Forums Closed
|
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
|
|
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
|
 |
|
01-24-2006, 09:49 AM
|
#1
|
Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kissimmee, FL
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 10,481
|
My stupid car!! (update #2) Car won\'t start now!
I purchased my first new a 2004 Ford Taurus in June 2004. I just called Ford because for the last couple of days my car has been sputtering when I start it. Hopefully it is nothing but I am guessing i need a new battery (yeah at 28,000 miles...go figure). Anyway the service guy said I was almost due for my 30,000 maintenance visit (you know "the big one"). I asked him how much it would be and he said, "Let me explain to you what we do." He rattled off a whole bunch of stuff that went wooosh over my head. I then had to ask him again, "how much" [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif[/img] My jaw dropped on the desk when he said, "550" I said, "Five hundred and fifty DOLLARS." Yep that is what it was....$550! I think I will get each one of those things done one at a time...OMG that is alot of money. I called the place that I get my oil changed (just down the street from my office) and they can do the coolant & tranny flush for about $180. They are going to charge me $240 at the dealership! When I go in tomorrow I am going to tell him forget the 30,000 maintenance and just check the electrical system. They ARE NOT going to replace my battery if that is all it turns out to be. I will go to Sam's Club and buy a battery and my friend's Melissa and Greg can help me put it in. There is no way I am paying dealer prices for a battery. Next thing you know the dealer will try to sell me new tires and replace my breaks! You would think since I bought my car there they would give me a discount! NOT! Hopefully I can scrap enough cash up to get all this done!
Is it normal to be charged that much for preventative maintenance? I don't know much about cars how critical is the all this "work" they do? Is $550 the normal amount for a 30,000 maintenance? Is the work that difficult that a quick lube place (who I TOTALLY trust with my car it is a family owned very well run facility)
|
|
|
|
01-24-2006, 10:04 AM
|
#2
|
Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Bluffton, IN
Concierge Level: 1
Posts: 2,431
|
Re: My stupid car!!
I always get my car serviced at the dealership. The dealership I go to is comparable to other service places in the area - oil change especially is usually less and gets done quicker. The thing I worry about is voiding my extended warranty on the car. You may want to look at the warranty contract and make sure that none of the maintenance you have done will void the warranty.
|
|
|
|
|
01-24-2006, 10:07 AM
|
#3
|
Community Rank: Legend 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Dreaming of the Future
Concierge Level: 1
Posts: 24,867
|
Re: My stupid car!!
Robin I hear you! I have a 2002 Ford Focus and I brought to them close to 30,000 and all i asked for was an oil change and they did without permission the whole 30,000 check up. I refused to pay them as i hadn't given them permission to. I have an uncle who was a mechanic and the only reason he didn't do that oil change was that he had surgery the week before. I paid them eventually but I was ripped. They charged me close to $400 for it.
I won't buy from that dealership again and if i buy a new car I'll be dealing with probably Hyundai as my mom just got a Sonata and I love it. They give free batteries and engine replacement and a 10yr 100,000 mile warranty so can't beat that!
I hope your car just needs something small but make sure they follow your instructions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
Sponsored links
 | | PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World
It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book!
Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95. |
|
|
01-24-2006, 10:19 AM
|
#4
|
Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Ohio Football Hall Of Fame
Posts: 42,304
|
Re: My stupid car!!
I hope that the problem with your car isn't anything major Robin. We always get our maintanence done at the dealership also. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img]
|
|
|
|
|
01-24-2006, 10:23 AM
|
#5
|
Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 35,829
|
Re: My stupid car!!
[ QUOTE ]
I always get my car serviced at the dealership. The dealership I go to is comparable to other service places in the area - oil change especially is usually less and gets done quicker. The thing I worry about is voiding my extended warranty on the car. You may want to look at the warranty contract and make sure that none of the maintenance you have done will void the warranty.
[/ QUOTE ]
[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yeahthat.gif[/img]
|
|
|
|
|
01-24-2006, 10:25 AM
|
#6
|
|
Batman's Gal/Mickey's Pal
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Owensboro, KY USA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 95,254
|
Re: My stupid car!!
Hope you get everything worked out on your car!
[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img]
|
|
|
|
|
01-24-2006, 10:50 AM
|
#7
|
Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kissimmee, FL
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 10,481
|
Re: My stupid car!!
I just called two other dealerships and one charges $440 and the other charges $528 and he tried to explain to me why they charge so much. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] The dealership that charges $440 is a truck (Sterling trucks and light Ford Truck dealer) but they do service cars. I had good luck with them when I had my Explorer. Sometimes I just feel like such a sucker. I know know I am a girl but geezzz treat me with a little respect and NOT like an ignorant MORON!
As far as the warranty. My warranty runs out at 36,000 miles which will be this year sometime. I put about 18,000 on my car each year.
|
|
|
|
|
01-24-2006, 03:02 PM
|
#8
|
Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 13,146
|
Re: My stupid car!!
I'm sorry it's so expensive Robin [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img].
Karen
|
|
|
|
|
01-24-2006, 03:22 PM
|
#9
|
Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Ohio Football Hall Of Fame
Posts: 42,304
|
Re: My stupid car!!
I'm sorry that it's going to be so much Robin.
|
|
|
|
|
01-24-2006, 03:29 PM
|
#10
|
Community Rank: Adventurer 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Odenton, MD
Posts: 689
|
Re: My stupid car!!
Hi Robin,
I regards to the cost at the dealer, it seems a little high, but not outrageous. The worst part is that the cost is mostly labor. Lots of "checks of this" and "inspections of that" are necessary to make sure everything is okay to avoid bigger expenses later. With that said, virtually no warranties require maintenance work to be performed at the dealership. You can have it done elsewhere, just remember to have them list each task performed and keep it and the receipt in your car file.
It'd be interesting to have Ford give you a copy of the 30,000 mile inspection sheet so that your local mechanic could estimate the cost to have him do the same job. Just a thought.
Good luck!
|
|
|
|
|
01-24-2006, 07:14 PM
|
#11
|
|
Living Seas wannabe
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 31,940
|
Re: My stupid car!!
Lots of [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] for you Robin!
|
|
|
|
|
01-25-2006, 08:53 AM
|
#12
|
Community Rank: Scout 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Lansing, Michigan
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 4,890
|
Re: My stupid car!!
I know what you mean, Robin. DH always insists on getting our oil changes and so on at Shaheen's (Chevy dealer), and we pay lots more and have to wait longer than if we went to one of the quick lube places. I finally put my foot down the last time he called them to find out about a repair that needed doing and made him call around for other estimates. The answers he got were about 20-25% less than Shaheen would have charged....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
Sponsored links
Check out the many e-books by PassPorter. The e-books are free to download if you have a PassPorter's Club pass.
|
|
01-25-2006, 09:03 AM
|
#13
|
Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kissimmee, FL
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 10,481
|
Re: My stupid car!! (update)
*LOL* I went to start my car yesterday and the lights all came on but all I heard was "click click" Oh S**T! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/foreheadslap.gif[/img] Called Ford Roadside service..."Ma’am they will be out in one hour but they will call you before they come out to make sure you are with your car." I went back in the office and read another couple of chapters of Harry Potter #6. Forty five minutes later I thought..."Hmmm...wonder why they have not called." I called Ford Roadside assistance back and she said, "Ma'am they still have 14 minutes to contact you." [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] I waited 14 minutes nothing...called BACK...they called the tow company. "They are backed up it is going to be another hour." [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif[/img] In the meantime my boss came up and wondered why I was still in the office. I explained to him what happened. He offered to jump my car for me but I didn't really feel comfortable with that (he has a company SUV). He gave me the keys to one of the company vans so I left my car here and drove the van home (after calling Ford Roadside service and canceling). Again, hopefully I just need a new battery. I wish I could ride a horse to work at least with a horse I could tell what was wrong with it! With a car...[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]
|
|
|
|
|
01-25-2006, 09:33 AM
|
#14
|
|
Wannabe Snowbird
Join Date: May 2002
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 34,137
|
Re: My stupid car!! (update)
I sure hope that it's nothing serious, Robin! And Booooo! to Ford's Roadside Assistance! Like you have time to just sit around with your dead car waiting for them. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]
|
|
|
|
|
01-25-2006, 09:45 AM
|
#15
|
Community Rank: Scout
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Lansing, Michigan
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 4,890
|
Re: My stupid car!! (update)
[ QUOTE ]
I went to start my car yesterday and the lights all came on but all I heard was "click click"
[/ QUOTE ]
Sounds more like the starter...and "Oh S**T!" is right. That was part of the first repair to our van this year (read all about it in the Family Room forum - the "What a Beginning etc." post). I'm not sure exactly how much that part of the $1100 repair bill that was, cuz I don't have the bill right here, but I'm sure it wasn't cheap.... [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]
(UPDATE) Just talked to DH. He says try to get a jump, and if that doesn't do it, then it's the starter...he says that possibly the battery doesn't have enough juice to turn the starter over.
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Linear Mode
