Comments on: Bad Luck Bike http://blog.globaltravelerusa.com/2008/08/14/bad-luck-bike/ The Independent Source for Business Travelers Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:53:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: .: Global Traveler Blog » Blog Archive » Bike Perils Put To Rest :. http://blog.globaltravelerusa.com/2008/08/14/bad-luck-bike/#comment-2307 .: Global Traveler Blog » Blog Archive » Bike Perils Put To Rest :. Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:35:13 +0000 http://blog.globaltravelerusa.com/2008/08/14/bad-luck-bike/#comment-2307 [...] am happy to end my Bad Luck Bike saga with a positive conclusion. If any of you recall in my previous blog, after falling into the [...] […] am happy to end my Bad Luck Bike saga with a positive conclusion. If any of you recall in my previous blog, after falling into the […]

]]> By: Fabiano http://blog.globaltravelerusa.com/2008/08/14/bad-luck-bike/#comment-2041 Fabiano Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:49:45 +0000 http://blog.globaltravelerusa.com/2008/08/14/bad-luck-bike/#comment-2041 That shouldn't be anything serious. It is most likely an "age-related" issue since it is a vintage bike. My story is a bit worse I think. I bought a car from a lady on Craigslist. I saw the car, drove it and it looked just fine. Seemed to be the typical suburban lady ride, to go buy groceries or driven to the farmer's market. Should have taken it to a mechanic but, for some reason, I trusted her and my own mechanical instincts. So I bought the think, drove it for two days and the transmition goes kaput. Had to tow it to the the mechanic and he gave me the bad news: $1,600 to fix it (I paid $3,600 for the car). I call the lady and ask her if she knew about it. She denies it but seems very dodgy and goes on accusing me of breaking it on the two days I drove it. I do a bit of research on the car history, check with carfax and a couple of mechanics and find out the car had been diagnosed and that's probably why she decided to sell it. Now I will never again buy a car from an individual without consulting with a mechanic first. But even if I had consulted with my mechanic, I doubt he would be able to diagnose it. And even if he was, it is most likely he would let me buy it and then hit me with the "whoah, I didn't see that problem when I tested it" so he could make some money. They are not in the charity business. My advice is simple then: If you don't want try your luck or have to deal with that kind of trouble, buy new or with a warranty :) That shouldn’t be anything serious. It is most likely an “age-related” issue since it is a vintage bike. My story is a bit worse I think. I bought a car from a lady on Craigslist. I saw the car, drove it and it looked just fine. Seemed to be the typical suburban lady ride, to go buy groceries or driven to the farmer’s market. Should have taken it to a mechanic but, for some reason, I trusted her and my own mechanical instincts. So I bought the think, drove it for two days and the transmition goes kaput. Had to tow it to the the mechanic and he gave me the bad news: $1,600 to fix it (I paid $3,600 for the car). I call the lady and ask her if she knew about it. She denies it but seems very dodgy and goes on accusing me of breaking it on the two days I drove it. I do a bit of research on the car history, check with carfax and a couple of mechanics and find out the car had been diagnosed and that’s probably why she decided to sell it.

Now I will never again buy a car from an individual without consulting with a mechanic first. But even if I had consulted with my mechanic, I doubt he would be able to diagnose it. And even if he was, it is most likely he would let me buy it and then hit me with the “whoah, I didn’t see that problem when I tested it” so he could make some money. They are not in the charity business. My advice is simple then: If you don’t want try your luck or have to deal with that kind of trouble, buy new or with a warranty :)

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