PicturesToday rivaled the great blizzard drama of 2005. Gina and I originally planned to visit Hodges Subaru for some scheduled maintenance on both of our cars, visit the zoo and take a relaxing day off of work. It got a little more complicated than that.
We were up at 6, out the door at 7 and at Hodges by 8am. We dropped off our cars for service (mine was due for a lower control arm recall inspection and Gina needed to have her steering rack replaced). We walked to Toast for a savory breakfast treat, then headed back to Hodges to see where we stood. Not only did my lower control arms fail their punch test, but the subframe assembly was rusted out. Hodges service crew deemed my car unsafe to drive and in need of at least the LCA replacement. Gina and I decided that it was time to try to find a new car.
Bill Garcia, who hooked Gina up with her last two Imprezas, overheard our situation and we asked if he could help us find my dream car: 2012 Legacy GT with navigation. The catch? The GT is no longer available for order and the last time I checked there were none available anywhere in the US. That didn’t stop Bill: he called around until he found a lead on one in Texas. We applied for financing (and were approved), then got the quote for the new car. We were pretty sure all was good to go… and then headed out to the zoo with a loaner Forester from Hodges.
Just down the road is the Detroit Zoo (actually located in Royal Oak, MI… go figure). We figured we would burn a few hours while checking out the zoo. Though the zoo was without power in some buildings due to the high winds, we were still able to check out just about everything we could stand! Three hours later, we had lunch then headed back to Hodges for an update.
It seems that the winds were causing problems for more than just the zoo. The power was out at Hodges’ auxiliary service center and our cars wouldn’t be done for a bit longer… So, we headed of for an afternoon showing of The Hunger Games at the Royal Oak Emagine Theater.
Thoroughly entertained, we returned once again to Hodges. This time, the work on my car was complete… but Bill had some complications regarding the Texas-based source for my potential new car. Without boring you with the details, we’re not sure if the ’12 GT is going to happen, but I can’t thank Bill and the guys enough for all the work they’re putting into try to make it happen. The power was still unrestored to their auxiliary service location, so I assume my car was assembled without the help of a lift or airtools. Gina’s car, however, could not have the steering rack replaced without a lift.
Hodges made arrangements for a loaner and Gina headed off to get her parking pass from her car while I signed off on the work for mine. I picked up my car and called Gina to locate her. However, she didn’t answer the phone! A nice lady, Veronica, found Gina’s phone on Woodward and held onto it for us! Crazy! I found Gina, headed over to Marygrove College (where Veronica works) and picked up here phone. We returned to Hodges one more time to pick up Gina’s loaner then went home.
All in all, today was a collection of miscellaneous little things adding up to one big tangle of craziness. We’re still not sure if the Legacy GT is REALLY available in Texas and Gina needs to pick up her car from Hodges after their aux. service location power is restored and they get it up in the air.
At least there wasn’t any snow involved this time.
- Duane
