Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

abacomike

oldfarmer50 said:

thebean said:

stickguy said:

a couple of random thoughts. First, it was supposed to be a tax simplification overhaul. Not an across the board tax cut. The concept is that you make it fair by eliminating tons of useless or unfair deductions and loopholes. And yes, that means that some people pay more, some people pay less. The tax code has always, and will always, pick "winners and losers" based on the provisions that make it in. So just because some middle class earners end up paying more, does not mean the bill is inherently bad or unfair (rather, it should mean that those people were paying too little in the past!) Note: not commenting on the specifics of this bill (which so far, sounds like just as loaded with "pork", just moving it around to different people). Just the theory of what is claimed to be happening, vs. the reality. Also, there is not actually a bill. There are 2, with quite different provisions in some areas. Until the lobbyists house and senate get together and hash out one bill to get voted on, no one is really sure what it means to them.

All true, but I would bet a sizable amount that wealthy people will make out best of anyone once the final bill is passed.  And, the subset of super-rich will make out the best of the wealthy folks.

Would make sense since a sizable amount of tax revenue comes from wealthy people and there is a large segment of the country that pays no tax. You can't give a tax cut to someone who pays no taxes. 

Peons like me will make out pretty good with the doubled standard deduction. Never saw much benefit from itemizing because I had no mortgage. It always seemed unfair that I would get a 10% break at most and some rich tax cheat like Jmonroe would get close to 40% from the SALT deduction.

I use the standard deduction which was $6200 last year, IIRC. Then I had the dependent deduction of $4000.  With the current formula, I would deduct $12,000 but lose $4100 for dependent deduction, so I gain $2000 in deductions which will most likely mean I would pay $250 less in taxes.  Quite frankly, they can keep the $250 ($20 a month) and cure cancer or heart disease or reduce the deficit!  

roadburner

My father told me that when someone says "It's not about the money, it's the principle." you can be 100% certain its about the money. Ditto for when the IIHS and state/local governments talk about their revenue grabs as being matters of "Safety."

Mr_Shiftright

I set a pretty low bar for fellow drivers, so I don't find myself making too many vehicle-specific judgments.

If I had to admit to vehicle-bias, I guess it would be a) modded diesel pickups spewing A-bomb size clouds of black smoke into to the air; b) Harleys with gut-wrenching levels of exhaust noise.

dino001

thebean said:

stickguy said:

a couple of random thoughts. First, it was supposed to be a tax simplification overhaul. Not an across the board tax cut. The concept is that you make it fair by eliminating tons of useless or unfair deductions and loopholes. And yes, that means that some people pay more, some people pay less. The tax code has always, and will always, pick "winners and losers" based on the provisions that make it in. So just because some middle class earners end up paying more, does not mean the bill is inherently bad or unfair (rather, it should mean that those people were paying too little in the past!)

Note: not commenting on the specifics of this bill (which so far, sounds like just as loaded with "pork", just moving it around to different people). Just the theory of what is claimed to be happening, vs. the reality.

Also, there is not actually a bill. There are 2, with quite different provisions in some areas. Until the lobbyists house and senate get together and hash out one bill to get voted on, no one is really sure what it means to them.

All true, but I would bet a sizable amount that wealthy people will make out best of anyone once the final bill is passed.  And, the subset of super-rich will make out the best of the wealthy folks.

I also have a few random thoughts on the tax:
The amount of BS spewing from both side is unbearable. Self-proclaimed deficit hawks suddenly change their song. Neither side wants to acknowledge basic truths:
1. Most of the expenses are social security and defense (rest is just window dressing), so any real finance reform has to include them.
2. 70 percent of income tax revenue is provided by top 10 percent of the payers. Top 1 percent of taxpayers (those who supposedly "don't pay their fair share", provide almost 40 percent of the revenue, which btw is more than bottom 90 percent (30%). Simple math tells you that any tax reduction has to benefit them more than others and no amount of class warfare rethoric would change that. I always wonder what exactly is "fair share" for those taxpayers? I something think even all of what they make would't be enough for some.
3. Dynamic scoring is a real thing. If it wasn't, 100 percent tax would mean highest possible revenue and anybody thinking straight knows it would not be true. If it were, pure communist economy with full confication of goods would be the most efficient (we know it is not). However,
4. The correlation between taxation and economic growth is much more complex than just low taxes-high growth.
5. It is clear that this particular tax reform (especially its House version) is laced with politically motivated moves to to hit people and areas who don't vote Republicans. However, the Democrat's (and main stream media) response to it is also political propaganda of equal (zero) value. There is no real discussion coming from them, it's all hysterical grand standing.
6. I actually like the elimination of mortgage interest deduction and offsetting it with larger standard deduction (as an idea, anyway). There is currently too much encouragement for people to go and buy houses they simply cannot afford on pretense of tax savings. The math gets quickly complex and considering majority of Americans are grade math illiterates, this eliminates an opportunity to upsell people on wrong premise that "its OK, cause you'll save on taxes". Higher pressure on housing means also prices being run up over abilities of the local population to pay without those crutch incentives. It's a feedback loop that puts large parts of the population into serfdom for the banks, cause "we save on taxes".
7. Local tax deduction is essentially a bailout (cover) to local governments to overtax people (you''ll get it back on your federal taxes). Want more money, fine, face your taxpayers and don't use Washington as a distraction from a fact you are taking more.
8. House's bill provisions to treat the tuition waiver as taxable income is just insane injustice. It's the best way to cut the number of graduate students in half and stop influx of foreign students. Perhaps it's OK in the World of Bannon, perhaps they really want to wound universities and discourage education. To be frank, it really looks that way, considering the rethoric coming off those who put it there.
9. It is really sad to watch people who looked credibly concerned about the deficit just couple of years ago, now suddenly saying it's all good. Suddenly 20 trillion doesn't bother them anymore. BTW, some of those people doubled our debt between 2001 and 2008.
10. Then we have the same people who doubled our debt to $20T in last eight years suddenly pour crocodile tears for 1 trillion over 10 years.
11. To close it all, it's actually very scary to watch the country being led by a guy whose whole life was about enriching himself by borrowing and not paying bills. Not just once (this could happen to anybody), repeatedly. It was in fact, business plan. It's even scarier to think half of the voters actually think it's a legitimate path to success. Is that our business plan as a nation now?

In other words - they are all full of s!@t and we really are all doomed sooner or later. Mostly, because NOBODY wants the truth.

ab348

Mr_Shiftright said:

oldfarmer50 said:

explorerx4 said:

When I drove a small car, I hated mid size car drivers. They had no compunction about pulling out right of front of me. It's just a perspective difference.
Do I feel bad about driving a big, all black truck? NO.

I think the saddest thing would be to drive a car you don't like for the sake of meeting someone else's expectations.

I drive the big van in traffic because it has good forward visibility and as an $1800 vehicle if it gets whacked, so what.

I drive the PT Crusier for errands because it's zippy and maneuverable at lower speeds. Also it's the one my wife can get in to.

I drive the Mustang just for me...well...because.

I have a bicycle, a motorcycle, a sub-compact and a big fat 4X4----I get to love everybody that way

Still need a skateboard and a Prius I guess to complete my embrace of all mankind.

You forgot the Tesla.

dino001

abacomike said:

I use the standard deduction which was $6200 last year, IIRC. Then I had the dependent deduction of $4000.  With the current formula, I would deduct $12,000 but lose $4100 for dependent deduction, so I gain $2000 in deductions which will most likely mean I would pay $250 less in taxes.  Quite frankly, they can keep the $250 ($20 a month) and cure cancer or heart disease or reduce the deficit!  

Actually, it's worse. You have now $6200 std. deduction AND $4050 your own personal exemption PLUS $4050 personal exemption for your dependent. So with 12K deduction and no exemptions, you'd lose over 2 grand of income reduction, which will be partially offset with slightly lower rates. You'll still probably owe a few hundred more after all is done. UNLESS, your dependent can have their own tax done, or the dependent is a child (tax credit increased).

ab348

Up here in Canada there is never any discussion of lowering taxes except at election time, after which of course it never happens to any noticeable degree, while new taxes are always imposed. We start high and go ever-higher. Most provinces are deep in deficit and cannot fund health care - the #1 thing they are supposed to do - even close to adequately. Our wealthiest (including - gasp! - some politicians) go the the USA for their operations to jump out of the long queues, and pay for it themselves.

Mr_Shiftright

ab348 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

oldfarmer50 said:

explorerx4 said:

When I drove a small car, I hated mid size car drivers. They had no compunction about pulling out right of front of me. It's just a perspective difference.
Do I feel bad about driving a big, all black truck? NO.

I think the saddest thing would be to drive a car you don't like for the sake of meeting someone else's expectations.

I drive the big van in traffic because it has good forward visibility and as an $1800 vehicle if it gets whacked, so what.

I drive the PT Crusier for errands because it's zippy and maneuverable at lower speeds. Also it's the one my wife can get in to.

I drive the Mustang just for me...well...because.

I have a bicycle, a motorcycle, a sub-compact and a big fat 4X4----I get to love everybody that way

Still need a skateboard and a Prius I guess to complete my embrace of all mankind.

You forgot the Tesla.

I rather thought the Prius would cover the "I'm saving the earth right now" zeitgeist? Of course, the Tesla one-ups the Prius, so maybe I need the Tesla in my stable in place of the Prius....yeah....good point!

Tesla is tricky, because it also overlaps into another non-automotive social strata, that of "electronic status"---LGS--Latest Gadget Syndrome. (to which I occasionally do fall victim).

suydam

How about the Bolt or new Leaf? 
There are lots of other options than Prius and Tesla! 

Mr_Shiftright

The Bolt is interesting---it can pretty much do anything a Model 3 can do, it's cheaper, and you can buy it right now.

BUT....it has a bowtie on the grill, not a "T". The Model 3 is the Apple X, the Bolt is the Samsung.

snakeweasel

Mr_Shiftright said:l.p.

When I drove a small car, I hated mid size car drivers. They had no compunction about pulling out right of front of me. It's just a perspective difference. Do I feel bad about driving a big, all black truck? NO.

I think the saddest thing would be to drive a car you don't like for the sake of meeting someone else's expectations. I drive the big van in traffic because it has good forward visibility and as an $1800 vehicle if it gets whacked, so what. I drive the PT Crusier for errands because it's zippy and maneuverable at lower speeds. Also it's the one my wife can get in to. I drive the Mustang just for me...well...because.

I have a bicycle, a motorcycle, a sub-compact and a big fat 4X4----I get to love everybody that way Still need a skateboard and a Prius I guess to complete my embrace of all mankind.

don't forget roller skates and a unicycle. 

fintail

Your dad was ahead of his time.

roadburner said:

My father told me that when someone says "It's not about the money, it's the principle." you can be 100% certain its about the money. Ditto for when the IIHS and state/local governments talk about their revenue grabs as being matters of "Safety."

fintail

I don't buy the "class warfare" rhetoric beyond the idea that "class warfare" is a real thing, it was declared decades ago, and it is obvious who won. Those with the most should pay the most, as they benefit from the most by the society enabled by taxes. It works that way in societies with far more mobility.

Dynastic wealth is also a hindrance to socio-economic progress. The shrill propaganda around the estate tax discussion it speaks volumes.

I definitely agree some of your other points, especially about the mortgage deduction. I see it as a masked subsidy to the FIRE cabal pretending to be aid to the common man - where it really just inflates the market and penalizes renters. I see it as housing industry subsidy first, then renter penalty, then aid to normal people.

dino001 said:

6. I actually like the elimination of mortgage interest deduction and offsetting it with larger standard deduction (as an idea, anyway). There is currently too much encouragement for people to go and buy houses they simply cannot afford on pretense of tax savings. The math gets quickly complex and considering majority of Americans are grade math illiterates, this eliminates an opportunity to upsell people on wrong premise that "its OK, cause you'll save on taxes". Higher pressure on housing means also prices being run up over abilities of the local population to pay without those crutch incentives. It's a feedback loop that puts large parts of the population into serfdom for the banks, cause "we save on taxes".

jmonroe

driver100 said:

jmonroe said:

abacomike said:

@imidazol97

I totally agree, imid!  Lots of propaganda out there - especially about the tax bill.  If you take the time to carefully extrapolate the provisions and how these will affect your tax bill for 2018, depression quickly takes hold of you emotions when you find out your taxes will not go down after all.

Now you know why I cheat. :@

jmonroe

I hope there aren't any government tax auditors on this site.

If there are, it has been nice knowing JMonroe.

btw....are there any rewards for handing someone in?

I'm not worried about any lurkers since the main office hasn't figured me out.

I'm getting pretty good at this already. In 2015 I owed $3000 + but I managed to get a $75 return for 2016. My plan, if some regulars in here don't rat me out, is to bump up my 2017 return to at least $95. I'll keep chipping away at that 3 grand until, if and when they catch me. By that time I'll claim senility, pay the small fine and promise not to cheat anymore.

They ain't got the you know what's to put a regular Edmunds poster in the slammer and deny you guys my posting.

jmonroe

fintail

Are these all legit, though? School zones with properly enforced times are the only ones where I wouldn't be curious about a third party review. Of course, getting such data would require a shouty lawyer and the FOIA. I can't say I trust them. Speeding on the wide open road may only be speeding in terms of violating an arbitrary number, and the competent and ethical powers that be know the guillotines will be dusted off if they crack down too hard.

When palms-greasing camera companies are known to have "encouraged" already over-compensated officials, something is up.

snakeweasel said:

That's just it, they watch school zones, residential areas, and near parks as needing far more enforcement for safety issues than a wide open road going past fields and industrial parks. Even though it means less tickets issued and less revenue raised. 

suydam

Mr_Shiftright said:

The Bolt is interesting---it can pretty much do anything a Model 3 can do, it's cheaper, and you can buy it right now.

BUT....it has a bowtie on the grill, not a "T". The Model 3 is the Apple X, the Bolt is the Samsung.

Umm, that’s my point. PEVs are not just for the status conscious. Prius is so 2000’s.

graphicguy

Mr_Shiftright said:

The Bolt is interesting---it can pretty much do anything a Model 3 can do, it's cheaper, and you can buy it right now.

BUT....it has a bowtie on the grill, not a "T". The Model 3 is the Apple X, the Bolt is the Samsung.

Great analogy!

thebean

murphydog said:

thebean said:

murphydog said:

qbrozen said:

thebean said:

I spent Saturday driving around Dallas doing errands, and it depressed me that at least 60% of the vehicles on the road were either medium to large pickups or SUV's and 60% of those had ONE person in them. It was like driving in a corn maze trying to see around these numbskulls. About a month ago, a friend of mine from Germany was in NY/NJ/Pennsylvania and asked me why people drove such monstrous vehicles. I had no good answer except to say that we are a dumb, ego-driven country. I told him he should come down to a Texas and he would be amazed. It's huge vehicle Disneyland down here.

I just don't understand the reasoning behind the big SUV's and pickups as daily drivers, especially for women. If you need to transport 5 or more people, a minivan is much more efficient. If you occasionally need to haul something, you can rent a truck for pocket change. I think we Americans are the most wasteful consumers in the world. Is image and perceived "prestige" all some people think about when they buy a vehicle?

I know people will point to safety as a reason to buy a huge vehicle, but if there were very few of these battering rams, driving would be safer and everyone would not need to drive behemoths everywhere they go. Don't even get me started on all the idiots glued to their phones going 70 mph on a crowded highway. Somehow, and I can't point to a tipping point, we Americans collectively have lost massive IQ points in the past 40 years when it comes to our vehicles.

Maybe I need to move to Greenland.

Wow. Way to be unbiased.

your assertion that a minivan is more effecient is incorrect. My F150 beats our '08 T&C (and '09 LR2) easily. Just about a dead heat with my previous EX35, CTS, G35x, Lincoln LS, and Mustang. Our '14 T&C wins by 1 whopping mpg. Meanwhile, compared to my previous "socially acceptable" vehicles, I have the added advantage of 4WD, very comfy seating for 6, and the ability to carry things the minivan fails to (such as the kids loft beds we got last month). So why again am I am "numbskull" according to you? Perception is not always reality, my friend.

I agree Q - in fact in this neck of the woods the dangerous drivers not paying attention to those around them are the prius drivers who seem more focused on the "eco video game" playing out on their dash board.

Vehicles are a personal choice - I have a full size pick up that I typically use on the weekends and when we pickup and haul items related to owning a horse, that said I occasionally drive it around town. However I don't drive it to and from work as I have alternatives that work better for that. Not sure why the need for such sweeping judgement.

Nice unbiased post about Prius drivers.  Pot, meet kettle.  No different than my post.

That was exactly my point. Making a broad stereotype unsupported by any kind of facts. Came across as an attack on your fellow posters




I didn't intend it as an attack on anyone in here, so if it came across that way, I apologize.

roadburner

Mr_Shiftright said:

The Bolt is interesting---it can pretty much do anything a Model 3 can do, it's cheaper, and you can buy it right now.

BUT....it has a bowtie on the grill, not a "T". The Model 3 is the Apple X, the Bolt is the Samsung.

My main issue with the Bolt is that it's FWD; but I realize that is something that maybe .05% of car shoppers care about...

explorerx4

Personally, I don't expect to do well whichever, if any, tax reform passes. In CT, we have high tax rates and the state traditionally votes Democratic.
As it is, the state can't balance the budget.
Last year we paid over 23k in state income taxes.
The thing I would have liked is a 'phase in' so we have time to adjust to the new reality.

driver100

Mr_Shiftright said:

driver100 said:

Speaking of single exhaust pipes I saw a Porsche Boxster the other day and it had a single exhaust in the MIDDLE! What's the deal there....looks odd to me?

Thanks...nicely explained. Is the gas tank at the front? I thought the gas tank is usually in the middle and the exhaust would go around.

driver100

Mr_Shiftright said:

oldfarmer50 said:

explorerx4 said:

When I drove a small car, I hated mid size car drivers. They had no compunction about pulling out right of front of me. It's just a perspective difference.
Do I feel bad about driving a big, all black truck? NO.

I think the saddest thing would be to drive a car you don't like for the sake of meeting someone else's expectations.

I drive the big van in traffic because it has good forward visibility and as an $1800 vehicle if it gets whacked, so what.

I drive the PT Crusier for errands because it's zippy and maneuverable at lower speeds. Also it's the one my wife can get in to.

I drive the Mustang just for me...well...because.

I have a bicycle, a motorcycle, a sub-compact and a big fat 4X4----I get to love everybody that way

Still need a skateboard and a Prius I guess to complete my embrace of all mankind.

This man is not biased against anyone.....but, it takes a lot of money to be totally politically correct.

driver100

My Florida neighbor told me his car insurance doubled. The insurance company blamed it on two things......the hurricane and the number of accidents has gone up by 25%, mostly because of distracted drivers using cell phones and texting.

Some government and police officials want to make texting a primary cause for stopping and fining a driver. Right now it is a secondary offense, meaning you only get charged if you have been stopped for something else, the fine is $20. This is insane.....driving here is bad enough without people trying to text or hold a cell phone while driving.

imidazol97

SiriusXM got my ire up recently when they replaced Soultown with a Holiday music channel. I believe there are two other channels that are variations of Christmas/Holiday music. I liked my Soultown...

explorerx4

According to the channel lineup, Soultown is on channel 49.
They do have a deal going on 12 months for $60(plus the usual stuff).

Sandman6472

Have never had a problem paying taxes if making a decent amount of money, end of story. But do think a flat tax ain't such a bad idea, with maybe a 10%, 20% & 30% tax rate, depending on how much one makes. Get rid of the mortgage deduction and raise the standard is a great idea, haven't had a mortgage for years now so never got that benefit. We shall see what they come up with. My wife, an honest CPA, is also very curious how this will all play out. She's gone with Turbo Tax again this year but as a full time employee for six months. It's a great opportunity for her and advised her to take it or she'd be kicking herself if not down the road. She's like my dad, an accountant, they get the numbers!!

The Sandman

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RQAXeYob0co

imidazol97

explorerx4 said:

According to the channel lineup, Soultown is on channel 49.
They do have a deal going on 12 months for $60(plus the usual stuff).

On the radio it comes up as Holiday Soul as of a few days back when we drove that car to Columbus. On the way over it was Soul Town and on the way home it had relabeled as Holiday. Just to be sure I wasn't wrong (again), I checked the car again to be sure it still came up as Holiday.

They probably won't have the $60 yr fee when I get around to renewing in February.

qbrozen

I'd be screwed without the mortgage interest deduction. The deduction knocks us down a tax bracket.

stickguy

I did not look too close, but I think for us it would be about a wash. we itemize now, but I think would be right about at the new higher standard deduction. And if I manage to move to Deleware, my deductions will be slashed.

explorerx4

@imidazol97,
Call and say you want to cancel. Then ask for the $60 deal and you should get a credit for your unexpired current subscription. Your not a Millennial, so actually talking to someone won't freak you out.

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

I'd be screwed without the mortgage interest deduction. The deduction knocks us down a tax bracket.

I'll second that!  As well as the state & local tax deduction!  My bill for the year is over $9,700

driver100

$60 a year! I wonder if satellite radio is going to survive? I like it, but, there are so many other ways to get music I don't find it is worth much more than $5 a month.

Since we are home 7 months and in Florida for 5 I just listen to the radio or my USB stick, and it is fine.....I can live without Sirius if I have to.

fintail

Isn't FL also a haven for insurance fraud?

I have no problem with harsh texting enforcement, throw the book at phone holders. Don't hold your breath though - it is already a primary offense where I live, but I think enforcement is just over zero.

driver100 said:

My Florida neighbor told me his car insurance doubled. The insurance company blamed it on two things......the hurricane and the number of accidents has gone up by 25%, mostly because of distracted drivers using cell phones and texting.

Some government and police officials want to make texting a primary cause for stopping and fining a driver. Right now it is a secondary offense, meaning you only get charged if you have been stopped for something else, the fine is $20. This is insane.....driving here is bad enough without people trying to text or hold a cell phone while driving.

explorerx4

@driver200,
There are probably over a 100 million vehicles that are Sat radio capable on the road. 14-17 million new per year for the last 6 to 7 years alone.

driver100

fintail said:

Isn't FL also a haven for insurance fraud?

I have no problem with harsh texting enforcement, throw the book at phone holders. Don't hold your breath though - it is already a primary offense where I live, but I think enforcement is just over zero.

driver100 said:

My Florida neighbor told me his car insurance doubled. The insurance company blamed it on two things......the hurricane and the number of accidents has gone up by 25%, mostly because of distracted drivers using cell phones and texting.

Some government and police officials want to make texting a primary cause for stopping and fining a driver. Right now it is a secondary offense, meaning you only get charged if you have been stopped for something else, the fine is $20. This is insane.....driving here is bad enough without people trying to text or hold a cell phone while driving.

Yes, insurance fraud and uninsured drivers also contribute to big rate hikes. But, the hurricane and the huge increase in accidents are the 2 big ones. I'd also add the growth rate........the population is growing and the roads aren't keeping up.

driver100

explorerx4 said:

@driver200,
There are probably over a 100 million vehicles that are Sat radio capable on the road. 14-17 million new per year for the last 6 to 7 years alone.

But 30 million actually subscribe. But, there is competition and even newer better forms of listening to music coming. Here are 3 various opinions, yes it will survive, no it won't and maybe it will, maybe not. One reason for the maybe is with self driving cars you can watch TV or read a newspaper instead of listening to the radio.

WILL XM SURVIVE 10 YEARS FROM NOW?

stickguy

considering how few people will just be riding in the back seat reading the people in 10 years, I don't think that will lead to the demise.

stickguy

I still like my XM. Definitely more convenient to use than streaming. Especially when you like to scroll through different genres as you drive. So I expect to keep it. But, with modern set ups (like CarPlay), streaming Pandora or another service is a lot more practical than it used to be. I just don't see myself using it around town, so would end up with over the air stations for short drives, and streaming for trips.

But my wife would not be happy with it!

stickguy

speaking of CarPlay, I was playing with it tonight (I had to use the maps app to get to an appointment, which worked great BTW). While car play is up, you get a pop up when a text comes in. Just have to thumb the speak button, tell Siri to read the text, and she does. I even dictated a response, which she sent no problem. A cool feature. And really makes built in Navi redundant.

roadburner

stickguy said:

speaking of CarPlay, I was playing with it tonight (I had to use the maps app to get to an appointment, which worked great BTW). While car play is up, you get a pop up when a text comes in. Just have to thumb the speak button, tell Siri to read the text, and she does. I even dictated a response, which she sent no problem. A cool feature. And really makes built in Navi redundant.

The 2er and i3 do that without CarPlay; that's the only feature I find useful.

oldfarmer50

fintail said:

Isn't FL also a haven for insurance fraud?

I have no problem with harsh texting enforcement, throw the book at phone holders. Don't hold your breath though - it is already a primary offense where I live, but I think enforcement is just over zero.

driver100 said:

My Florida neighbor told me his car insurance doubled. The insurance company blamed it on two things......the hurricane and the number of accidents has gone up by 25%, mostly because of distracted drivers using cell phones and texting.

Some government and police officials want to make texting a primary cause for stopping and fining a driver. Right now it is a secondary offense, meaning you only get charged if you have been stopped for something else, the fine is $20. This is insane.....driving here is bad enough without people trying to text or hold a cell phone while driving.

In NY cell phone tickets are a cottage industry statewide as a revenue source. From what I see it hasn't made a dent in texting/talking while driving.

driver100

In Southern Ontario the cops ride in large trucks and look down into cars....and the fines are pretty heavy for texting or phoning while driving. They catch a lot of them and it is worthwhile from a revenue standpoint, plus it makes some people think twice before they do these things.

I still say what police need are unmarked cars with people who aren't full police officers....they would be traffic monitors. They have cameras and if they see someone speeding or doing stupid things they video it. Fines would be increased, and the system would add to revenues and make the roads safer and it would employ more people. (If they see a really bad driver they call for reinforcements).

graphicguy

driver100 said:

$60 a year! I wonder if satellite radio is going to survive? I like it, but, there are so many other ways to get music I don't find it is worth much more than $5 a month.

Since we are home 7 months and in Florida for 5 I just listen to the radio or my USB stick, and it is fine.....I can live without Sirius if I have to.

Driver.....I agree. Not sure where the demand will come from. I’ve mentioned before, all my music is streamed through my phone, as is my news apps (when I’m in the car wanting news), podcasts, and just about any other in car entertainment I could think of.

Bluetooth in cars has been a game changer, especially as manufacturers do more with their interfaces to make it easier to get what you have on your phone, through your car’s media screen interface.

Nice sentiments about having “traffic monitors”, but the last thing we need are a bunch of Barny Fife’s running around believing they are some sort of traffic authority.

Stick....I use CarPlay to speak my business emails to me, as well as texts. And yes, speaking replies is great, also.

ab348

I would be more likely to keep sat radio if there was a company that did not have SiriusXM's despicable business practices. As it is I refuse to deal with that bunch ever again. Unlike many of you I only ever found 3 or 4 channels on there that I wanted to listen to anyway, and none of them were must-have quality.

qbrozen

I put up with this atrocity for as long as I could stand. This morning was finally the time to take the matter into my own hands.

nyccarguy

The sign simply states that it is illegal for your engine to break on that particular section of road.  As long as it is a mechanical failure that isn't a broken engine then you aren't violating any ordinances.

iluvmysephia1

Driver.....I agree. Not sure where the demand will come from. I’ve mentioned before, all my music is streamed through my phone, as is my news apps (when I’m in the car wanting news), podcasts, and just about any other in car entertainment I could think of.

Bluetooth in cars has been a game changer, especially as manufacturers do more with their interfaces to make it easier to get what you have on your phone, through your car’s media screen interface.


graphicguy - yes, agreed. And this is a huge part of why I can't let go of the Pulse red 2017 Toyota Yaris iA idea. It has a great 7" interface right off to the right and every known imaginable plug-in source for interfacing with my Android device. I am eager ta get started with this.

I'm still waiting for my 90-day probation meeting announcement from the Boss man. He's got a lot going on now because his fiance just landed a job in Federal Way, WA (a Seattle suburb) and we're all blabbing to each other about what we think he's gonna do. She is a doctor or a surgeon of some sort and makes twice what he makes. He has lots of sleep tech. experience, but can't match what his wife-ta-be makes, and will no doubt follow her over the Cascades to south of Seattle there. So, exciting times - I like him as a boss, so I'm a bit sad about it, but I'm a newbie there, anyway. If it's gotta happen, might as well be now.

I asked him about Moses Lake and he says it's still on. But a little more about the new car music/communication interfaces - this is way cool, guys. This opens up the skies ta communicate on so many levels. I think it blocks the video portion of YouTube videos, but you can still hear the Tragically Hip's beautiful vocals, guitar and drums playing the song. Ya gotta admit, that's way cool. You can listen to anything in your car now that you currently dig on your phone!

And bluetooth enables hands-free talking and dialing, answering calls, etc.

stickguy

Finally broke down and picked a tire and scheduled an install for tomorrow since I have an open morning. Decided to go with the cooper CS5. Seem like a good overall choice, and price is good. If I don’t like them, will just blame Michael.

At least they aren’t full of dry rot cracks. And none of the shoulder blocks have chunks missing (that probably isn’t a good sign when that happens).

I hope the wife enjoys the new battery and tires for Christmas! It is her car. And looks like we will be keeping it for a while now.

iluvmysephia1

Are they snows, stick?