Bought that Bar's Leaks stuff for my 2002 Civic thinking it'd buy me a few months, but it just gummed up my heater core and left me stranded on I-95 anyway. Has anyone else had a 'quick fix' actually make things worse instead of just failing quietly?
I bought a 2015 Civic off some guy on Facebook Marketplace back in March with 98,500 miles on it. He swore up and down he changed the oil every 5k and kept up with everything. I just rolled over to 108,500 miles yesterday and decided to check the air filter and spark plugs for the first time. The air filter was completely black and caked with dirt, like it had never been swapped. The spark plugs were so corroded I couldn't believe the car even ran smooth. It made me realize I can't trust what sellers say and I should just always do a full inspection after buying used. Has anyone else bought a car that seemed fine but had hidden neglect like that under the hood?
It was about 2 AM on a back road near my house in Ohio, ice everywhere, and I took a turn too fast. My rear wheels spun out and I ended up nose-down in a shallow ditch with the front bumper touching the ground. I sat there for maybe 10 minutes deciding if I should call a tow truck or grab the shovel from my trunk. I went with the shovel option because I'm cheap and figured I could pack snow under the tires for grip. After 45 minutes of digging, rocking the car, and nearly slipping myself, I got it back on the road with just a scratched bumper. Has anyone else had to pick between spending cash or doing the hard work after a crash?
My $40 dash cam paid for itself in 10 seconds on I-95 near Richmond. I caught a guy swerving into my lane and clipping my mirror on video last month. The other driver tried to blame me, but the footage showed his plates and everything. State trooper used it to write him up on the spot. Has anyone else had a cheap dash cam save them from an insurance headache?
My 2015 Civic had a slow leak I kept ignoring, then on I-285 around 9pm the sidewall just gave out... $180 for a tow truck and $110 for a used tire off some guy's Craigslist ad. Has anyone else had a perfectly good tire suddenly fail because you waited too long to patch a nail hole?
Spent 6 months thinking my truck was invincible in rain until I understeered into a ditch last Tuesday going 35 on an off-ramp. Anyone else learn that 4x4 doesn't help you stop any faster on wet pavement?
Last Tuesday coming back from a ski trip I hit a patch of black ice on I-70 near Silverthorne and slid right into the ditch. My front bumper was buried in snow and my tires just spun. This guy in a rusty F-250 stopped, didn't even ask questions, just hooked a tow strap to my frame and yanked me out in like 3 minutes. I tried to give him 40 bucks but he waved it off and said he'd been stuck there himself last winter. That moment made me realize how much I take for granted just having cell service and not being stranded in single digit weather. I've since thrown a proper tow strap and a pair of traction boards in my trunk. Has anyone else had a random stranger save them like that on a mountain pass, or am I just lucky?
The guy was only going about 45 mph but with headlights reflecting off the road you just don't register an oncoming vehicle until they're 200 feet away, has anyone else had a close call like that where reaction time just wasn't enough?
I tried fixing a rear crumple zone on my 98 Civic after a tap in a parking lot in Austin. A buddy told me to just hammer it out and bondo over it, save a few hundred bucks. Looked fine from the outside but after six months I noticed the trunk lid sat crooked. Took it to a shop and the guy showed me the frame rail was bent in a way that would make the next hit transfer straight to the gas tank. Cost me $900 to get it pulled back right by a pro. Makes me wonder how many people out there are driving around with these backyard fixes that just fold up like paper in a real wreck. You ever strip down a car you thought was clean and find some hidden hack job underneath?
I bought a cheap dash cam off Amazon back in March for $150. Looked great in the reviews but it can't see anything at night past 20 feet. I caught a guy sideswiping my parked car at 2 AM and the footage was just black with a faint shape. Police couldn't use it. Anyone else get burned by a cam that's useless after dark?
I was driving my old Civic back from my mom's place in Round Rock when a sudden thunderstorm hit. Hit a puddle at 65 mph and my back end just slid out like I was on ice. I somehow spun 180 degrees and ended up stopped on the median grass, staring at oncoming traffic like an idiot. Anybody else ever do a full 360 and just sit there wondering how you didn't hit anything?
I hit a puddle on I-35 last Tuesday going 55 and spun out into the median, no damage but I had to change my pants after, anyone else get stubborn warnings from friends that nearly cost you big?
I was driving down 290 in Houston last month when this guy swerved into my lane and hit my passenger side mirror. He jumps out yelling it was MY fault, saying I cut him off. I was PISSED because I knew he was lying but had no proof. Then I remembered I finally bought that cheap dash cam from Amazon after my brother nagged me for a year. I pulled the SD card, plugged it into my laptop right there in the parking lot, and sure enough the video showed him drifting into me clear as day. Gave the footage to my insurance and they ruled him at fault no questions asked. Has anyone else had a cheap piece of gear save them from a big headache like this?
I drove a 2002 Corolla for years and it would start swimming on wet pavement at like 50 mph. Last month I rented a 2023 Sienna for a trip down I-85 through Atlanta in a thunderstorm. That thing held the road at 65 with zero drama. The tires were just basic all-seasons too. I get that weight helps but man, the difference in stability was unreal. Has anyone else noticed newer cars handle standing water way better even with similar tires?
Bought a 2018 Honda from a used lot last month that had a 'clean 150-point inspection' sticker on the window. Third day driving it, the transmission started slipping and the mechanic said the fluid was burnt black and never changed. Has anyone else gotten burned by those fake inspection checklists?
I watched two dashcam videos of the same wreck, one from a car at the front and one from a car way back in line. The difference in what they saw unfold was insane, like two completely different crashes. Anyone else notice how much your vantage point changes what you think caused the whole thing?
I kept spinning out on the same off ramp near my shop on 82nd Avenue. Watched a dash cam replay from last Tuesday and realized I was hitting the brakes halfway through the curve instead of before it. My rear end kicked out every time because the weight shifted mid turn. Has anyone else picked up bad habits they didn't notice until seeing it on video?