Snowplow tags the Echo overnight.

[IllusionX]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

I imagine so. Is Carfax a significant part of the overall picture/equation in Montreal?

People do use carfax. But why on a 11 years old car? I would be bothered for a 20k used Audi, but not a 10+ years old Toyota.

[Jcp123]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Lake effect snow = (in my book, but probably not for some). In 2006 I was at a what is now known as Fed Ex Office location in suburban Buffalo. I walked outside to get something out of my car. I felt what was starting to come down. I had a hotel reservation in Albany for that night. I had taken delivery of my new blue Yaris a little over 4 1/2 days prior to that moment. Intuition.....I needed to leave immediately. I did. When I arrived at my hotel in Albany, I immediately turned on the television..... (see Lake Storm "Aphid" Wikipedia article). I imagine many media people and emergency personnel were in an even more heightened state of awareness than usual...the previous day Yankees pitcher Corey Lidle or his instructor (the NTSB never did determine who was flying the plane) had crashed a small plane into a condominium building in Manhattan.....exactly one month after the 5 year anniversary of 9/11.

Yikes! I dunno how bad it gets in ROC but I am told that it's not that bad. Or maybe she is sandbagging a little in hopes that I won't hate my life so much when I get there.

The one time I drive in slushy sleety stuff here, the Echo seemed pretty confident though. We get snow, or something which resembles it, maybe once/yr, we ain't got no plows, salt, or sand!

[roxy1]

Originally Posted by Jcp123

Yikes! I dunno how bad it gets in ROC but I am told that it's not that bad. Or maybe she is sandbagging a little in hopes that I won't hate my life so much when I get there.

The one time I drive in slushy sleety stuff here, the Echo seemed pretty confident though. We get snow, or something which resembles it, maybe once/yr, we ain't got no plows, salt, or sand!

Rochester only averages just under 100 inches per season, so it shouldn't be much worse than Texas.

[jambo101]

I'm wondering now if the insurance is going to scrap the car or fix it,
I can see repairs getting up in the $2K range,
Whats an 03 Echo in good shape worth on whatever book the insurance company uses to determine value.
What really pisses me off is this incompetent plow driver wrecks my car and suffers no consequence to his actions. I called city hall and made a complaint and the operator told me the complaint will be forwarded to the appropriate dept. Yeah sure it will.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Jcp123

We get snow, or something which resembles it, maybe once/yr, we ain't got no plows, salt, or sand!

Here the interval is about 2-3 years. Also no plows. They did put what I thought was salt (might have been sand) on some bridges last winter. Hasn't gotten to the point of sleet, at least since 2008. Always melts (except re rooftops) the next day.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by jambo101

What really pisses me off is this incompetent plow driver wrecks my car and suffers no consequence to his actions. I called city hall and made a complaint and the operator told me the complaint will be forwarded to the appropriate dept. Yeah sure it will.

This drives me crazy as well. I wonder what the largest city is (population wise) in North America that has successfully privatized its city services? I know Sandy Springs, GA (an Atlanta suburb) has, but Georgia is a 'right-to-work' state...rather than a 'union' state. POTUS Franklin Delano Roosevelt was against public sector unions. POTUS John Fitzgerald Kennedy said in his inaugural address "ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country". These turned out to be profoundly hypocritical words, as (inspired by NYC Mayor Richard Wagner, and the effects granting collective bargaining to city workers had on his re-election) Kennedy granted collective bargaining to federal employees. Side note... Wagner did some good things (especially ending certain types of discrimination...as much as the city can have an effect )...good things that were long overdue.

[Jcp123]

Gub'ment at its finest, for sure.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by roxy1

Rochester only averages just under 100 inches per season, so it shouldn't be much worse than Texas.

....Yeah, I know. Some of us (speaking only for myself) who haven't driven throughout at least one 'true winter', can be kind of wimps about such stuff.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by IllusionX

People do use carfax. But why on a 11 years old car? I would be bothered for a 20k used Audi, but not a 10+ years old Toyota.

I've never used it. Have no idea re the cost. Too expensive to be cost effective re an 11 year old car?

[IllusionX]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

I've never used it. Have no idea re the cost. Too expensive to be cost effective re an 11 year old car?

It's 50$ for one check. Worth it for a 10+years old winter beater? Maybe for one that never seen winters with low miles.

[Jcp123]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

....Yeah, I know. Some of us (speaking only for myself) who haven't driven throughout at least one 'true winter', can be kind of wimps about such stuff.

I'm a Californian who lives in Texas...am I double wimpy then? Lol

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by IllusionX

It's 50$ for one check. Worth it for a 10+years old winter beater? Maybe for one that never seen winters with low miles.

You're right . Some of us who haven't lived year round in an area with inclement winter weather, haven't had the idea of a 'winter beater' (a great, practical idea ) become part of a normal thought process. Makes tons of sense....in every part of Canada (I'd imagine), as well as quite a few spots in the United States.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Jcp123

I'm a Californian who lives in Texas

lol...I am as well. I wasn't born here, but I got here as fast as I could (uhhh.....not very fast). I like to think I have a much more favorable view of Texas than most Californians who are now 'Texans' .

[Jcp123]

I highly recommend another Echo. I really like mine, a real testament since I was hardwired to hate the bloody thing. You actually can find some granny-owned Echos out there, I don't have any doubt you'll find a good replacement if it comes to that.

[Jcp123]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

lol...I am as well. I wasn't born here, but I got here as fast as I could (uhhh.....not very fast). I like to think I have a much more favorable view of Texas than most Californians who are now 'Texans' .

I like Texas...I'm not a big fan of the part of Texas in which I find myself.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Jcp123

I like Texas...I'm not a big fan of the part of Texas in which I find myself.

If one is used to a large metropolitan area, your area might eventually lead one to feel a bit isolated....not effortless just to pop over to Dallas. Of course some (mostly small) towns in East Texas have a poor reputation for various things (different towns, different things)....Yep.

[jambo101]

The insurance has decided to write the car off, i am now wondering what Canadian book the insurance company will use to determine value..
03 Toyota Echo in mint condition with 107,000kms
I'm hoping for at least $2K

[dj92]

How about fixing it on your own?
2k should be far enough to get acceptable parts at the scrapyard.
I'd go that far for my XP9 (especially when I'm done with the next upgrades).