV Dan]

^^Looks good!

Missing center cap would annoy me the most I think.   

I know that feeling  Nothing an ebay part # search wouldn't fix. Just ordered 4 caps from Korea because the original black ones don't match the alloys IMO 

[rrocket]

^^Looks good!

Missing center cap would annoy me the most I think.   

I know that feeling  Nothing an ebay part # search wouldn't fix. Just ordered 4 caps from Korea because the original black ones don't match the alloys IMO 

No Genesis logo center cap, no care.   

[EV Dan]

^^Looks good!

Missing center cap would annoy me the most I think.   

I know that feeling  Nothing an ebay part # search wouldn't fix. Just ordered 4 caps from Korea because the original black ones don't match the alloys IMO 

No Genesis logo center cap, no care.   

No, sorry, slanted H FTW    I hope they fit.

Reason? Same as I wouldn't put Lexus badges on a Toyota. Don't seem right.

[dkaz]

Winter rims, no care! I could lose the other 3 if you'd like.

[dkaz]

So I picked up an 09 Mazda 5 GS 5 speed manual for $1500. Needs new rear shocks and windshield but it’s been an incredibly awesome car for the price so far. Has 264k all from the original owner, came with two sets of tires on wheels. It’s the base model so it doesn’t have cruise control although it’s easy to add with $75 worth of OE parts nor does it have heated mirrors which I would want, but it has A/C with automatic climate control, auto lights, rain sensing wipers, and full front and side airbags if you can figure that packaging out. I thought it would be a cheap stepping stone while I decide on my future vehicles but it’s quickly grown on me.







First task on the way home, picked up a chest freezer from Costco. The footprint is the exact same as the Mazda 3 but space wise it packs a pretty punch.

[rrocket]

Neat! Looks like this will work well for you.