sockpuppet

I'm anxiously awaiting a call from my body shop to tell me to pick up my '09 SH-AWD. I took the wife to a concert on June 10, and the next morning noticed I'd been keyed. Very keyed. All the way down the driver's side, across the hood, and back along the passenger side. I think the only thing not being repainted is the roof. $5,200 (CDN) damage.

So, for the time being, I'm in a rental Chrysler 300, and while it's not bad, it does make me miss my car. That said, they do a number of things better than the TL (though that might be the difference of 2009 vs. 2015/16). The screen is much nicer, and although I'm typically not partial to touch screen in cars, this one seems to work well. The backup cam is big and bright, with trajectory lines, but the screen almost seems to have some latency issues, which can be a bit disconcerting. Voice activated...well, everything...is done much better. and the nav is better, but honestly, I believe Honda/Acura nav is perhaps the worst on the market. And I like how the "system" has a separate speaker from the music player...directions and other notices don't mute the music.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that they're keyless entry works much the same...just reach for the door, and it unlocks, and it won't let you lock the keys in the trunk (which I learned, much to my relief, particularly as Enterprise gives you both keys, attached permanently with a metal cable...lose one fob, and you've lost them both).

Acceleration is surprisingly nimble for what seems like a really heavy car. But the shifting is a bit "clunky". Overall, everything is a bit more "spongy"...brakes, suspension...even the seats, which feel kind of like sitting in a lazyboy. But lots of room inside. Not a bad option for a family car. And the trunk is big enough to carry perhaps two bodies (if they're cut up properly). Oh oh...I'm on a list now...

All in all, not a bad car. But I sure hope I get that call tomorrow.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

1st rule of body shops; they are never on time!

good luck, sir! hope the body shop is ready!

JT4

So sorry to hear you were keyed, I hate the cowards that do that type of chicken-sh*t stuff. Too many jerks out there today that get a kick out of doing crap like this to others peoples property.

Hopefully it will be fixed to your liking...

echodigital

That is so crappy....I feel for you.

UlsterBoy13

Liam Neeson would ensure you got your girl back...i can call him if you want?

sockpuppet

Not a bad suggestion; he does have a very particular set of skills. I'd rather he find the guy with the key (body shop guy thought it was actually a knife).

sockpuppet

Just got her back...it's nice to be back in my own ride. Fresh coat of paint doesn't hurt, either.

A couple of other points on the Chrysler (300) I was driving; they do remote start right. While I can't comment on range, the remote start is built right into the fob...the same one that allows for key-less entry and ignition. And it doesn't kill when the door opens. I wish the TL remote start was like that.

And to counter that with a "con", they incorporated the wipers/washer into the turn signal lever. Several times, while signalling a lane or turn, I'd inadvertently spray the windows, due to eh way I'm accustomed to using the lever. A minor annoyance, but an annoyance nonetheless.

RDX10

The charger rental I had functioned the same way. Stupid stalk for BOTH windshield and lights? Why? I would literally flash my highbeams everytime I tried to wash the windshield, which btw, I couldn't figure out. Now that I think about it, I bet it was a button on top of the stalk.

GhostTL09

iTrader: (1)

OP any before and after pics?