Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

ab348

fintail said:

Most S-class have driver's assistance package, with a number of semi-autonomous features. Distronic plus is really something, but I'd only use it in a dense slow commuting grind (which is traffic around here most of the time). For the wide open road, simple old cruise control is enough.

When I got the new ATS I wasn't sure what nannies it had because I didn't know what the things listed on the window sticker actually meant. So early on I tried to discover what they did. Learned that it didn't have autonomous cruise by testing it out on an expressway when I came up on a slower car with my cruise on and didn't touch the brakes. All I got was a vibration in the seat and a big red window pop up in the HUD with a large star (like in old comic books when somebody takes a punch!) which strikes me as fairly useless. If you aren't paying attention to what's in front of you, odds are that you won't see the HUD either. I can see the value in autonomous cruise that applies the brakes though.

oldfarmer50

andres3 said:

Big car news day today:

1) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gm-enterprise-rent-car-targets-211900071.html

2) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ex-fiat-chrysler-exec-pleads-211437633.html

3) http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-42801772?yptr=yahoo

4) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-model-autopilot-crashes-fire-221212123.html

Those last two are about the same Tesla crashing in CA; yes, it was in autopilot mode.

That first story caught my eye as I just had my orientation at Enterprise yesterday. They emphasized safety above all with even us lowly transporters having the ability to pull a car out of service for any perceived defect. I assume Enterprise is involved in the suit under the deep pockets theory of joint and several liability.

One interesting factoid I learned. The company was named after the aircraft carrier on which the founder served.

oldfarmer50

tbirdmarco said:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iO3vFt8T5ao

That's what I want to be driving when I'm 80.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

I am not even comfortable using cruise control. No way I am ever turning on auto pilot and letting the car just do it's own thing.

Ditto. I've said before, what's the point of owning a car you can't drive?

stickguy

I just want to be driving when I am 80.

stickguy

tjc78 said:

28firefighter said:

stickguy said:

I get used to the BLIS to the extent that when I drive the car without it, it is disconcerting (and annoying of course). Today I had to drive during rush hour to the Philly airport, which requires a few nasty roads to navigate. Including merging onto 1 that is at least 6 lanes wide where you have to get from far right to far left in a short distance. with people cutting in and out like crazy. In that situation, I want all the info and extra set of "eyes" I can get. People are mostly insane out there on the roads these day it seems.

My new car has BLIS and while I still don’t trust it enough to use, I can see it coming in handy. 

I do not envy the drive from S. Jersey to PHL....I’m pretty sure I know where you’re talking and that is no joke. 

Other death defying Philly area driving? South Street on ramp to the left lane of the Schuylkill westbound. 

Yes!!! That is pure craziness 

Another fun one is coming of the Vine Street Expressway and having to get off at Girard.  3 lanes of who knows what speed traffic around a curve to a ramp that on Saturdays when most people are going to the zoo is backed up!

I had a new hire I had to take to a location just past King Of Prussia so had to do the whole length of the Surekill to 422.   She said how does anyone do this everyday... I said I did a long time ago and never again!!

I worked in Malvern for a bit, so commuted length of 76 then a ways down 202 daily for about 10 months. Some days, that was not fun.

stickguy

My son is nuts. Starts texting last night when I’m trying to go to bed, sending links to a used Audi TTS (nano over black). And thinking it is an even better idea than an S3. Of course, his A3 is only about 14 months old.

I can’t imagine where he caught this.

bwia

The owner of a $300,000 Ferrari is suing Marriott International, saying a hotel valet gave his keys to a young man who was trying to impress a woman he just met. The Tampa Bay Times reports that 73-year-old attorney James “Skip” Fowler parked his yellow 458 Italia Spider outside the Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club.

Fowler, meanwhile is accusing the hotel and valet, 717 Parking Enterprises, of negligence. He said had to spend “significant sums” on car inspections, repairs and legal fees after he got his Ferrari back, and that its value had been “diminished.”

roadburner

stickguy said:

My son is nuts. Starts texting last night when I’m trying to go to bed, sending links to a used Audi TTS (nano over black). And thinking it is an even better idea than an S3. Of course, his A3 is only about 14 months old.

I can’t imagine where he caught this.

stickguy said:

My son is nuts. Starts texting last night when I’m trying to go to bed, sending links to a used Audi TTS (nano over black). And thinking it is an even better idea than an S3. Of course, his A3 is only about 14 months old.

I can’t imagine where he caught this.

Once my son passes his Series 7 exam he's going car hunting. He'll probably end up with a 2 Series or 3 Series M Sport, although he might lease a Giulia TI if the leases become more realistic.

qbrozen

bwia said:

The owner of a $300,000 Ferrari is suing Marriott International, saying a hotel valet gave his keys to a young man who was trying to impress a woman he just met. The Tampa Bay Times reports that 73-year-old attorney James “Skip” Fowler parked his yellow 458 Italia Spider outside the Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club. Fowler, meanwhile is accusing the hotel and valet, 717 Parking Enterprises, of negligence. He said had to spend “significant sums” on car inspections, repairs and legal fees after he got his Ferrari back, and that its value had been “diminished.”

What is the rest of the story? Just "giving his keys to a young man" is pretty far from nefarious. Did the young man actually drive it? How did the owner find out?

fintail

My E, which does not have autonomous cruise (uncommon option on an E even with the new gen), does have automatic emergency braking - it has activated before, a little too cautious IMO, as I didn't see the need for it quite yet. It sharply engages the brakes and tightens the seatbelt. It also has a chime that sounds before the car goes into impending doom mode.

I once rented an A8 in Germany that had autonomous cruise - I was initially leery, but it worked perfectly and was kind of cool in a way. I can see it being useful in tight packed commuting situations.

ab348 said:

When I got the new ATS I wasn't sure what nannies it had because I didn't know what the things listed on the window sticker actually meant. So early on I tried to discover what they did. Learned that it didn't have autonomous cruise by testing it out on an expressway when I came up on a slower car with my cruise on and didn't touch the brakes. All I got was a vibration in the seat and a big red window pop up in the HUD with a large star (like in old comic books when somebody takes a punch!) which strikes me as fairly useless. If you aren't paying attention to what's in front of you, odds are that you won't see the HUD either. I can see the value in autonomous cruise that applies the brakes though.

graphicguy

qbrozen said:

bwia said:

The owner of a $300,000 Ferrari is suing Marriott International, saying a hotel valet gave his keys to a young man who was trying to impress a woman he just met. The Tampa Bay Times reports that 73-year-old attorney James “Skip” Fowler parked his yellow 458 Italia Spider outside the Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club.

Fowler, meanwhile is accusing the hotel and valet, 717 Parking Enterprises, of negligence. He said had to spend “significant sums” on car inspections, repairs and legal fees after he got his Ferrari back, and that its value had been “diminished.”

What is the rest of the story? Just "giving his keys to a young man" is pretty far from nefarious. Did the young man actually drive it? How did the owner find out?

And...what kind of damage and inspections were required to “fix” the car’s problems caused by the result of the parking attendant?

Lots of “what’s going on?”

Plus, the owner is a lawyer. Is someone looking for some sort of payout via a frivolous lawsuit?

suydam

nyccarguy said:

I'm thrilled with the Pilot's Adaptive Cruise.  I dig Lane Watch as well.  

The only mildly annoying thing thing about Lane Watch is that it cuts every other function off.  So if I'm trying to call someone or enter an address in the navigation by voice prompt and put my right blinker on, I've got to start the command all over again.

I thought I liked Lane Watch till I got a vehicle with BLIS and rear Cross traffic alert. Honda, you need to admit that’s superior technology and give up on Lane Watch.

graphicguy

Got my first oil change yesterday on the TLX. “A1” service which included an oil/filter change, tire rotation, top off all fluids, multi-point inspection and car wash (which I did not need since it was raining). Dealership covers the first service for free, which was nice.

Looked at the computer to see how good or bad the MPG was since I drove it off the lot (never did reset the “B” odo, which yielded the MPG over the the first 7K miles).

23.6 MPG, with roughly 75% city and 25% highway driving. Pleased with that.

Everything else checked out. Feels good having a vehicle that does everything it’s designed to do with no faults, drips or errors that need to be addressed. And, it’s a fun car to drive.

All systems “go”!

pensfan83

Driving in any city larger than Pittsburgh just gives me anxiety out the you know what. Chicago, Philly, and Atlanta have all given me fits and nightmares.

carnaught

graphicguy said:

qbrozen said:

bwia said:

The owner of a $300,000 Ferrari is suing Marriott International, saying a hotel valet gave his keys to a young man who was trying to impress a woman he just met. The Tampa Bay Times reports that 73-year-old attorney James “Skip” Fowler parked his yellow 458 Italia Spider outside the Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club.

Fowler, meanwhile is accusing the hotel and valet, 717 Parking Enterprises, of negligence. He said had to spend “significant sums” on car inspections, repairs and legal fees after he got his Ferrari back, and that its value had been “diminished.”

What is the rest of the story? Just "giving his keys to a young man" is pretty far from nefarious. Did the young man actually drive it? How did the owner find out?

And...what kind of damage and inspections were required to “fix” the car’s problems caused by the result of the parking attendant?

Lots of “what’s going on?”

Plus, the owner is a lawyer. Is someone looking for some sort of payout via a frivolous lawsuit?



And, the same lawyer who took the McDonalds (too) hot coffee case. Just kidding.

Michaell

pensfan83 said:

Driving in any city larger than Pittsburgh just gives me anxiety out the you know what. Chicago, Philly, and Atlanta have all given me fits and nightmares.

I've done them all, plus others. While Denver is growing by leaps and bounds, I still find the traffic to be manageable.

I struggled the first time I drove in Boston - lane markers seemed to be advisory. Same with Manhattan.

Now, I'm only traveling to the Bay Area (company HQ) and LA (family), with a couple trips to Cincinnati this past year.

stickguy

Manhattan is easy. Boston just too confusing.

ab348

Any 73 y-o lawyer named "Skip" who drives a car like that is automatically a suspicious character to me.

I remember my first trip to Boston, early '80s. I was downtown and got a cab to take me somewhere. In heavy traffic, the cabbie decides to drive the wrong way against 3 lanes of heavy traffic to find a way onto the road he needed. Me and my companion were cowering in the back seat, but the driver seemed unfazed.

oldfarmer50

roadburner said:

stickguy said:

My son is nuts. Starts texting last night when I’m trying to go to bed, sending links to a used Audi TTS (nano over black). And thinking it is an even better idea than an S3. Of course, his A3 is only about 14 months old.

I can’t imagine where he caught this.

stickguy said:

My son is nuts. Starts texting last night when I’m trying to go to bed, sending links to a used Audi TTS (nano over black). And thinking it is an even better idea than an S3. Of course, his A3 is only about 14 months old.

I can’t imagine where he caught this.

Once my son passes his Series 7 exam he's going car hunting. He'll probably end up with a 2 Series or 3 Series M Sport, although he might lease a Giulia TI if the leases become more realistic.

Wow, now you have to take exams to buy a BMW? That's exclusive.

Michaell

oldfarmer50 said:

roadburner said:

stickguy said:

My son is nuts. Starts texting last night when I’m trying to go to bed, sending links to a used Audi TTS (nano over black). And thinking it is an even better idea than an S3. Of course, his A3 is only about 14 months old.

I can’t imagine where he caught this.

stickguy said:

My son is nuts. Starts texting last night when I’m trying to go to bed, sending links to a used Audi TTS (nano over black). And thinking it is an even better idea than an S3. Of course, his A3 is only about 14 months old.

I can’t imagine where he caught this.

Once my son passes his Series 7 exam he's going car hunting. He'll probably end up with a 2 Series or 3 Series M Sport, although he might lease a Giulia TI if the leases become more realistic.

Wow, now you have to take exams to buy a BMW? That's exclusive.

Wouldn't that be a series 2 or 3 exam, then? I doubt that RB's son is in the market for a 7-series, just yet.

ab348

oldfarmer50 said:

roadburner said:

stickguy said:

My son is nuts. Starts texting last night when I’m trying to go to bed, sending links to a used Audi TTS (nano over black). And thinking it is an even better idea than an S3. Of course, his A3 is only about 14 months old.

I can’t imagine where he caught this.

stickguy said:

My son is nuts. Starts texting last night when I’m trying to go to bed, sending links to a used Audi TTS (nano over black). And thinking it is an even better idea than an S3. Of course, his A3 is only about 14 months old.

I can’t imagine where he caught this.

Once my son passes his Series 7 exam he's going car hunting. He'll probably end up with a 2 Series or 3 Series M Sport, although he might lease a Giulia TI if the leases become more realistic.

Wow, now you have to take exams to buy a BMW? That's exclusive.

And we thought registering new light bulbs was bad...

driver100

I believe I heard the guy who took the car was stopped a few blocks away - I don't want to go back to check if this was added - he was trying to impress a young lady he had just met in the bar...came out, and was handed the keys.

driver100

pensfan83 said:

Driving in any city larger than Pittsburgh just gives me anxiety out the you know what. Chicago, Philly, and Atlanta have all given me fits and nightmares.

Don't drive anywhere near Tampa then - if you do have a defibrillator ready in the car!

fezo

stickguy said:

Manhattan is easy. Boston just too confusing.

Indeed. First Massachusetts road laws seem to be only suggestions, and second, they play with the road signs. Put you in the left lane a mile from the exit which turns out to be on the right.

Philly's not much better. Whatever you do never trust signs to direct you someplace. PENNDOT has their own ideas on those. Say you want to get from point A to point b. It involves seven turns. They'll only mark three of them, figuring you should be able to figure it out.

fezo

ab348 said:

Any 73 y-o lawyer named "Skip" who drives a car like that is automatically a suspicious character to me.

I remember my first trip to Boston, early '80s. I was downtown and got a cab to take me somewhere. In heavy traffic, the cabbie decides to drive the wrong way against 3 lanes of heavy traffic to find a way onto the road he needed. Me and my companion were cowering in the back seat, but the driver seemed unfazed.

Of course, you go to Boston and you get English majors driving taxis waiting to find a job remotely in their field. If it's not an English major it's someone that doesn't speak English.

Now here's a typical conversation with an English major Boston taxi driver:

"Where can I get scrod?"
"You're the first guy to ask me that in the past pluperfect!"

Mr_Shiftright

driver100 said:

pensfan83 said:

Driving in any city larger than Pittsburgh just gives me anxiety out the you know what. Chicago, Philly, and Atlanta have all given me fits and nightmares.

Don't drive anywhere near Tampa then - if you do have a defibrillator ready in the car!

Okay....I'll see your Tampa and raise you one Highway 880 in Oakland CA. We got your potholes, we got your massively deteriorated roadbed, we got your 18-wheelers left and right hurtling at 75 mph, and we got your X-cross exit/merge mousetraps---oh, did I mention poor signage and flooded exit ramps at high tides?

28firefighter

Mr_Shiftright said:

driver100 said:

pensfan83 said:

Driving in any city larger than Pittsburgh just gives me anxiety out the you know what. Chicago, Philly, and Atlanta have all given me fits and nightmares.

Don't drive anywhere near Tampa then - if you do have a defibrillator ready in the car!

Okay....I'll see your Tampa and raise you one Highway 880 in Oakland CA. We got your potholes, we got your massively deteriorated roadbed, we got your 18-wheelers left and right hurtling at 75 mph, and we got your X-cross exit/merge mousetraps---oh, did I mention poor signage and flooded exit ramps at high tides?

I drove on 880 driving to Ikea in Emeryville from Pleasanton with my sister. That was an adventure.

driver100

Mr_Shiftright said:

driver100 said:

pensfan83 said:

Driving in any city larger than Pittsburgh just gives me anxiety out the you know what. Chicago, Philly, and Atlanta have all given me fits and nightmares.

Don't drive anywhere near Tampa then - if you do have a defibrillator ready in the car!

Okay....I'll see your Tampa and raise you one Highway 880 in Oakland CA. We got your potholes, we got your massively deteriorated roadbed, we got your 18-wheelers left and right hurtling at 75 mph, and we got your X-cross exit/merge mousetraps---oh, did I mention poor signage and flooded exit ramps at high tides?

We have all that except the flooded exit ramps, plus motorcycle guys that zig zag their way thru traffic at 100 mph - no helmets btw, and car drivers who act like stunt car drivers weaving their way through traffic and then wedging themselves between two cars. A lot of drivers who for some reason love to ride your back bumper, and almost no one believes in using their signal lights.

jmonroe

driver100 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

driver100 said:

pensfan83 said:

Driving in any city larger than Pittsburgh just gives me anxiety out the you know what. Chicago, Philly, and Atlanta have all given me fits and nightmares.

Don't drive anywhere near Tampa then - if you do have a defibrillator ready in the car!

Okay....I'll see your Tampa and raise you one Highway 880 in Oakland CA. We got your potholes, we got your massively deteriorated roadbed, we got your 18-wheelers left and right hurtling at 75 mph, and we got your X-cross exit/merge mousetraps---oh, did I mention poor signage and flooded exit ramps at high tides?

We have all that except the flooded exit ramps, plus motorcycle guys that zig zag their way thru traffic at 100 mph - no helmets btw, and car drivers who act like stunt car drivers weaving their way through traffic and then wedging themselves between two cars. A lot of drivers who for some reason love to ride your back bumper, and almost no one believes in using their signal lights.

Well, if someone was on your front bumper, wouldn't you be the problem driver for the rear bumper of the car in front of you?

If you want horribly marked streets come to the Burgh. If you find a street sign get proof of that via a pic because by morning it will be stolen and it will never be replaced. As I understand it they are now made from aluminum which is pretty expensive and aluminum brings a nice price at the recycling yards.

Although I don't live in the city, I'm thinking about making a suggestion to city council that they be made out of steel again. Oh sure, they'll be stolen again and recycled but that might bring back the steel industry here. Jobs creation will just be the tip of the iceberg, think of all the savings in shipping costs alone. I might even get a plaque for that suggestion.

jmonroe

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2aEh4lz5DDc

andres3

graphicguy said:

qbrozen said:

bwia said:

The owner of a $300,000 Ferrari is suing Marriott International, saying a hotel valet gave his keys to a young man who was trying to impress a woman he just met. The Tampa Bay Times reports that 73-year-old attorney James “Skip” Fowler parked his yellow 458 Italia Spider outside the Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club.

Fowler, meanwhile is accusing the hotel and valet, 717 Parking Enterprises, of negligence. He said had to spend “significant sums” on car inspections, repairs and legal fees after he got his Ferrari back, and that its value had been “diminished.”

What is the rest of the story? Just "giving his keys to a young man" is pretty far from nefarious. Did the young man actually drive it? How did the owner find out?

And...what kind of damage and inspections were required to “fix” the car’s problems caused by the result of the parking attendant?

Lots of “what’s going on?”

Plus, the owner is a lawyer. Is someone looking for some sort of payout via a frivolous lawsuit?

Insurance companies don't like to admit that Diminished Value is real. In my experience they'll make you sue for it. Have to hire an appraiser to bolster the claim.

andres3

Speaking of bad Cities to drive in, I was reading an insurance story on the web, and it had a chart of City's with the highest auto insurance premiums.

At the top of the list for most expensive, by a VERY WIDE MARGIN, was Detroit!

Anyone from around there? What gives? Sound accurate?

explorerx4

@andres3,
Not from the Detroit area, but I've been there plenty of times and know people who live in the area.
I know some people who lived in Detroit up until a couple of years ago.
Were their vehicles registered there? Being smarter than a 5th grader, answer is NO.
If you are naïve or fell on your head when you were a kid, you might register your vehicle in Detroit.
That means you'd be paying to subsidize the other 99% who don't have car insurance.

Probably not an atypical story.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2018/01/25/no-charges-crossbow-shooting-dog-who-allegedly-harassed-goats/1064688001/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatodaycommoney-topstories

Sandman6472

OF, any news from Enterprise? Have my interview next Tuesday. It's a 25 hour /week gig but working the weekend plus an additional week day. Interesting schedule but could work with my Hertz gig if I really want to do fifty plus hours a week. Really only want 32 all in so we'll see where it leads. Pay is $.10 lower than what I get now which surprised me as I thought they paid more than Hertz.
Will go and hear what they offer and then make a rational decision. Do miss the long distance driving to be totally honest but with my spinal issues, just will not wash/vacuum any vehicles at this point, not worth the pain I go through cause of it. Best part is can just stay put where I am and be perfectly happy. Curiosity is what's leading this new search, plain simple curiosity!!!

The Sandman

Mr_Shiftright

28firefighter said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

driver100 said:

pensfan83 said:

Driving in any city larger than Pittsburgh just gives me anxiety out the you know what. Chicago, Philly, and Atlanta have all given me fits and nightmares.

Don't drive anywhere near Tampa then - if you do have a defibrillator ready in the car!

Okay....I'll see your Tampa and raise you one Highway 880 in Oakland CA. We got your potholes, we got your massively deteriorated roadbed, we got your 18-wheelers left and right hurtling at 75 mph, and we got your X-cross exit/merge mousetraps---oh, did I mention poor signage and flooded exit ramps at high tides?

I drove on 880 driving to Ikea in Emeryville from Pleasanton with my sister. That was an adventure.

omg---the Ikea experience in Emeryville. You're lucky to be alive.

28firefighter

Mr_Shiftright said:

Driving in any city larger than Pittsburgh just gives me anxiety out the you know what. Chicago, Philly, and Atlanta have all given me fits and nightmares.

Don't drive anywhere near Tampa then - if you do have a defibrillator ready in the car!

Okay....I'll see your Tampa and raise you one Highway 880 in Oakland CA. We got your potholes, we got your massively deteriorated roadbed, we got your 18-wheelers left and right hurtling at 75 mph, and we got your X-cross exit/merge mousetraps---oh, did I mention poor signage and flooded exit ramps at high tides?

I drove on 880 driving to Ikea in Emeryville from Pleasanton with my sister. That was an adventure.

omg---the Ikea experience in Emeryville. You're lucky to be alive.

It was terrible. Truly awful. 

fintail

I've never had a real problem with locals anywhere I have driven, but when I have been in the northeast, I've used transit.

I know some people are daunted by LA and Miami - at least they move along, unlike plodding distracted Seattle. And driving in Europe, which would mentally destroy many here, is a pleasure, intense, but that's the fun.

jmonroe

28firefighter said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

28firefighter said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

driver100 said:

pensfan83 said:

Driving in any city larger than Pittsburgh just gives me anxiety out the you know what. Chicago, Philly, and Atlanta have all given me fits and nightmares.

Don't drive anywhere near Tampa then - if you do have a defibrillator ready in the car!

Okay....I'll see your Tampa and raise you one Highway 880 in Oakland CA. We got your potholes, we got your massively deteriorated roadbed, we got your 18-wheelers left and right hurtling at 75 mph, and we got your X-cross exit/merge mousetraps---oh, did I mention poor signage and flooded exit ramps at high tides?

I drove on 880 driving to Ikea in Emeryville from Pleasanton with my sister. That was an adventure.

omg---the Ikea experience in Emeryville. You're lucky to be alive.

It was terrible. Truly awful. 

That's surprising, I've always heard Ikea was worth going out of your way for.

jmonroe

abacomike

28firefighter said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Driving in any city larger than Pittsburgh just gives me anxiety out the you know what. Chicago, Philly, and Atlanta have all given me fits and nightmares.

Don't drive anywhere near Tampa then - if you do have a defibrillator ready in the car!

Okay....I'll see your Tampa and raise you one Highway 880 in Oakland CA. We got your potholes, we got your massively deteriorated roadbed, we got your 18-wheelers left and right hurtling at 75 mph, and we got your X-cross exit/merge mousetraps---oh, did I mention poor signage and flooded exit ramps at high tides?

I drove on 880 driving to Ikea in Emeryville from Pleasanton with my sister. That was an adventure.

omg---the Ikea experience in Emeryville. You're lucky to be alive.

It was terrible. Truly awful. 

We have an IKEA in the Sunrise area of Broward County.  What I liked was the main floor where they have lots of items on sale for great prices.  I bought 2 dozen fluorescent bulbs (incandescent bulb replacements) there about 5 years ago and every one of them have never malfunctioned.  I paid $2.50 per bulb and am very pleased.  But the numbers of people who jam in there for breakfast and/or lunch and then make a day of it is crazy.  Reminded me of Disney World when it first opened.  Thousands of people crammed inside that warehouse - not worth the stress.

Yet I know many people who swear by IKEA.

Michaell

Denver is scheduled to get its second IKEA in the next few years - on the other side of town from where I live (and the existing IKEA is).

fintail

I treat IKEA like Costco - go there right when they open. The one here (still can't believe we have only one) is a zoo.

Michaell

fintail said:

I treat IKEA like Costco - go there right when they open. The one here (still can't believe we have only one) is a zoo.

I've only been once. Never again.

Wife does most of her shopping on-line. Rarely a day goes by (including Sunday) where there isn't a package or envelope being dropped off at the house. Amazon and Wayfair are regular vendors.

qbrozen

We haven't been to Ikea since we were newlyweds. I think we have one shelving unit from there.

driver100

Michaell said:

fintail said:

I treat IKEA like Costco - go there right when they open. The one here (still can't believe we have only one) is a zoo.

I've only been once. Never again.

Wife does most of her shopping on-line. Rarely a day goes by (including Sunday) where there isn't a package or envelope being dropped off at the house. Amazon and Wayfair are regular vendors.

I have the same problem....I had to buy about 5 blade knives and spend most of my life cutting up Amazon boxes.

graphicguy

I drive in Detroit all the time. It’s nowhere near bad, comparatively.

Certainly not as bad as NYC, Boston (pre and post “Big Dig”), The Bay Area, I’ll throw Dallas in there, too. Those are my least favorite to drive in. Detroit would be well, well down the list.

Forgot....Chicago....anywhere in the loop is terrible. I got hit in a rental by a semi there. Crazy!

oldfarmer50

sandman_6472 said:

OF, any news from Enterprise? Have my interview next Tuesday. It's a 25 hour /week gig but working the weekend plus an additional week day. Interesting schedule but could work with my Hertz gig if I really want to do fifty plus hours a week. Really only want 32 all in so we'll see where it leads. Pay is $.10 lower than what I get now which surprised me as I thought they paid more than Hertz.
Will go and hear what they offer and then make a rational decision. Do miss the long distance driving to be totally honest but with my spinal issues, just will not wash/vacuum any vehicles at this point, not worth the pain I go through cause of it. Best part is can just stay put where I am and be perfectly happy. Curiosity is what's leading this new search, plain simple curiosity!!!

The Sandman

My first day is Monday so can't tell much yet. Pay is NY min. $10.40/hr. I'm working two days a week with an option to sign on for a voluntary extra day. Max 25 hours.

I'm be surprised if they offered 32 since the insurance mandate is still in effect. Welcome to the part time economy.

Funny, when I got home from orientation Weds. I had an email from Hertz wanting to talk to me about the same job with them.

I'm not interested in working 50 hours a week at minimum wage seeing I just left a job where I did that for $24/hr.

imidazol97

I believe MI is a no-fault insurance state. Friends of ours moved there about 10 years back. They're at the far west end of Wayne County and near Plymouth, a highly praised area. She had 3 different accidents over a period of a year and I am sure two were NOT her fault and may have involved parking lots or entrances/exits. Her insurance went up drastically. No fault insurance?

fintail

I think I hit IKEA every other year or so. Costco on the other hand, probably every 6-8 weeks. That's one I definitely get to right when they open - the parking lots of every local Costco are questionably designed (just as bad as IKEA), and the skills of the drivers makes one lose faith in humanity - something about the sensory overload of the places lowers the already minuscule ability of the typical local driver to a new level. These places are a big part of why online shopping is such a big hit.

ab348

I was a member of Costco back in the '90s for a year. Used it to buy a car battery and that was it. As a single guy who back then was living in a 1-bedroom apartment it really wasn't a place I would want to buy much.

Our Ikea here just opened last fall (though back in the late '70s/early '80s this was the location of their first store in either Canada or North America, can't recall exactly - a normal-sized store, not a massive warehouse). With all of my current health problems I have avoided it as I doubt my knees and feet could make it through the several kilometers it takes to walk through their maze.

Found this picture of their store here in the '80s, in a strip mall!