Totally agree about AAA not always being enough these days. Had a flat last summer on our family SUV, and AAA showed up quick but didn't have the right socket for our lug nuts... had to dig out my own tools anyway. Better safe than sorry, I guess.
Had a similar experience recently... AAA showed up fast, but the guy seemed a bit under-equipped to handle my car's battery issue. Ended up troubleshooting it myself with my own jump starter. Honestly, AAA's still decent for basic roadside stuff, but modern cars are getting more specialized—especially SUVs or anything performance-oriented with unique lug nuts or battery setups. These days I just keep a solid emergency kit in the trunk, including sockets specific to my wheels and a compact lithium jump pack. Feels like AAA is more of a backup now rather than the main solution, you know? Still, better to have them as an option than nothing at all. Glad you managed to sort it out yourself!
I've noticed the same thing lately. AAA was always reliable for me, but recently I had a flat tire on my newer SUV, and the technician didn't have the right socket for my lug nuts either. Luckily, like you, I keep a kit handy with specialized sockets, tire plugs, and a portable inflator—it's saved me more than once. You're smart to be proactive about it; modern vehicles really do demand a bit more DIY prep these days. Glad you figured it out!
Had a similar experience last summer on a road trip through Colorado. AAA used to be my go-to, but lately it seems like they're struggling to keep up with all the different vehicle specs out there. My Subaru has these weird lug nuts too, and the tech who showed up was totally baffled. Luckily, I had my own socket set stashed away—lesson learned from an earlier mishap in Utah (long story short: midnight, middle of nowhere, no cell service...). Honestly, modern cars are getting so specialized it's almost impossible for roadside services to carry every tool. Can't entirely blame AAA, but yeah, definitely pays to be prepared these days.
I feel this. Recently had AAA come out to help with my Mercedes, and the tech spent more time admiring the interior than actually fixing the flat tire, lol. I mean, can't blame him entirely, but it does seem like they're a bit behind the curve with luxury brands especially. Maybe it's just me, but are specialized vehicles making traditional roadside assistance kind of outdated? Curious if others have had similar experiences...
