Has anyone in west Texas had any luck with AAA auto club?

I'm getting to the age where I'm considering joining in case something happens when I'm away from home.

Twenty years ago I was a member for several years until I was stranded in a blizzard and needed to be towed out. They acted like they couldn't care less. I finally hung up and managed to get pulled out by a good Samaritan, after that I canceled my account.

Before I try again I thought I'd ask.

On Fri, 20 Nov 2015 17:10:28 -0600, "rumpole"
wrote:


Has anyone in west Texas had any luck with AAA auto club?

Don't know west texas, or AAA.

I'm getting to the age where I'm considering joining in case something happens when I'm away from home.

Twenty years ago I was a member for several years until I was stranded in a blizzard and needed to be towed out. They acted like they couldn't care less. I finally hung up and managed to get pulled out by a good Samaritan, after that I canceled my account.

Before I try again I thought I'd ask.

What I've been doing is carrying the business card of a towing company
that works around here. Since I would normally want to be towed
back here, I think they'll go even if I'm pretty far away.

If I wanted to be cautious, I'd print a list of the towing companies
around here, fold it up and put it in the glove box, in case some
don't answer the phone. The one I carry answers 24hours I think.


Oh, yeah, my GEICO car insurance included part of the towing cost, so
one Sunday night after I'd broken down 25 miles from home, I called
GEICO. They put me on hold while they talked to their towing company
in that area, and I should have insisted on a 3-way call, at least
when they weren't saying embarrassing things. But at least I got the
name of the company. They woudn't have told me if I hadn't asked.

Before I left the car I had hid the key somewhere, and I told the
woman on the phone, but Monday afternoon comes, I haven't gone to
work, and the gas station where I wanted it towed never called, so I
called them and they said the car never showed up, so I called the
towing company and he said they went out to my car, found the car, but
didn't find the key, so they dropped the matter. Why didn't you call
GEICO and have them call me? Oh, I dunno. Anyhow, I told him
again where the key was, and they towed the car on Tuesday and didn't
ask for any money from the gas station, so I guess they settled for
what GEICO gave them and didn't get the rest they would have been
entitled to for 25 miles. Which is fair, IMO.

Until I was 64, I'd only been towed 3 times. Plus two or 3 times I
broke down and repaired the car where it was. Four times I ran out
of gas but coasted into the gas station. Four other times I ran out
of gas and went and got some.

Lately it's been worse. Three tows in the last 4 years , in two cases
to my house. In one of those cases, I had to tow it again, to a
reliable guy who had to have a consultant find the elecrical short. An
actual short, in the engine compartment, hard to see. The other
case, towed to my house after an accident. Replaced lower right
front control arm, ball joint, right half axle. Biggest repair I ever
did on a car. Good thing too, because soon I'll be too old.

Micky wrote:
On Fri, 20 Nov 2015 17:10:28 -0600, "rumpole"
wrote:


Has anyone in west Texas had any luck with AAA auto club?

Don't know west texas, or AAA.

I'm getting to the age where I'm considering joining in case something happens when I'm away from home.

Twenty years ago I was a member for several years until I was stranded in a blizzard and needed to be towed out. They acted like they couldn't care less. I finally hung up and managed to get pulled out by a good Samaritan, after that I canceled my account.

Before I try again I thought I'd ask.

What I've been doing is carrying the business card of a towing company
that works around here. Since I would normally want to be towed
back here, I think they'll go even if I'm pretty far away.

If I wanted to be cautious, I'd print a list of the towing companies
around here, fold it up and put it in the glove box, in case some
don't answer the phone. The one I carry answers 24hours I think.


Oh, yeah, my GEICO car insurance included part of the towing cost, so
one Sunday night after I'd broken down 25 miles from home, I called
GEICO. They put me on hold while they talked to their towing company
in that area, and I should have insisted on a 3-way call, at least
when they weren't saying embarrassing things. But at least I got the
name of the company. They woudn't have told me if I hadn't asked.

Before I left the car I had hid the key somewhere, and I told the
woman on the phone, but Monday afternoon comes, I haven't gone to
work, and the gas station where I wanted it towed never called, so I
called them and they said the car never showed up, so I called the
towing company and he said they went out to my car, found the car, but
didn't find the key, so they dropped the matter. Why didn't you call
GEICO and have them call me? Oh, I dunno. Anyhow, I told him
again where the key was, and they towed the car on Tuesday and didn't
ask for any money from the gas station, so I guess they settled for
what GEICO gave them and didn't get the rest they would have been
entitled to for 25 miles. Which is fair, IMO.

Until I was 64, I'd only been towed 3 times. Plus two or 3 times I
broke down and repaired the car where it was. Four times I ran out
of gas but coasted into the gas station. Four other times I ran out
of gas and went and got some.

Lately it's been worse. Three tows in the last 4 years , in two cases
to my house. In one of those cases, I had to tow it again, to a
reliable guy who had to have a consultant find the elecrical short. An
actual short, in the engine compartment, hard to see. The other
case, towed to my house after an accident. Replaced lower right
front control arm, ball joint, right half axle. Biggest repair I ever
did on a car. Good thing too, because soon I'll be too old.

My family is AMA member. Also our cars are covered by road side
assistance being fairly new cars. I only needed help while I was
towing my camping trailer with 1 ton van. In the middle of no where,
steady bearing went out. Whole family spent over night at a road side
turn out.

"Micky" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 20 Nov 2015 17:10:28 -0600, "rumpole"
wrote:


Has anyone in west Texas had any luck with AAA auto club?

Don't know west texas, or AAA.

I'm getting to the age where I'm considering joining in case something
happens when I'm away from home.

Twenty years ago I was a member for several years until I was stranded in
a blizzard and needed to be towed out. They acted like they couldn't care
less. I finally hung up and managed to get pulled out by a good Samaritan,
after that I canceled my account.

Before I try again I thought I'd ask.

What I've been doing is carrying the business card of a towing company
that works around here. Since I would normally want to be towed
back here, I think they'll go even if I'm pretty far away.

If I wanted to be cautious, I'd print a list of the towing companies
around here, fold it up and put it in the glove box, in case some
don't answer the phone. The one I carry answers 24hours I think.


Oh, yeah, my GEICO car insurance included part of the towing cost, so
one Sunday night after I'd broken down 25 miles from home, I called
GEICO. They put me on hold while they talked to their towing company
in that area, and I should have insisted on a 3-way call, at least
when they weren't saying embarrassing things. But at least I got the
name of the company. They woudn't have told me if I hadn't asked.

Before I left the car I had hid the key somewhere, and I told the
woman on the phone, but Monday afternoon comes, I haven't gone to
work, and the gas station where I wanted it towed never called, so I
called them and they said the car never showed up, so I called the
towing company and he said they went out to my car, found the car, but
didn't find the key, so they dropped the matter. Why didn't you call
GEICO and have them call me? Oh, I dunno. Anyhow, I told him
again where the key was, and they towed the car on Tuesday and didn't
ask for any money from the gas station, so I guess they settled for
what GEICO gave them and didn't get the rest they would have been
entitled to for 25 miles. Which is fair, IMO.

Until I was 64, I'd only been towed 3 times. Plus two or 3 times I
broke down and repaired the car where it was. Four times I ran out
of gas but coasted into the gas station. Four other times I ran out
of gas and went and got some.

Lately it's been worse. Three tows in the last 4 years , in two cases
to my house. In one of those cases, I had to tow it again, to a
reliable guy who had to have a consultant find the elecrical short. An
actual short, in the engine compartment, hard to see. The other
case, towed to my house after an accident. Replaced lower right
front control arm, ball joint, right half axle. Biggest repair I ever
did on a car. Good thing too, because soon I'll be too old.


Guys like you are the reason auto clubs but limits on the number of service
calls they will do for free.

On Fri, 20 Nov 2015 17:10:28 -0600, rumpole wrote:


Has anyone in west Texas had any luck with AAA auto club? I'm getting to
the age where I'm considering joining in case something happens when I'm
away from home.

Twenty years ago I was a member for several years until I was stranded
in a blizzard and needed to be towed out. They acted like they couldn't
care less. I finally hung up and managed to get pulled out by a good
Samaritan, after that I canceled my account. Before I try again I
thought I'd ask.


I don't know anything about this rating service but there's a list
he
http://roadside-assistance-services-...enreviews.com/
or http://alturl.com/demib
Consumer Reports hasn't done a review of these services.


--
Using Opera's mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

On 11/20/2015 6:10 PM, rumpole wrote:

Has anyone in west Texas had any luck with AAA auto club?
I'm getting to the age where I'm considering joining in case something
happens when I'm away from home.

Twenty years ago I was a member for several years until I was stranded
in a blizzard and needed to be towed out. They acted like they couldn't
care less. I finally hung up and managed to get pulled out by a good
Samaritan, after that I canceled my account.
Before I try again I thought I'd ask.


No personal experience but I know three people that belong to AAA and
have had good results when called. Blizzards tend to stress towing
companies so consider that in your decision.

I've not joined as my past four cars came with coverage. Used it once
when I cut a tire sidewall. Had to wait 30 minutes, but I did not have
to change a tire in the rain on a cold December night.

wrote:
On Fri, 20 Nov 2015 17:10:28 -0600, "rumpole"
wrote:

Has anyone in west Texas had any luck with AAA auto club?
Don't know west texas, or AAA.
I'm getting to the age where I'm considering joining in case something happens when I'm away from home.

Twenty years ago I was a member for several years until I was stranded in a blizzard and needed to be towed out. They acted like they couldn't care less. I finally hung up and managed to get pulled out by a good Samaritan, after that I canceled my account.

Before I try again I thought I'd ask.
What I've been doing is carrying the business card of a towing company
that works around here. Since I would normally want to be towed
back here, I think they'll go even if I'm pretty far away.
If I wanted to be cautious, I'd print a list of the towing companies
around here, fold it up and put it in the glove box, in case some
don't answer the phone. The one I carry answers 24hours I think.
Oh, yeah, my GEICO car insurance included part of the towing cost, so
one Sunday night after I'd broken down 25 miles from home, I called
GEICO. They put me on hold while they talked to their towing company
in that area, and I should have insisted on a 3-way call, at least
when they weren't saying embarrassing things. But at least I got the
name of the company. They woudn't have told me if I hadn't asked.
Before I left the car I had hid the key somewhere, and I told the
woman on the phone, but Monday afternoon comes, I haven't gone to
work, and the gas station where I wanted it towed never called, so I
called them and they said the car never showed up, so I called the
towing company and he said they went out to my car, found the car, but
didn't find the key, so they dropped the matter. Why didn't you call
GEICO and have them call me? Oh, I dunno. Anyhow, I told him
again where the key was, and they towed the car on Tuesday and didn't
ask for any money from the gas station, so I guess they settled for
what GEICO gave them and didn't get the rest they would have been
entitled to for 25 miles. Which is fair, IMO.
Until I was 64, I'd only been towed 3 times. Plus two or 3 times I
broke down and repaired the car where it was. Four times I ran out
of gas but coasted into the gas station. Four other times I ran out
of gas and went and got some.
Lately it's been worse. Three tows in the last 4 years , in two cases
to my house. In one of those cases, I had to tow it again, to a
reliable guy who had to have a consultant find the elecrical short. An
actual short, in the engine compartment, hard to see. The other
case, towed to my house after an accident. Replaced lower right
front control arm, ball joint, right half axle. Biggest repair I ever
did on a car. Good thing too, because soon I'll be too old.

Around five years ago when I had to change a tire, it took me 90 minutes. By the time I was done, I thought I would have to call 911. My back was hurting so bad I had to lay down for 5 days to get over it. It's gotten worse since then. It was on a dirt road, and I had to use two jacks and a big rock to get it high enough to change the tire. The car has new tires all around, but it's getting old and I don't want to buy a new car. I hope this one will last till I'm done. The battery went out yesterday, while I was home, fortunately. Also, a special clamp on the battery broke. I was able to find and modify a clamp from another battery. If I hadn't been home at the time, it could've been more of a problem. I'm kind of wary of the new cars with all the fancy computer gadgets and what not.

rumpole wrote:


wrote:
On Fri, 20 Nov 2015 17:10:28 -0600, "rumpole"
wrote:

Has anyone in west Texas had any luck with AAA auto club? Don't know
west texas, or AAA. I'm getting to the age where I'm considering
joining in case something happens when I'm away from home.

Twenty years ago I was a member for several years until I was
stranded in a blizzard and needed to be towed out. They acted like
they couldn't care less. I finally hung up and managed to get pulled
out by a good Samaritan, after that I canceled my account.
Before I try again I thought I'd ask.
What I've been doing is carrying the business card of a towing company
that works around here. Since I would normally want to be towed
back here, I think they'll go even if I'm pretty far away. If I wanted
to be cautious, I'd print a list of the towing companies
around here, fold it up and put it in the glove box, in case some
don't answer the phone. The one I carry answers 24hours I think. Oh,
yeah, my GEICO car insurance included part of the towing cost, so
one Sunday night after I'd broken down 25 miles from home, I called
GEICO. They put me on hold while they talked to their towing company
in that area, and I should have insisted on a 3-way call, at least
when they weren't saying embarrassing things. But at least I got the
name of the company. They woudn't have told me if I hadn't asked.
Before I left the car I had hid the key somewhere, and I told the
woman on the phone, but Monday afternoon comes, I haven't gone to
work, and the gas station where I wanted it towed never called, so I
called them and they said the car never showed up, so I called the
towing company and he said they went out to my car, found the car, but
didn't find the key, so they dropped the matter. Why didn't you call
GEICO and have them call me? Oh, I dunno. Anyhow, I told him
again where the key was, and they towed the car on Tuesday and didn't
ask for any money from the gas station, so I guess they settled for
what GEICO gave them and didn't get the rest they would have been
entitled to for 25 miles. Which is fair, IMO. Until I was 64, I'd
only been towed 3 times. Plus two or 3 times I
broke down and repaired the car where it was. Four times I ran out
of gas but coasted into the gas station. Four other times I ran out
of gas and went and got some. Lately it's been worse. Three tows in
the last 4 years , in two cases
to my house. In one of those cases, I had to tow it again, to a
reliable guy who had to have a consultant find the elecrical short. An
actual short, in the engine compartment, hard to see. The other
case, towed to my house after an accident. Replaced lower right
front control arm, ball joint, right half axle. Biggest repair I ever
did on a car. Good thing too, because soon I'll be too old.

Around five years ago when I had to change a tire, it took me 90
minutes. By the time I was done, I thought I would have to call 911. My
back was hurting so bad I had to lay down for 5 days to get over it.
It's gotten worse since then. It was on a dirt road, and I had to use
two jacks and a big rock to get it high enough to change the tire. The
car has new tires all around, but it's getting old and I don't want to
buy a new car. I hope this one will last till I'm done. The battery went
out yesterday, while I was home, fortunately. Also, a special clamp on
the battery broke. I was able to find and modify a clamp from another
battery. If I hadn't been home at the time, it could've been more of a
problem. I'm kind of wary of the new cars with all the fancy computer
gadgets and what not.

Yup, cars are more electronics than mechanics, LOL! I took a delivery of
new car this week. Had to drive it home on an icy road. Manual for
infotainment system was thicker than basic owner's manual. I could have
run flat tires as an option too but I did not. I just passed my 75th
Bday last month. A young senior, LOL!

On Fri, 20 Nov 2015 16:23:43 -0800, "taxed and spent"
wrote:


"Micky" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 20 Nov 2015 17:10:28 -0600, "rumpole"
wrote:


Has anyone in west Texas had any luck with AAA auto club?

Don't know west texas, or AAA.

I'm getting to the age where I'm considering joining in case something
happens when I'm away from home.

Twenty years ago I was a member for several years until I was stranded in
a blizzard and needed to be towed out. They acted like they couldn't care
less. I finally hung up and managed to get pulled out by a good Samaritan,
after that I canceled my account.

Before I try again I thought I'd ask.

What I've been doing is carrying the business card of a towing company
that works around here. Since I would normally want to be towed
back here, I think they'll go even if I'm pretty far away.

If I wanted to be cautious, I'd print a list of the towing companies
around here, fold it up and put it in the glove box, in case some
don't answer the phone. The one I carry answers 24hours I think.


Oh, yeah, my GEICO car insurance included part of the towing cost, so
one Sunday night after I'd broken down 25 miles from home, I called
GEICO. They put me on hold while they talked to their towing company
in that area, and I should have insisted on a 3-way call, at least
when they weren't saying embarrassing things. But at least I got the
name of the company. They woudn't have told me if I hadn't asked.

Before I left the car I had hid the key somewhere, and I told the
woman on the phone, but Monday afternoon comes, I haven't gone to
work, and the gas station where I wanted it towed never called, so I
called them and they said the car never showed up, so I called the
towing company and he said they went out to my car, found the car, but
didn't find the key, so they dropped the matter. Why didn't you call
GEICO and have them call me? Oh, I dunno. Anyhow, I told him
again where the key was, and they towed the car on Tuesday and didn't
ask for any money from the gas station, so I guess they settled for
what GEICO gave them and didn't get the rest they would have been
entitled to for 25 miles. Which is fair, IMO.

Until I was 64, I'd only been towed 3 times. Plus two or 3 times I
broke down and repaired the car where it was. Four times I ran out
of gas but coasted into the gas station. Four other times I ran out
of gas and went and got some.

Lately it's been worse. Three tows in the last 4 years , in two cases
to my house. In one of those cases, I had to tow it again, to a
reliable guy who had to have a consultant find the elecrical short. An
actual short, in the engine compartment, hard to see. The other
case, towed to my house after an accident. Replaced lower right
front control arm, ball joint, right half axle. Biggest repair I ever
did on a car. Good thing too, because soon I'll be too old.


Guys like you are the reason auto clubs but limits on the number of service
calls they will do for free.

Me? Why me? I've never belonged to an auto club and the only time I
called the insurance company, they did a bad job.

(BTW, I assumed that their not billing me for the extra miles was a
"bribe" or a payment so I wouldn't complain to GEICO about what a bad
job they did. And I didn't complain.)

Other times I forgot about:
Lent the car to someone. He ran a stop sign in a school zone, hit
broadside. Calls me and starts off "Where should I have it towed?" I
ran a mile to get there, tow truck already there, they towed it to
their gas station where I got them to pull the fender away from the
tire, and then the car pulled leff but it ran.

Times that I could have called a tow truck: Flat tire in the rain
when I had to be at a political meeting for a candidate I was working
for, and I didn't think I should look like a water-logged dog, so I
drove 2 blocks on the flat to a gas station, that changed the tire for
me. My tire was ruined.

Flat tire. Couldn't get the lug nuts off, tightened too hard by air
wrench, so drove three blocks to gas station. (no phone nearby
anyhow) My tire was ruined.

On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 12:06:47 AM UTC-6, Tony Hwang wrote:
rumpole wrote:

wrote:
On Fri, 20 Nov 2015 17:10:28 -0600, "rumpole"
wrote:

Has anyone in west Texas had any luck with AAA auto club? Don't know
west texas, or AAA. I'm getting to the age where I'm considering
joining in case something happens when I'm away from home.

Twenty years ago I was a member for several years until I was
stranded in a blizzard and needed to be towed out. They acted like
they couldn't care less. I finally hung up and managed to get pulled
out by a good Samaritan, after that I canceled my account.
Before I try again I thought I'd ask.
What I've been doing is carrying the business card of a towing company
that works around here. Since I would normally want to be towed
back here, I think they'll go even if I'm pretty far away. If I wanted
to be cautious, I'd print a list of the towing companies
around here, fold it up and put it in the glove box, in case some
don't answer the phone. The one I carry answers 24hours I think. Oh,
yeah, my GEICO car insurance included part of the towing cost, so
one Sunday night after I'd broken down 25 miles from home, I called
GEICO. They put me on hold while they talked to their towing company
in that area, and I should have insisted on a 3-way call, at least
when they weren't saying embarrassing things. But at least I got the
name of the company. They woudn't have told me if I hadn't asked.
Before I left the car I had hid the key somewhere, and I told the
woman on the phone, but Monday afternoon comes, I haven't gone to
work, and the gas station where I wanted it towed never called, so I
called them and they said the car never showed up, so I called the
towing company and he said they went out to my car, found the car, but
didn't find the key, so they dropped the matter. Why didn't you call
GEICO and have them call me? Oh, I dunno. Anyhow, I told him
again where the key was, and they towed the car on Tuesday and didn't
ask for any money from the gas station, so I guess they settled for
what GEICO gave them and didn't get the rest they would have been
entitled to for 25 miles. Which is fair, IMO. Until I was 64, I'd
only been towed 3 times. Plus two or 3 times I
broke down and repaired the car where it was. Four times I ran out
of gas but coasted into the gas station. Four other times I ran out
of gas and went and got some. Lately it's been worse. Three tows in
the last 4 years , in two cases
to my house. In one of those cases, I had to tow it again, to a
reliable guy who had to have a consultant find the elecrical short. An
actual short, in the engine compartment, hard to see. The other
case, towed to my house after an accident. Replaced lower right
front control arm, ball joint, right half axle. Biggest repair I ever
did on a car. Good thing too, because soon I'll be too old.

Around five years ago when I had to change a tire, it took me 90
minutes. By the time I was done, I thought I would have to call 911. My
back was hurting so bad I had to lay down for 5 days to get over it.
It's gotten worse since then. It was on a dirt road, and I had to use
two jacks and a big rock to get it high enough to change the tire. The
car has new tires all around, but it's getting old and I don't want to
buy a new car. I hope this one will last till I'm done. The battery went
out yesterday, while I was home, fortunately. Also, a special clamp on
the battery broke. I was able to find and modify a clamp from another
battery. If I hadn't been home at the time, it could've been more of a
problem. I'm kind of wary of the new cars with all the fancy computer
gadgets and what not.

Yup, cars are more electronics than mechanics, LOL! I took a delivery of
new car this week. Had to drive it home on an icy road. Manual for
infotainment system was thicker than basic owner's manual. I could have
run flat tires as an option too but I did not. I just passed my 75th
Bday last month. A young senior, LOL!

Heck Tony, 70 is the new 50. When I was a kid, we thought that a feller 40 years of age was an old man. ^_^

[8~{} Uncle Old Monster

"rumpole" wrote:
Has anyone in west Texas had any luck with AAA auto club?
I'm getting to the age where I'm considering joining in case something
happens when I'm away from home.

Twenty years ago I was a member for several years until I was stranded in
a blizzard and needed to be towed out. They acted like they couldn't care
less. I finally hung up and managed to get pulled out by a good
Samaritan, after that I canceled my account.
Before I try again I thought I'd ask.

Got Pa. Basic. Only covers about 3 mile tow. I usually pay for couple extra
miles, but hardly worth it.

Greg

Got Pa. Basic. Only covers about 3 mile tow. I usually pay for couple extra
miles, but hardly worth it.

Greg


I have had AAA+ since the early 1980s.

its paid for itself in free tows.

some near a 100 miles.

On 11/21/15 6:11 AM, bob haller wrote:


Got Pa. Basic. Only covers about 3 mile tow. I usually pay for couple extra
miles, but hardly worth it.

Greg


I have had AAA+ since the early 1980s.

its paid for itself in free tows.

some near a 100 miles.


I haven't had to use the tows yet (knock wood), but have more than
gotten my money back just from hotel discount and the money I save on my
cell phone.

On 11/21/2015 6:11 AM, bob haller wrote:


Got Pa. Basic. Only covers about 3 mile tow. I usually pay for couple extra
miles, but hardly worth it.

Greg


I have had AAA+ since the early 1980s.

its paid for itself in free tows.

some near a 100 miles.


Can't comment on TX, not lived there. I'm in western
NYS. The AAA plus has been well worth it for me. Used
the limit of calls, when I was having vehicle problems.
I hope that's over, waiting for tow trucks and repair
garages is no fun.

--
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

On 11/21/2015 1:06 AM, Tony Hwang wrote:


Yup, cars are more electronics than mechanics, LOL! I took a delivery of
new car this week. Had to drive it home on an icy road. Manual for
infotainment system was thicker than basic owner's manual. I could have
run flat tires as an option too but I did not. I just passed my 75th
Bday last month. A young senior, LOL!

Got a new car a couple of months ago. Yes, a stack of manuals that took
me a week to get through Pleasure to drive with all the goodies though.
Adaptive cruise control is really nifty.

On Friday, November 20, 2015 at 6:10:34 PM UTC-5, rumpole wrote:
Has anyone in west Texas had any luck with AAA auto club?

I'm getting to the age where I'm considering joining in case something happens when I'm away from home.

Twenty years ago I was a member for several years until I was stranded in a blizzard and needed to be towed out. They acted like they couldn't care less. I finally hung up and managed to get pulled out by a good Samaritan, after that I canceled my account.

Before I try again I thought I'd ask.

My family has had AAA since the 80's. It's an annual Christmas gift for the kids. My membership
covers 6 drivers. (The membership used to be based on the vehicle, now it's on the member
so it covers whatever car they call about). We have "shared" calls in bad years.

4 tows per year per member. I have the Plus package, so tows are up to 100 miles.

For the most part I have been extremely happy with the coverage. The latest incident, not
so much. I had a vehicle that we weren't using parked in a lot where I rent a space for my
trailer. The brake lines were shot so when I sold the car to my mechanic, we had to have
it towed to his shop. I called AAA and they gave me a 1 hour estimate, so we headed over
to the lot to unlock the gate. While we were waiting there, they called me back and told
that the driver had a "priority call" that he had to take care of first. It might be at least
another hour before he could pick up my car. Apparently, because it was Sunday, they
had limited contractors willing to work. We ended up limping the car over to a parking lot
outside of the locked lot where I had it stored, left the keys in the visor and went home.

A few hours later, I drove by his shop and it was there. I assume the "priority call" meant
someone was on the side of the road as opposed to in a parking lot, so they won. I could
have complained, but I let it go.

On 11/21/2015 8:22 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:


A few hours later, I drove by his shop and it was there. I assume the "priority call" meant
someone was on the side of the road as opposed to in a parking lot, so they won. I could
have complained, but I let it go.


Complain? If you were broke down on a busy highway with 3 kids in the
car and they told you we have to tow some guy's junker from storage to a
shop first, what would you think then?

On 11/21/2015 12:46 AM, Uncle Monster wrote:

[snip]

Heck Tony, 70 is the new 50. When I was a kid, we thought that a feller
40 years of age was an old man. ^_^

When I was 13 I thought 40 was really old.

--
34 days until the winter celebration (Friday December 25, 2015 12:00:00
AM for 1 day).

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"Anti-abortionists believe that life begins at the moment you agree with
them." [Saturday Night Live]

On 11/21/2015 06:57 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:

[snip]

Can't comment on TX, not lived there. I'm in western
NYS. The AAA plus has been well worth it for me. Used
the limit of calls, when I was having vehicle problems.
I hope that's over, waiting for tow trucks and repair
garages is no fun.


The last time I needed AAA was for a dead battery, and yes it was no
fun. AAA called me while I was at the garage to ask if the service was
OK. At least the garage was open at the time, so I didn't have to wait a
day (or three).

BTW, the battery was replaced free since it was less than 2 years old.

--
34 days until the winter celebration (Friday December 25, 2015 12:00:00
AM for 1 day).

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"Anti-abortionists believe that life begins at the moment you agree with
them." [Saturday Night Live]

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 11:28:14 -0600, Mark Lloyd
wrote:

On 11/21/2015 12:46 AM, Uncle Monster wrote:

[snip]

Heck Tony, 70 is the new 50. When I was a kid, we thought that a feller
40 years of age was an old man. ^_^

When I was 13 I thought 40 was really old.

Not me. Maybe because my mother was 39 when I was born and my father
was 55, and my uncles and aunts were all in that range, I thought
youth lasted through 49.

And when I turned 50, I sort of thought my youth was over. (Although
I really thought that last winter when I had endocrine overflow,
osteoporosis, and had lost 3 inches in height, at age 68. The cured
the parathyroid and now I think I'm young again.)

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 08:21:06 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:


Got a new car a couple of months ago. Yes, a stack of manuals that took
me a week to get through Pleasure to drive with all the goodies though.
Adaptive cruise control is really nifty.

Can you decide how far behind the next car you are?

I normally follow 2 or 3 times what the "rules" say, one car length
for each 10 mph. Will it do that?

On 11/21/2015 1:36 PM, Micky wrote:
On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 08:21:06 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:


Got a new car a couple of months ago. Yes, a stack of manuals that took
me a week to get through Pleasure to drive with all the goodies though.
Adaptive cruise control is really nifty.

Can you decide how far behind the next car you are?

I normally follow 2 or 3 times what the "rules" say, one car length
for each 10 mph. Will it do that?


The rule now is the "three second rule".

That is the time it takes for your car to reach the point where the car
ahead has just passed.

Here in Delaware the law calls for 4 seconds.

Never heard anyone getting arrested for breaking it.

A while back and under cover Elsmere cop van was tailgating my wife so
she sped up to increase the distance and cop turned on siren, pulled it
over and ticketed her for speeding.

She was too sheepish to tell me as she had a previous speeding ticket
elswhere.

Wish I had known as I'd have fought it.

I drive the speed limit on our back roads. If you want me to speed up,
you'll have to push me.

On Fri, 20 Nov 2015 23:06:26 -0700, Tony Hwang wrote:

Around five years ago when I had to change a tire, it took me 90
minutes. By the time I was done, I thought I would have to call 911. My
back was hurting so bad I had to lay down for 5 days to get over it.
It's gotten worse since then. It was on a dirt road, and I had to use
two jacks and a big rock to get it high enough to change the tire. The
car has new tires all around, but it's getting old and I don't want to

I always have a breaker bar with the proper socket for my lug nuts, in
the car. I also carry some wood blocks in the car. And, a 30" piece of
inch and a half diameter steel pipe. If a lug nut wont come off, the
steel pipe on the breaker bar will usually get it off. If a jack dont go
high enough, a wooden block will help (of course you should make sure
the jack goes high enough, BEFORE you need it). And wooden blocks are
also helpful for blocking the car on a hill, when you jack it up.

Those so called "Lug Wrenches" are too flimsy for stuck lug nuts. They
will bend and flex, which means that NOT all your applied force is going
to use on the nut.

I learned all these things the HARD WAY!!!

(And dont forget to check the air in your spare tire at least twice a
year).

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 13:36:46 -0500, Micky
wrote:

I normally follow 2 or 3 times what the "rules" say, one car length
for each 10 mph. Will it do that?

I wish more people knew this rule..... AND USED IT!

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 13:59:38 -0500, Frank "frank wrote:

The rule now is the "three second rule".

That is the time it takes for your car to reach the point where the car
ahead has just passed.


Thats too hard to figure. I like the old rule better....

Here in Delaware the law calls for 4 seconds.

Never heard anyone getting arrested for breaking it.

A while back and under cover Elsmere cop van was tailgating my wife so
she sped up to increase the distance and cop turned on siren, pulled it
over and ticketed her for speeding.

I had a cop tailgating me on a country gravel road, late at night, with
no other traffic around. I pulled over on the shoulder. Instead of
passing me, he turned on his red and blue lights and walked up to my
car. He said "are you having a problem". I said "YES... THE CAR BEHIND
ME WAS FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE AND BLINDING ME WITH HIS LIGHTS IN MY
MIRRORS".

That cop was lost for words..... He asked for my license, looked at it
quickly and told me I could leave!


She was too sheepish to tell me as she had a previous speeding ticket
elswhere.

Wish I had known as I'd have fought it.

I drive the speed limit on our back roads. If you want me to speed up,
you'll have to push me.

That's my policy too. Most tailgaters will continue to "ride your ass"
no matter how fast you go. Sometimes I slow way down, hoping they will
pass me. If they continue to ride my ass, I usually just pull over on
the shoulder, until they do pass. Tailgating is a pet peeve of mine. I
wish it was legal to install a flame thrower on the rear of my car!

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 13:29:26 -0600, wrote:

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 13:36:46 -0500, Micky
wrote:

I normally follow 2 or 3 times what the "rules" say, one car length
for each 10 mph. Will it do that?

I wish more people knew this rule..... AND USED IT!

I hate tailgaters. IIRC, 1/4 or 1/3 of accidents involve them.

I've tried various things to get rid of them.

Waving my arm for them to go around doesn't work well. Even when the
top is down and they can plainly see me holding my arm up and moving
it in a circle. Even when I'm stopped on a residential street with
enough room to go around me, and I'm waving, it takes most people a 10
or 20 seconds before they go around me. (In NYC it takes 1.2
seconds.)

Turning my head around and glowering at them doesn't work, I guess
because I'm in such a hurry to look ahead again that they can't tell.

Turning on the 4-way flasher doesn't work, unless I slow down a lot
too.

Turning on the right-turn signal works best. I think it calls up a
conditioned reflex in them, because on an Xway, they could just wait
until i change lanes to the right, which I don't plan to do, but they
change lanes to the left pretty often when I put on the right-turn
signal.

I suppose slowing down a lot risks gettins shot, but I dont' think
that's happened in or around Baltimore.

Staying much farther behind than required has saved me several times,
I guess when I'm not paying adequate attention, but stiill, it's saved
me.

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 13:44:52 -0600, wrote:

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 13:59:38 -0500, Frank "frank wrote:

The rule now is the "three second rule".

That is the time it takes for your car to reach the point where the car
ahead has just passed.


Thats too hard to figure.

True. I've tried to measure time for other reasons and it's hard, hard
to tell when a car passes a landmark, hard to know how much time has
gone by. (I've tried to learn to count off seconds accurety but i'm
not as accurate as I want.)

I like the old rule better....

Here in Delaware the law calls for 4 seconds.

Never heard anyone getting arrested for breaking it.

A while back and under cover Elsmere cop van was tailgating my wife so
she sped up to increase the distance and cop turned on siren, pulled it
over and ticketed her for speeding.

I had a cop tailgating me on a country gravel road, late at night, with
no other traffic around. I pulled over on the shoulder. Instead of
passing me, he turned on his red and blue lights and walked up to my
car. He said "are you having a problem". I said "YES... THE CAR BEHIND
ME WAS FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE AND BLINDING ME WITH HIS LIGHTS IN MY
MIRRORS".

That cop was lost for words..... He asked for my license, looked at it
quickly and told me I could leave!

LOL

At night on a two lane road a cop must have been behind me. He pulled
me over and told me I was driving badly, wobbling. I said I was
fine, no nothing to drink, and he looked at my license and left. I
had no idea what the problem was until I started up again and reached
for the M&M's I was pouring one at a time into one hand while I held
the steering wheel with the other.

So the cop really was observant .


She was too sheepish to tell me as she had a previous speeding ticket
elswhere.

Wish I had known as I'd have fought it.

I drive the speed limit on our back roads. If you want me to speed up,
you'll have to push me.

That's my policy too. Most tailgaters will continue to "ride your ass"
no matter how fast you go. Sometimes I slow way down, hoping they will
pass me. If they continue to ride my ass, I usually just pull over on
the shoulder, until they do pass. Tailgating is a pet peeve of mine. I
wish it was legal to install a flame thrower on the rear of my car!

It's not? I thought James Bond had one.

"Micky" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 13:29:26 -0600, wrote:

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 13:36:46 -0500, Micky
wrote:

I normally follow 2 or 3 times what the "rules" say, one car length
for each 10 mph. Will it do that?

I wish more people knew this rule..... AND USED IT!

I hate tailgaters. IIRC, 1/4 or 1/3 of accidents involve them.

I've tried various things to get rid of them.

Waving my arm for them to go around doesn't work well. Even when the
top is down and they can plainly see me holding my arm up and moving
it in a circle. Even when I'm stopped on a residential street with
enough room to go around me, and I'm waving, it takes most people a 10
or 20 seconds before they go around me. (In NYC it takes 1.2
seconds.)

Turning my head around and glowering at them doesn't work, I guess
because I'm in such a hurry to look ahead again that they can't tell.

Turning on the 4-way flasher doesn't work, unless I slow down a lot
too.

Turning on the right-turn signal works best. I think it calls up a
conditioned reflex in them, because on an Xway, they could just wait
until i change lanes to the right, which I don't plan to do, but they
change lanes to the left pretty often when I put on the right-turn
signal.

I suppose slowing down a lot risks gettins shot, but I dont' think
that's happened in or around Baltimore.

Staying much farther behind than required has saved me several times,
I guess when I'm not paying adequate attention, but stiill, it's saved
me.

What works best is turning the valve to drip used crankcase oil into the
exhaust pipe (after the cat converter!).

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 13:24:47 -0600, wrote:

On Fri, 20 Nov 2015 23:06:26 -0700, Tony Hwang wrote:

Around five years ago when I had to change a tire, it took me 90
minutes. By the time I was done, I thought I would have to call 911. My
back was hurting so bad I had to lay down for 5 days to get over it.
It's gotten worse since then. It was on a dirt road, and I had to use
two jacks and a big rock to get it high enough to change the tire. The
car has new tires all around, but it's getting old and I don't want to

I always have a breaker bar with the proper socket for my lug nuts, in
the car. I also carry some wood blocks in the car. And, a 30" piece of
inch and a half diameter steel pipe. If a lug nut wont come off, the
steel pipe on the breaker bar will usually get it off. If a jack dont go
high enough, a wooden block will help (of course you should make sure
the jack goes high enough, BEFORE you need it). And wooden blocks are
also helpful for blocking the car on a hill, when you jack it up.

Those so called "Lug Wrenches" are too flimsy for stuck lug nuts. They
will bend and flex, which means that NOT all your applied force is going
to use on the nut.

I learned all these things the HARD WAY!!!

(And dont forget to check the air in your spare tire at least twice a
year).

I've told this story before, but unless you changed your email, you
weren't here.

We came back from our mother's and I dropped my brother off at Newark
Airport. Got back from the terminal and I had a flat .

It was spring but I'd had surgery in December, couldn't drive, and the
car was parked for two months in the snow, in Queens, and I'd not put
one of the hubcaps on. On that wheel, the left rear, I couldnt' get
the lug nuts off. I stood on the lug wrench, and got t hem off, but
I broke 3 or 4 studs in the process.

It was Sunday. I could ave taken public transportation to NYC and then
to Brooklyn, somehow found someone to tow in and fix my car in NJ,
taken public transportation back on Monday. At least 5 hours wasted.

I decided to try driving home. About 15 miles. Going straight ahead
and turning left worked okay. But when I turned right, the wheel went
clomp, clomp, clomp. I tried to avoid right turns, or at least turn
very gradually.

I'd either broken 4 studs, or I broke 3 and one more broke while I was
driving. I got to the Holland Tunnel and hesitated. They really
hate when you break down in the tunnel and they charge a lot to pull
you out. They have a tow truck right there, that earns no money
except when they tow people out, so that's another reason for them to
charge.

I made it through the tunnel okay, and was going east on Walker, but
just as I got to Broadway, the last lug stud broke, the wheel fell
off, and the car's brake drum hit the ground, with the car not far
behind.

I was in the left lane, probably legal then, but come Monday rush
hour, 12 hours away, I'd be illegal.

So I jacked up the car, put the wheel on with no bolts, and started to
drive. I got 2 inches. Did it again and got 4 feet. Did it again and
went 140 feet, including turning left, going the wrong way up
Broadway** and turning left over a curb and into a parking lot. ***

**Broadway south of Canal is really quiet on Sunday evenings, or it
was when no one lived downtown.

***I'd scouted the area already and found this small parking lot, 120
feet north of the street I was on.

Took the subway home, came back the next morning with a hammer, a
drift, and 5 new lug studs and nuts. It took under an hour to fix the
car. I had to pay for 1.5 parking places for the whole day, because I
parked at right angles to the parking places.

I drive the speed limit on our back roads. If you want me to speed up,
you'll have to push me.

That's my policy too. Most tailgaters will continue to "ride your ass"
no matter how fast you go. Sometimes I slow way down, hoping they will
pass me. If they continue to ride my ass, I usually just pull over on
the shoulder, until they do pass. Tailgating is a pet peeve of mine. I
wish it was legal to install a flame thrower on the rear of my car!

I tap the brakes while adding a little gas.

the close ollower always ddrops back

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 13:33:12 -0500, Micky
wrote:

When I was 13 I thought 40 was really old.

Not me. Maybe because my mother was 39 when I was born and my father
was 55, and my uncles and aunts were all in that range, I thought
youth lasted through 49.

And when I turned 50, I sort of thought my youth was over. (Although
I really thought that last winter when I had endocrine overflow,
osteoporosis, and had lost 3 inches in height, at age 68. The cured
the parathyroid and now I think I'm young again.)

Back in the 70's I was told to never trust anyone over 30. After I
turned 30, I changed that to "NEVER TRUST ANYONE OVER 40, (EXCEPT YOUR
DOG)"! Now that I'm over 60, I changed it to "NEVER TRUST ANYONE *UNDER*
30, ( AND MY DOG HAS ALZHEIMERS)"......

On 11/21/2015 12:28 PM, Mark Lloyd wrote:
On 11/21/2015 12:46 AM, Uncle Monster wrote:

[snip]

Heck Tony, 70 is the new 50. When I was a kid, we thought that a feller
40 years of age was an old man. ^_^

When I was 13 I thought 40 was really old.


It is old. I remember my parents were 40 and they were incredibly old.
My grandparents were like 60 or something but they had grey hair so we
knew they were old.

Today my wife went to a girly birthday party at a tea parlor for her 70
YO cousin. We moved away from the area 34 years ago and have not seen
some of the people there for that long. Did not recognize many of them.

Good day though, some of us guys got together for a few hours too. Of
the six of us, four had grey hair, two of us had no grey hair. Or any
other color.

On 11/21/2015 1:36 PM, Micky wrote:
On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 08:21:06 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:


Got a new car a couple of months ago. Yes, a stack of manuals that took
me a week to get through Pleasure to drive with all the goodies though.
Adaptive cruise control is really nifty.

Can you decide how far behind the next car you are?

I normally follow 2 or 3 times what the "rules" say, one car length
for each 10 mph. Will it do that?


Yes, it can be set as you want and maintains it incredibly well even as
the speed changes. If you slow down to 30, then 20, then come to a stop
it will bring you closer and stop you at a normal distance.

First time I used it I was on a highway and was going to exit to another
highway. I was following a car at 75 mph and he slowed on the ramp as
it curved and accelerated a bit and slowed for the next curve and then
accelerated back to 75. All I had to do was steer. I followed at a
safe distance from 75 to 30 to 45 to 30 and finally back to 75.

The speed you set is the max, but it will slow you right to 0 if the car
in front stops.

On 11/21/2015 2:24 PM, wrote:


(And dont forget to check the air in your spare tire at least twice a
year).


Better yet, check to see if you have a spare. About a third of the new
cars today have an air pump and sealer, no spare. Saves weight is the
excuse.

On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 9:23:17 AM UTC-5, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 11/21/2015 8:22 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:


A few hours later, I drove by his shop and it was there. I assume the "priority call" meant
someone was on the side of the road as opposed to in a parking lot, so they won. I could
have complained, but I let it go.


Complain? If you were broke down on a busy highway with 3 kids in the
car and they told you we have to tow some guy's junker from storage to a
shop first, what would you think then?

Jump to conclusions much?

I could have complained that they should have more contractors available, not that they
took a "priority call" first. In addition AAA did not know the "junker" status of my car,
only that the brakes weren't working. Do you really think I gave them all the details related
to the status of the vehicle? All they need to know is what is wrong so they can tell the
tow truck driver what to expect as far as the condition of the vehicle. No brakes. Period.

FWIW, I (and you) do not know what their definition of a "priority call" means. For all we know, the only contractor available for my area (yes, that was what I was told) was simply closer to the
other vehicle and told AAA he was going to do that call first. For all we know, the original
dispatcher got it wrong and there was no way anyone was getting to me in an hour in the
first place. A "priority call" doesn't automatically mean 3 kids stranded on a highway.

Yes, as a 20+ year AAA member who been paying for 6 memberships for over 10 and
who has seen his services per annual fee cut over that timeframe, I had every right to
complain that I was told that someone would be there in an hour only to be told that it would
be at least another hour once I was already at my vehicle.

On 11/21/2015 10:00 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 9:23:17 AM UTC-5, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 11/21/2015 8:22 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:


A few hours later, I drove by his shop and it was there. I assume the "priority call" meant
someone was on the side of the road as opposed to in a parking lot, so they won. I could
have complained, but I let it go.


Complain? If you were broke down on a busy highway with 3 kids in the
car and they told you we have to tow some guy's junker from storage to a
shop first, what would you think then?

Jump to conclusions much?

I could have complained that they should have more contractors available, not that they
took a "priority call" first. In addition AAA did not know the "junker" status of my car,
only that the brakes weren't working. Do you really think I gave them all the details related
to the status of the vehicle? All they need to know is what is wrong so they can tell the
tow truck driver what to expect as far as the condition of the vehicle. No brakes. Period.

FWIW, I (and you) do not know what their definition of a "priority call" means. For all we know, the only contractor available for my area (yes, that was what I was told) was simply closer to the
other vehicle and told AAA he was going to do that call first. For all we know, the original
dispatcher got it wrong and there was no way anyone was getting to me in an hour in the
first place. A "priority call" doesn't automatically mean 3 kids stranded on a highway.


Yet you were still considering complaining. After sitting for a very
long time that extra hour sure could make a difference. Got it.

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 21:24:47 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On 11/21/2015 2:24 PM, wrote:


(And dont forget to check the air in your spare tire at least twice a
year).


Better yet, check to see if you have a spare. About a third of the new
cars today have an air pump and sealer, no spare. Saves weight is the
excuse.

I don't like that. There go my plans to buy a third of a new car.

On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 10:18:54 PM UTC-5, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 11/21/2015 10:00 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 9:23:17 AM UTC-5, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 11/21/2015 8:22 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:


A few hours later, I drove by his shop and it was there. I assume the "priority call" meant
someone was on the side of the road as opposed to in a parking lot, so they won. I could
have complained, but I let it go.


Complain? If you were broke down on a busy highway with 3 kids in the
car and they told you we have to tow some guy's junker from storage to a
shop first, what would you think then?

Jump to conclusions much?

I could have complained that they should have more contractors available, not that they
took a "priority call" first. In addition AAA did not know the "junker" status of my car,
only that the brakes weren't working. Do you really think I gave them all the details related
to the status of the vehicle? All they need to know is what is wrong so they can tell the
tow truck driver what to expect as far as the condition of the vehicle. No brakes. Period.

FWIW, I (and you) do not know what their definition of a "priority call" means. For all we know, the only contractor available for my area (yes, that was what I was told) was simply closer to the
other vehicle and told AAA he was going to do that call first. For all we know, the original
dispatcher got it wrong and there was no way anyone was getting to me in an hour in the
first place. A "priority call" doesn't automatically mean 3 kids stranded on a highway.


Yet you were still considering complaining. After sitting for a very
long time that extra hour sure could make a difference. Got it.

Stop lying. You definitely don't "got it."

Moving on...

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 21:24:47 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On 11/21/2015 2:24 PM, wrote:


(And dont forget to check the air in your spare tire at least twice a
year).


Better yet, check to see if you have a spare. About a third of the new
cars today have an air pump and sealer, no spare. Saves weight is the
excuse.

A lot of good that pump and sealer will do if a tire completely blows
and shreads as you come to a stop.....

On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 11:28:18 AM UTC-6, Mark Lloyd wrote:
On 11/21/2015 12:46 AM, Uncle Monster wrote:

[snip]

Heck Tony, 70 is the new 50. When I was a kid, we thought that a feller
40 years of age was an old man. ^_^

When I was 13 I thought 40 was really old.
--

Heck, I wish I was 50 again. O_o

[8~{} Uncle Ageless Monster