Best Of

I still find the 3-series handsome (a new one is out relative soon, right?).

The X3 is bold to say the least. Audi’s approach to the new Q5 is a good example of a solid update with restraint (as was MB’s recent GLC update).

The 5-series…I think it’s just a little plain. It needs the M Sport exterior to look decent. I’m still a little drawn to this used i5 M60. I drove it when it first became available, which was around 6 weeks ago and it’s been reduced almost $10k. So it’s almost $30k below MSRP, but I’m quite sure that’s not nearly enough to cut your losses on a luxury EV, particularly one that has an EPA range of around 250 miles.

250 is not enough. Our Mercedes tops out a little over 300 and since I drive like I have feet the size of Shaq's I tend to get under 300. I'd like 350-375 so that an 80% charge will get you 300.

One thing I've noticed is that it seems to get better range around town than all highway. Maybe it is an illusion but it sure seems that way.

On the other end of the spectrum today I was at a 1/4 tank so filled the Ram. 24 gallons... I keep forgetting it has the larger tank.

Update on the internet/cable service we were discussing a couple of days ago: I got my latest bill which reflected the expiry of a couple of discounts that were applied a couple of years ago. For a pretty basic group of TV channels and home internet it was just over $200 in worthless Canadian dollars a month and way too much.

There are only 2 providers locally, a regional operator who I am with and the national outfit Bell, who lots of people hate and who have a rep of being expensive. I know a few people who use Bell for TV and none of them are particularly happy with their offering but I suspect a lot of that is from it being an IP digital offering which has a lousy/complex interface compared to the old-style coax service which seemed pretty simple. Their customer service is apparently pretty bad as well based upon my brother's recent experience. My TV from the regional outfit I've been with has been IP-based also for the last couple of years, no more coax, but through a TiVo interface which isn't great but which somewhat resembles the old cable style.

A week or so before I got that $200 cable bill a Bell guy was working my street and offered me what seemed to be equivalent TV and maybe even faster internet for $80 a month for the first year. That was hard to ignore once I got the latest bill. On Monday I called my provider and after a very long hold spoke to their rep. Explained the offer I got from the competition and he immediately cut me down to $120/mo without a lot of fuss and also bumped up my connection to 1 gig, whatever that means. If I threatened them a bit more I know he would have sent me to the retention department who could have given me an even better deal, but I'll save that for next year. Saving over $80/mo. works for now.