Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

oldfarmer50

Saw a couple of interesting things while out tonight.

I saw a BMW Z3 and I'm pretty sure it had an M badge. I thought that odd because most reviews of that car said they were pretty anemic. Maybe RR can educate me on this.

Later I was driving in the city and a VW Beatle past me going the othe way....with another Beatle attached upside down on it's roof! I'm guessing some sort of advertising but I didn't catch the brand. It was a dull yellow and black color. Not attractive at all.

sda

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

could be an old story. That idea/rumor has been floating around for years. Biggest problem right at the moment is that they'd have to go through the trouble of renaming FCA. Not sure they'd want to go through all that trouble and rebranding expense. Would be easier just to make all Dodge products Chrysler products and kill that brand.

I was thinking the same thing but I don't recall seeing any Chrysler ads lately. Not a good sign. When they axed Plymouth that's how it started.

Unlike killing off Plymouth, Pontiac, Olds, Saturn, Mercury, etc., they were not associated with part of the company name, Fiat-Chrysler. I would hate to see the Chrysler name fade away.

imidazol97

berri said:

ORD is not pretty right now

There are inbound planes doing circles over Lima OH and middle Illinois that are inbound and were already in the air. Takeoff delays of 3 hours plus at originating airports.

Taking off from ORD delayed 55 minutes.

No wonder my sister-in-law avoids ORD if she can. She's cabin crew for a major airline.

snakeweasel

berri said:

ORD is not pretty right now

I'm about an hour south and a little west of ORD and it's cloudy here and have had lite rain.

qbrozen

explorerx4 said:

According to what I read on the internet, Fiat is leaving the US market, too.

Oh, its on the internet?
;b

wait...Fiat is in the US? haha. These jokes just write themselves.

Mr_Shiftright

""I'm not killing Fiat," Marchionne said in March at the Geneva auto show. His strategy, though, has been to concentrate resources on FCA's premium brands such as Maserati, Alfa Romeo and particularly Jeep. In Geneva, Marchionne said "Fiat's relevance in the marketplace has gone" and FCA needs "to make room for the emergence of the most powerful brands." In his view, the Fiat brand "has got phenomenal prospects in Latin America," but it will have a less relevant role in Europe, "where I think it will center on the 500 family."

Mr_Shiftright

No mention of the U.S. market--but without a credible lineup of SUVs, I don't see how Fiat could expand at all here. Maybe they think EVs will save them?

oldfarmer50

sda said:

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

could be an old story. That idea/rumor has been floating around for years. Biggest problem right at the moment is that they'd have to go through the trouble of renaming FCA. Not sure they'd want to go through all that trouble and rebranding expense. Would be easier just to make all Dodge products Chrysler products and kill that brand.

I was thinking the same thing but I don't recall seeing any Chrysler ads lately. Not a good sign. When they axed Plymouth that's how it started.

Unlike killing off Plymouth, Pontiac, Olds, Saturn, Mercury, etc., they were not associated with part of the company name, Fiat-Chrysler. I would hate to see the Chrysler name fade away.

Me neither although mine is a good example of why they aren't selling.

driver100

explorerx4 said:

@driver100,
Since the landlord is going to remodel the apartment anyway, why do you ask him if he can keep the security deposit and you leave the carpet and wallpaper?
That way it's no money out of his pocket on the security deposit and he can just add the removal to the remodeler list of tasks.

The guy who installs the cabinets doesn't remove carpets or wallpaper. Installing cabinets allows them to charge more rent....makes the apartment more attractive. Removing wallpaper and carpets is a pain.....and just brings the apartment back to original condition.

If the security deposit was $500....it isn't worth messing around when the removal of carpet and wallpaper is $600. Not worth time and energy to get into a dispute. Like I say, landlord let him out of a 12 month lease with 10 months left to go.

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5TJ27mliQi8

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vBPozdWK3Ug

fintail

California has net population growth, with high demand for real estate in many areas. For CA, are those escapees the luckiest generation ever cashing in their real estate lottery tickets?

Huge population growth in my high-ish tax high-ish amenity locale, too. People, especially highly educated younger people, are also voting with their feet.

For IL, get outside of Chicagoland and I think it has a rep for being another speedtrap (where in Chicago, the corruption is just under the surface ) For good speedtrap stories, google the goshforsaken heckhole of New Rome, OH, which was forcefully dissolved because of its crooked shenanigans.

cdnpinhead said:

People are leaving Illinois and California in significant numbers -- voting with their feet. They're being replaced, if at all, by people who, let's say, don't contribute as much to the economy. Interesting to watch.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

If the security deposit was $500....it isn't worth messing around when the removal of carpet and wallpaper is $600. Not worth time and energy to get into a dispute. Like I say, landlord let him out of a 12 month lease with 10 months left to go.

That part would endear me to the landlord as well.

My son got special treatment from his landlord in Columbus and was given the first chance during apartment "rush" to visit and sign up for apartments for the 100 or more units this landlord has around campus. My son had spotted this single (or double occupancy) 950 sq ft apartment in an old brick house 1 block from campus. The rest of the house was a 3 unit and 5 person unit.

My son had lived with 5 other honors students in another 6 bedroom unit of this landlord for 2 years, so he had a track record or paying and little or no trouble.

Landlord treated us well, so I treated him well when son graduated at 5 months of his second year in this apartment. So for 7 months almost, the repairmen worked on the sink counter (from the 60s?) and also, with permission, went ahead and upgraded cabinets and added a washer dryer stackable. All while we paid rent. My son's furniture was there until April and we left a sofa in case son wanted to sleep over when he had been back around campus to visit his girlfriend.

The 3 repair and maintenance guys the landlord kept used the basement of this house as their headquarters, so I saw them almost every time I went over to the apartment.

The maintenance guy said we didn't need to clean the apartment before July 31 move out, They had done drywall work when doing upgrade on cabinets and a lot of dust was theirs to clean up. But I left it paper towel and wet mop clean on the vinyl and wood floors.

I realize I showed the same courtesy your are showing your landlord.

stickguy

it was not a favor. as soon as they can clean the place up will be back on the market at double the rent. So the landlord probably couldn't wait for him to ask to be let out.

imidazol97

fintail said:

think it has a rep for being another speedtrap (where in Chicago, the corruption is just under the surface ) For good speedtrap stories, google the goshforsaken heckhole of New Rome, OH, which was forcefully dissolved because of its crooked shenanigans.

In Ohio. No. Say it's not so!!!

Yeah. You're right. If I recall, the legislature had to change the rules for how a mayors court could operate. I believe that the system in New Rome was relatives involved in the scheme for running the small village.

More recently, a small town which is part of metro Columbus, has been a speedtrap. Brice: about 1/3 mile by 1.4 miles in size.

When the legislature outlawed speed cameras unless they had an officer present, Brice figured out they could sit on top of an overpass and take pictures of speeders on the major road below with their camera instead of having the camera on the road visible to the victims. I may be wrong on this, but that's what my memory is telling me without checking old news stories.

https://thenewspaper.com/news/63/6352.asp

fintail

That's pretty heinous, maybe the worst part is that the state refused to do anything about it.

To be fair, I wasn't calling out OH in particular, I think that kind of corrupt garbage exists in many locations.

imidazol97 said:

In Ohio. No. Say it's not so!!!

Yeah. You're right. If I recall, the legislature had to change the rules for how a mayors court could operate. I believe that the system in New Rome was relatives involved in the scheme for running the small village.


https://thenewspaper.com/news/63/6352.asp

xwesx

imidazol97 said:

An Alaska car caught up to me a minute later and he was going even faster.

Before anyone asks: No, it was NOT me!

suydam

cdnpinhead said:

People are leaving Illinois and California in significant numbers -- voting with their feet. They're being replaced, if at all, by people who, let's say, don't contribute as much to the economy. Interesting to watch.

And your source for this is . . . .?

Sandman6472

Best to just remove the stuff like the contract says. Doing the right thing is always best and this way, everyone can move on to the next phase of his life. Sometimes just doing the right thing is the way to go!!
A shame I don't know Mike's full name as I could stop by and see how he's making out. It's very close to whee we live. My wife insisted they take me to a different hospital even though that one was closer as she knew where she wanted me to get the care I needed. So glad she did the right thing!!

The Sandman

tbirdmarco

 No surprise there honestly don’t think you would’ve done anything they can do something and shrink some more not surprised if feeling goes away they’re not doing too good really never did sister came back a few years back 

cdnpinhead

suydam said:

And your source for this is . . . .?

https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/californians-doing-the-once-unthinkable-leaving-california/

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-illinois-exodus-population-taxes-20180328-story.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-illinois-exodus-population-taxes-20180412-story.html

https://www.ocregister.com/2017/11/16/census-142932-more-people-left-california-than-moved-here-in-2016/

Interestingly, none of the articles mentions how many of the "foreign immigrants" came in through the front door.

fintail

Funny link on the last piece (from a list of primarily opinion pieces no doubt written by grouchy old types who got theirs, now to heck with everyone else) : Numbers bust the myth: There’s no great exodus from California

If people want to live in a low cost low amenity area, AL and MS and the like will gladly take them - Just be careful where you move. That's a great thing about the US, you are free to move where you want so long as you can make the numbers work.

cdnpinhead

fintail said:

grouchy old types

You rang?

suydam

California does have a lot of very educated foreign immigrants. These are legal immigration stats when comparing to other states. The undocumented are a different issue and shouldn’t be confused with immigration rates. I’ll see your opinion piece and raise you one. https://medium.com/ca-rising/the-great-migration-myth-bda59595dfa2
I think what confuses everyone is the sheer size of California’s population. No one is worrying about out-migration in, say, Nebraska.

Mr_Shiftright

fintail said:

California has net population growth, with high demand for real estate in many areas. For CA, are those escapees the luckiest generation ever cashing in their real estate lottery tickets?

Huge population growth in my high-ish tax high-ish amenity locale, too. People, especially highly educated younger people, are also voting with their feet.

For IL, get outside of Chicagoland and I think it has a rep for being another speedtrap (where in Chicago, the corruption is just under the surface ) For good speedtrap stories, google the goshforsaken heckhole of New Rome, OH, which was forcefully dissolved because of its crooked shenanigans.

cdnpinhead said:

People are leaving Illinois and California in significant numbers -- voting with their feet. They're being replaced, if at all, by people who, let's say, don't contribute as much to the economy. Interesting to watch.

Yes, a certain set of demographics are leaving CA and going elsewhere (mostly to Texas), but other demographics are coming in. CA now has a larger economy than the U.K. (#5 in the world).

Mr_Shiftright

Anyone Want to Jump In on This Topic?

It's about Usage-Based Insurance Rates

thebean

Mr_Shiftright said:

fintail said:

California has net population growth, with high demand for real estate in many areas. For CA, are those escapees the luckiest generation ever cashing in their real estate lottery tickets?

Huge population growth in my high-ish tax high-ish amenity locale, too. People, especially highly educated younger people, are also voting with their feet.

For IL, get outside of Chicagoland and I think it has a rep for being another speedtrap (where in Chicago, the corruption is just under the surface ) For good speedtrap stories, google the goshforsaken heckhole of New Rome, OH, which was forcefully dissolved because of its crooked shenanigans.

cdnpinhead said:

People are leaving Illinois and California in significant numbers -- voting with their feet. They're being replaced, if at all, by people who, let's say, don't contribute as much to the economy. Interesting to watch.

Yes, a certain set of demographics are leaving CA and going elsewhere (mostly to Texas)...

Sadly, this is true.

bwia

Speaking of brakes engaging upon opening the door (to pick up your paper)

I have a related question. Why don't we-use disc brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear for most vehicles? Techies chime in 

jmonroe

bwia said:

Speaking of brakes engaging upon opening the door (to pick up your paper)

I have a related question. Why don't we-use disc brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear for most vehicles? Techies chime in 

I don't know why you would want to do that because disc brakes are better than drum brakes when it comes to stopping a car and they are easier to install. If we went back to drum brakes that takes much more skill to install and the work force of young guys would probably have to be trained. I wouldn't want to be in a garage when that is happening...there would be a lot of springs pinging off the walls.

I think it is better to leave it alone...forever.

jmonroe

roadburner

oldfarmer50 said:

Saw a couple of interesting things while out tonight.

I saw a BMW Z3 and I'm pretty sure it had an M badge. I thought that odd because most reviews of that car said they were pretty anemic. Maybe RR can educate me on this.

The 1.9 four is no rocket ship, but still fun to drive. The Z3 was also available with several six cylinders, including two M motors. So equipped, the Z3 M could run 0-60 in the low five second range, fast for the time- but today average at best.

roadburner

I also posted this in CCBA:
I brought the i3 in for it's annual service and my Service Advisor set me up in a 2018 230i xDrive. The car was very well optioned, notably with the M Sport and Track Handling Packages. Those two packages essentially upgrade the trim, suspension, steering, and braking to the same level as an M240i, minus the sweet B58 inline six.

So, how did I like it? Quite a bit, actually. Since the facelift(what BMW calls LCI), the car has acquired minor but mostly welcome upgrades. Inside, the main instrument cluster is now a glass cockpit, with the added feature of being able to display oil temperature at all times. The iDrive is version 5.0 which gets you a touchscreen(meh) as well as a more sophisticated menu layout. Trim is a bit different but otherwise it's virtually the same as my M235i. This car had the base audio system, and-while I still prefer the Harmon-Kardon upgrade-it was surprisingly listenable.

LED headlamps aside, the exterior changes are very minor; unless you are a BMW geek-like me-they will mostly go unnoticed.

As for the driving experience, I was pretty happy with it overall. That said, I would not get any 2er with xDrive and I would only get a 230i with a manual. The AWD reins in the fun significantly as does the ZF 8HP automatic when bolted to the B48 inline four. I would probably like it better if I had never owned/driven a M235i; A 14 second quarter is just adequate these days, but it's tolerable. As noted, the xDrive doesn't allow any power oversteer antics, which is a major negative for me(the only AWD BMW car that I think I could live with would be the F90 M5, which allows the driver to select a RWD mode). As for fuel economy, the 230i averaged around 26 mpg- not much better-if any-than my M235i

If I was buying a 230i I'd option up a RWD model with three pedals, throw in the M Sport and Track Handling Packages, and delete the sunroof. The downside is it's only about $4,000 less than a similarly equipped M240i. I know which one I'd pick.

In case you are wondering, here's how I'd rate the various RWD 2 Series permutations(and yes, I've driven all of them):

1. M2 manual
2. M240i automatic
3. M2 DCT
4. 230i manual
5. M240i manual
6. 230i automatic

Out of all the above cars, an M2 manual is the only car I'd prefer to my M235i automatic.

houdini1

driver100 said:

explorerx4 said:

@driver100,
Since the landlord is going to remodel the apartment anyway, why do you ask him if he can keep the security deposit and you leave the carpet and wallpaper?
That way it's no money out of his pocket on the security deposit and he can just add the removal to the remodeler list of tasks.

The guy who installs the cabinets doesn't remove carpets or wallpaper. Installing cabinets allows them to charge more rent....makes the apartment more attractive. Removing wallpaper and carpets is a pain.....and just brings the apartment back to original condition.

If the security deposit was $500....it isn't worth messing around when the removal of carpet and wallpaper is $600. Not worth time and energy to get into a dispute. Like I say, landlord let him out of a 12 month lease with 10 months left to go.

As tight as you are, now you are throwing money out the window ? I think you already made the decision and paid before you mentioned it here and got better alternatives. Fess up !

houdini1

fintail said:

Funny link on the last piece (from a list of primarily opinion pieces no doubt written by grouchy old types who got theirs, now to heck with everyone else) : Numbers bust the myth: There’s no great exodus from California

If people want to live in a low cost low amenity area, AL and MS and the like will gladly take them - Just be careful where you move. That's a great thing about the US, you are free to move where you want so long as you can make the numbers work.

Old people who have "got theirs" have no reason to be grouchy. Plenty of young grouchy people though !

bwia

I'm in DC and visited the Bible Museum today. To put it mildly, I was underwhelmed, thank goodness admission is free. 

I was expecting to see replicas of events and places of the Bible but instead it was a history of religion. Don't know who is the primary audience but I  don't rememer seeing anyone less than 60 years old perhaps more suited for a religious rally. 

As usual DC looks run-down and Uber and Lyft are the primary means of getting around...ode to traditional taxi conveyors. RIP

xwesx

Quite true. Discs are really better in every way: They are simpler to service, lighter, have more stopping power, and less fade (by way of shedding heat better), so what's not to like?

Granted, in rear brakes, you don't need the same stopping power and fade resistance as in the front, but just because you don't *need* it, doesn't mean it is not nice to have.

And, perhaps surprisingly, many (all?) rear disc systems actually do still have a drum brake system (very small and inside the brake rotor) for the emergency brake.

On drum systems, the emergency brake is simply a manual pull of the standard brake shoes. If you leave the brake engaged while driving, you lose all rear braking effectiveness. With the disc systems, complete failure of the emergency brake does not have a bit of effect on your stopping power using the foot pedal!

The only significant upgrade that I seriously consider on my old vehicles is a front disc brake system. Sadly, it is not a particularly easy task on either of my rigs.

oldfarmer50

bwia said:

I'm in DC and visited the Bible Museum today. To put it mildly, I was underwhelmed, thank goodness admission is free. 

I was expecting to see replicas of events and places of the Bible but instead it was a history of religion. Don't know who is the primary audience but I  don't rememer seeing anyone less than 60 years old perhaps more suited for a religious rally. 

As usual DC looks run-down and Uber and Lyft are the primary means of getting around...ode to traditional taxi conveyors. RIP

My son the Lyft driver just came in and told me some anonymous client emailed Lyft with a complaint that he was speeding and cutting off traffic. Believe me, my son is one of the safest drivers I've ever seen. We think this is a scam to get a refund on the ride but he still has to defend himself to the company. He'll be installing a dash cam soon for protection.

Sad that some people are so crooked that they'd screw with someone's livelyhood just to skip out on paying a few bucks.

berri

It's about Usage-Based Insurance Rates
I wouldn't trust one of those insurance plug in devices. Insurance companies want to make money like any other business and the bigger the profits, the bigger the senior executive bonuses. Even if it saves you initially, it is spyware for your car and if you mess up at all it will be a ticket for a price hike. Having said that, some states are experimenting with a similar type approach in lieu of gas taxes. Ultimately I can see these two things tying in together and consumer choice will be taken away.

sda

oldfarmer50 said:

bwia said:

I'm in DC and visited the Bible Museum today. To put it mildly, I was underwhelmed, thank goodness admission is free. 

I was expecting to see replicas of events and places of the Bible but instead it was a history of religion. Don't know who is the primary audience but I  don't rememer seeing anyone less than 60 years old perhaps more suited for a religious rally. 

As usual DC looks run-down and Uber and Lyft are the primary means of getting around...ode to traditional taxi conveyors. RIP

My son the Lyft driver just came in and told me some anonymous client emailed Lyft with a complaint that he was speeding and cutting off traffic. Believe me, my son is one of the safest drivers I've ever seen. We think this is a scam to get a refund on the ride but he still has to defend himself to the company. He'll be installing a dash cam soon for protection.

Sad that some people are so crooked that they'd screw with someone's livelyhood just to skip out on paying a few bucks.

That's upsetting. Is he making decent $$ driving and perhaps find it enjoyable? Will he be required to replace the Sable due to age?

driver100

houdini1 said:

driver100 said:

explorerx4 said:

@driver100,
Since the landlord is going to remodel the apartment anyway, why do you ask him if he can keep the security deposit and you leave the carpet and wallpaper?
That way it's no money out of his pocket on the security deposit and he can just add the removal to the remodeler list of tasks.

The guy who installs the cabinets doesn't remove carpets or wallpaper. Installing cabinets allows them to charge more rent....makes the apartment more attractive. Removing wallpaper and carpets is a pain.....and just brings the apartment back to original condition.

If the security deposit was $500....it isn't worth messing around when the removal of carpet and wallpaper is $600. Not worth time and energy to get into a dispute. Like I say, landlord let him out of a 12 month lease with 10 months left to go.

As tight as you are, now you are throwing money out the window ? I think you already made the decision and paid before you mentioned it here and got better alternatives. Fess up !

No, I didn't pay, I could have switched. But, not enough time to switch for the small savings....and it isn't the way I want to go through life. I have had to live very carefully in the past....probably made less than 80% or more of you for most of my life.

I am happy of my decision, the contract says remove wallpaper and carpets, my brother enjoyed living there for 35 years, they let him out of his lease without a hassle.........I don't need the extra worries....I am managing the move, he is paying for it....it isn't a matter of doing it cheap or not....it is doing it as efficiently as possible so he has a comfortable move....and I do what I have to do as painlessly as possible. I can safely say....we are all happy.

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-VKul4hVjKs

imidazol97

Time to upgrade TV? My small 26 inch Sony Brava cuts out for 15-30 seconds on the picture only. The set stays on. Has some component reached it's end-of-life point? I blew out any dust. Didn't seem to be much inside the back.

Maybe 12 years old. Time for a smart TV.

qbrozen

imidazol97 said:

Time to upgrade TV? My small 26 inch Sony Brava cuts out for 15-30 seconds on the picture only. The set stays on. Has some component reached it's end-of-life point? I blew out any dust. Didn't seem to be much inside the back. Maybe 12 years old. Time for a smart TV.

You can get a better set than that for $100 these days. You have already wasted too much time on it by cleaning it out and posting about it. ;b

fintail

You should tell that to the sourpusses I see around Seattle

Speaking of usage based insurance, I'm not plugging anything into my car, either. I'd be willing if all I had to do was snap a pic of the odometer every year, otherwise, no thanks, too much room for malfeasance.

houdini1 said:

Old people who have "got theirs" have no reason to be grouchy. Plenty of young grouchy people though !

28firefighter

fintail said:

You should tell that to the sourpusses I see around Seattle Speaking of usage based insurance, I'm not plugging anything into my car, either. I'd be willing if all I had to do was snap a pic of the odometer every year, otherwise, no thanks, too much room for malfeasance.

Old people who have "got theirs" have no reason to be grouchy. Plenty of young grouchy people though !

Agree. Nothing touches my OBD Port. 

driver100

imidazol97 said:

Time to upgrade TV? My small 26 inch Sony Brava cuts out for 15-30 seconds on the picture only. The set stays on. Has some component reached it's end-of-life point? I blew out any dust. Didn't seem to be much inside the back.

Maybe 12 years old. Time for a smart TV.

Definitely time for a new TV. 12 years is more than enough...your TV is ancient. You definitely need a Smart TV, and should upgrade at least to 32 inches.....even better 40 inches.

driver100

We got a letter from Allstate in Florida....15% discount if you use their tracking. You can't lose (ha ha), but, you could get 15% off if you don't stop suddenly, speed, swerve or whatever else they can measure.

My question is, what if I have to slam on brakes because a kid ran out? How does that get registered.

Anyone hear from Mike? I have been organizing the move today. Tomorrow Just Junk comes, and the carpet/wallpaper removal guy.

Mr_Shiftright

I read the list of disqualifiers for usage based policies and I pretty much failed on 1) accelerating too fast; 2) braking too hard; 3) exceeding 80 mph.

It's not like I do these things very often, but it does come up from time to time.

oldfarmer50

sda said:

oldfarmer50 said:

bwia said:

I'm in DC and visited the Bible Museum today. To put it mildly, I was underwhelmed, thank goodness admission is free. 

I was expecting to see replicas of events and places of the Bible but instead it was a history of religion. Don't know who is the primary audience but I  don't rememer seeing anyone less than 60 years old perhaps more suited for a religious rally. 

As usual DC looks run-down and Uber and Lyft are the primary means of getting around...ode to traditional taxi conveyors. RIP

My son the Lyft driver just came in and told me some anonymous client emailed Lyft with a complaint that he was speeding and cutting off traffic. Believe me, my son is one of the safest drivers I've ever seen. We think this is a scam to get a refund on the ride but he still has to defend himself to the company. He'll be installing a dash cam soon for protection.

Sad that some people are so crooked that they'd screw with someone's livelyhood just to skip out on paying a few bucks.

That's upsetting. Is he making decent $$ driving and perhaps find it enjoyable? Will he be required to replace the Sable due to age?

Decent is a relative term. I'd guess that after expenses and 15% self employment tax he's probably making minimum wage plus tips. But yes he finds it enjoyable.

We were lucky that the Sable was a classic Oldfarmer low milage special so it will be good for a few years. The bad is that it will age out of the Lyft system in about 18 months regardless of milage. At that time we plan on swapping it for my wife's PT Cruiser which is 4 years newer and also low milage. We'll take the Sable.

If he wants to keep at it beyond that it will give me an excuse to go car shopping.

oldfarmer50

imidazol97 said:

Time to upgrade TV? My small 26 inch Sony Brava cuts out for 15-30 seconds on the picture only. The set stays on. Has some component reached it's end-of-life point? I blew out any dust. Didn't seem to be much inside the back.

Maybe 12 years old. Time for a smart TV.

I had a couple of flat screens go like that. Probably one micro wire melted. Total loss not worth fixing. If you take it to the dump tell them it's a computer monitor. Cost me $5 less with that designation.

I had a cheap friend who put one at the curb with a "free" sign and got no takers so he changed the sign to "$100" and it was gone by morning.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

We got a letter from Allstate in Florida....15% discount if you use their tracking. You can't lose (ha ha), but, you could get 15% off if you don't stop suddenly, speed, swerve or whatever else they can measure.

My question is, what if I have to slam on brakes because a kid ran out? How does that get registered.

Anyone hear from Mike? I have been organizing the move today. Tomorrow Just Junk comes, and the carpet/wallpaper removal guy.

As I understand it you have to leave their device on for 30 days. I was going to try that on the Mustang just as I put it away for winter. Safest driver on the planet for those 30 days.