Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

isellhondas

28firefighter said:

Spent this past weekend on Orcas Island, in the San Juan Islands off the coast of northern Washington. Rented a house on the water with some friends and all of their kids. Beautiful place, great company, good food.

Unfortunately the trip was book-ended by this:
https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/wrong-way-driver-arrested-for-dui-after-deadly-crash-near-marysville/281-569722366

Happened about 8/10ths of a mile ahead of us on I-5 South; we were routed off before things got too bad traffic wise, but an absolutely horrific scene that we could see from the overpass - and I've seen some bad accident scenes before.

Our son bought a house in Marysville a couple of years ago. When I heard of the accident I had to call and make sure he was OK. Horrible!

isellhondas

fintail said:

Yay, we've all found one thing we have in common, dislike of jerky cyclists.

Around here it seems to be expecting all of the privileges of a motorist, all of the rights of a pedestrian, while having the responsibilities of neither.

Now that I've said that, I'll encounter that 1:100 who signals turns, obeys traffic controls, and tries to keep out of the way.

driver100 said:

OR
Look at me, I am doing my bit to save the planet, so I deserve special treatment....you bad boy nasty car drivers!

Don't get me going on Bicyclists! We sure cater to them and spend money on them while they contribute nothing! Not even a yearly license fee!

isellhondas

fintail said:

Like the USA! Oh wait.

I've read over half of detached residential sales in some areas around me are to offshore cash buyers. No "vetting" regarding the source of the money, of course, when residency is for sale.

oldfarmer50 said:

Better to buy in a truly friendly country.

Have you been up to the Issaquah Plateau lately? Unreal!

driver100

imidazol97 said:

**********************
Need travel advice. Does anyone have knowledge of places in Key West for a mid to late 20s couple to spend some time? Not sure when this is planned--now? October? I think they're open to suggestions of places to stay, and then secondarily to things to do. They mentioned that there are resorts and there are small places...

With all this talk about heat and humidity, I realized there likely is knowledge here on the forum that might help.
*********************

Imid, I think Key West is very over rated, especially if driving. Long boring drive to get there. Once there, the downtown has lots of bars and restaurants with high priced foods. People watching can be fun. Also, see the most Southern point in the U.S.A.

We like architecture so as we were leaving we noticed very interesting homes and B&Bs on the streets off the main drag.

Consider going to Fort Myers and taking the fast boat to KW, stay overnight if you have to, then catch the boat back. I suppose it is worth seeing it, just so you know what it is like.

xwesx

abacomike said:

Speaking of air-conditioning - just got a call from my son in Palm Desert, CA.  He said he can’t wait to fly here next month with my grandson to “get out of the heat!”  I reminded him that August is the hottest month of the year here in Southeast Florida.  He replied, “...Dad, it has to be cooler than 116 F degrees which is how hot it is in the shade here!...”

I asked him if his A/C is working OK and he said it’s working as best it can in the horrendous heat they are getting.  But I also reminded him that 96 degrees with 70% humidity can be more intolerable than 116 degrees with 10% humidity.  He remembered last summer here and said I was right. 

I suppose the good news about that high humidity is that the heat exchanger on the A/C unit will work much more efficiently in 70% humidity than 10%!

xwesx

sda said:

my wife driving 80+ for long distances. Actually I find this amusing as she always fusses at me when I exceed 78. I kept quiet and was very comfortable as she is a very in tune driver. She knows her car, how it performs and is the first to say something if she thinks something is a miss. Good to be home!

Hah! Exactly the same here as far as wife driving. Sometimes when you turn her loose on a trip home, she just keeps inching the speedometer up little by little. Were I to do that, watch out! /sigh

tjc78

Yeah I cruise at 75 and the wife thinks I’m flying.... the other day we drove to work separately (Work in same office) and followed her down the expressway and she was doing 85.  

Got it to work and called her Mario Andretti.... joke was lost.  

suydam

I love the Keys! Haven’t been as far as Key West, but the whole area is such a beautiful and different part of the country. Make sure to head up to the Everglades for part of the trip. We loved the snorkeling and beaches are beautiful. Do they fish? Almost every condo in that area has a boat parking place too. So much water sports — parasailing, scuba diving — not to mention parking your [non-permissible content removed] on a beautiful beach with a cocktail. I would love to go back.

berri

Key West - probably want a place on the water because much of it is obscured by real estate. Parts of the drive from Miami are very pretty, but much of it is blah. Interesting place for a couple day stay...and the Hemmingway 6 toed cats.

abacomike

imidazol97 said:

********************** Need travel advice. Does anyone have knowledge of places in Key West for a mid to late 20s couple to spend some time? Not sure when this is planned--now? October? I think they're open to suggestions of places to stay, and then secondarily to things to do. They mentioned that there are resorts and there are small places... With all this talk about heat and humidity, I realized there likely is knowledge here on the forum that might help. *********************

I’ve been to Key West several times - once about 5 years ago.  The drive from Florida City (termination point of the Florida Turnpike) to Key West is nice if you are in no hurry to get there.  US Rt 1 is the only way in and out of the Keys.  Driving through the Keys is great if you have the time to stop and explore some of Keys - especially Islamorada and Key Marathon.  Great seafood restaurants on both.

If they like to fish, lay out on the beaches, drink fancy tropical cocktails, eat seafood, explore nightspots, swim with dolphins on Key Largo, and enjoy leisurely sightseeing, then the Keys are delightful except for hurricane season - September and October are the most active hurricane months so I caution vacationers.

I prefer Islamorada Key for a great vacation.  In case of a hurricane, you are close to the Florida mainland and won’t have to worry about the long drive from Key West if you need to evacuate.  It is a much shorter drive from Miami/Ft. Lauderdale.  There are plenty of upscale accommodations that can also arrange boat rentals, scuba diving, dining, sightseeing, etc.  I’ve stayed there a few times and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Islamorada is the preferred vacation spot in the Keys for Floridians - a bit pricey but gorgeous.

Naples is nice but the Keys are an adventure.  I believe you can fly into Key West from Miami and then rent a car.  There are even cruise ships and ferries that stop in Key West.  Everything is determined by what the vacationers want to do.

berri

I know American flies into Key West via Miami

sda

We spent the summer of '67 in the Keys. I was 8. Dad was working with a construction company and he managed the building of a bridge from Big Pine Key to No Name Key (a deer reserve). Mom had to drive 30 miles each week to Key West to shop at the largest grocery store at the time, Safeway if I remember correctly. Dad rented a house on Big Pine, which was decent, but no ac, or washer dryer. At the time, there were shacks, similar to a lean to, up and down A1. Inside those were coin operated washers and dryers. The first time we went in one, mom came racing out. A land crab came out from under one of the machines and ran over her foot! From there on, mom took a broom, banged it on the floor and waited for any critters to run out before she went in. Simple times. My wife and I visited the Keys in 2000. We enjoyed ourselves, but wow how it had changed! I'm sure it has even changed more since.

andres3

xwesx said:

sda said:

my wife driving 80+ for long distances. Actually I find this amusing as she always fusses at me when I exceed 78. I kept quiet and was very comfortable as she is a very in tune driver. She knows her car, how it performs and is the first to say something if she thinks something is a miss. Good to be home!

Hah! Exactly the same here as far as wife driving. Sometimes when you turn her loose on a trip home, she just keeps inching the speedometer up little by little. Were I to do that, watch out! /sigh

Use my now famous line when I hear the significant other say something along the lines of slow down, my response is always "I'll slow down when I get there!"

andres3

xwesx said:

abacomike said:

Speaking of air-conditioning - just got a call from my son in Palm Desert, CA.  He said he can’t wait to fly here next month with my grandson to “get out of the heat!”  I reminded him that August is the hottest month of the year here in Southeast Florida.  He replied, “...Dad, it has to be cooler than 116 F degrees which is how hot it is in the shade here!...”

I asked him if his A/C is working OK and he said it’s working as best it can in the horrendous heat they are getting.  But I also reminded him that 96 degrees with 70% humidity can be more intolerable than 116 degrees with 10% humidity.  He remembered last summer here and said I was right. 

I suppose the good news about that high humidity is that the heat exchanger on the A/C unit will work much more efficiently in 70% humidity than 10%!

I think Las Vegas Casinos are the experts on state of the art A/C systems.

You reminded me how when I was last in Florida going into an air conditioned space felt like another planet from the outside scorching humidity.

fintail

Bellevue just re-striped a bunch of downtown streets for new bike lanes, sometimes discarding turn lanes to do it. Now traffic at some intersections is worse. Nice move, "traffic engineers". No doubt they didn't redesign the streets commuted on by our brave authorities.

isellhondas said:

Don't get me going on Bicyclists! We sure cater to them and spend money on them while they contribute nothing! Not even a yearly license fee!

fintail

I'll guess million dollar 4000 sq ft cardboard 'n plywood mcmansions crammed together on 4500 sq ft lots, half of them sitting vacant because the owner is an absentee speculator. Am I close?

isellhondas said:

Have you been up to the Issaquah Plateau lately? Unreal!

suydam

We stayed at a rental condo in Isla Morada. I thought it was a good location. We are beach and water people so we had a great time. The complex had a bar right on the beach, which was very handy!

driver100

I do have to say, if you like the beach and have a lot of money to spend on a vacation there are beautiful hotels right on the beach all along the way to Key West.

Our good friend Richard who used to be here suggested we check this place on our trip to K.W. It was nice, but it was about $400 a night 6 years ago.

suydam

Lots of rental condos and BnB s now.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

Oldfarmer....just to clarify, when no one had an answer to why your Ford stalled I said because it was a Ford because people say stuff like that.....I should have used a smiley face.
I in no way was beseeching the good name of the Ford Motor Company. Ford makes good cars.

J.M.onroe will say I am backpedaling, but I mean it, l was just saying a fast trash comment, that definitely was not taken the way I intended.

Don't worry driver100, I know what you meant. I have no illusions about Ford. They have built some terrific cars but like all manufacturers they've had flops and dogs. In the 60s I wouldn't touch a Ford because of the trannies, now they have a few cars I wouldn't mind owning. I think the choice to stop producing sedans is the stupidest move they ever made.

isellhondas

fintail said:

I'll guess million dollar 4000 sq ft cardboard 'n plywood mcmansions crammed together on 4500 sq ft lots, half of them sitting vacant because the owner is an absentee speculator. Am I close?

isellhondas said:

Have you been up to the Issaquah Plateau lately? Unreal!

No, that isn't the case. Just modest hmes that get listed for a million dollars and sell the next day for 1.1 million. The money comes from out of the U.S. Just amazing!

fintail

I can believe it. I know someone who recently sold in Everett. Even there - doubled their money in less than 5 years , had something like 9 bids over asking. In Everett. Of course, they had to jump into a market where everything else has fared similarly, so now they have what I call a Big Daddy mortgage.

I am glad I am happy with nothing more than a condo so long as it has a garage.

Also amusing that for all of this tough talk regarding foreign trade, nobody is going to touch the offshore real estate money, nor perform any real vetting.

isellhondas said:

No, that isn't the case. Just modest hmes that get listed for a million dollars and sell the next day for 1.1 million. The money comes from out of the U.S. Just amazing!

houdini1

Just look at it from the perspective that some foreigners are wise enough to invest in the good 'ol U.S.A.

houdini1

OOPS!

fintail

Wise enough to invest in a place where they know there's no real auditing or "vetting" of the sources of money. These aren't investments, this is a way to park dirty money in case the axe falls at home, and to take advantage of insanely lax residency schemes (not necessarily political, it is the same garbage from the prior regime). When a certain son-of-a-conman son-in-law-of-a-conman is out hawking pay for play residency to the same demographic, you know there's really no sincere teeth to so-called trade wars or sanctions - just a lot of fluff to distract, and maybe appeal to people with no understanding of or credentials in economics. And now the local market is somewhat destroyed, just like money laundering haven Vancouver.

abacomike

Just heard from my son - he is coming to visit me with his youngest boy (14 year old) on August 9th for 4 days.  I haven’t seen that grandson in 9 years - we were skiddish about the 7 hour flight with one layover.  My x-daughter-in-Law took him to Washington DC last week and he did fine during the 6 hour flight from LA.  So he should be fine flying from Palm Spring to Ft. Lauderdale via DFW layover.

It’s going to be very exciting.  He is the grandson who has autism - Aspergers Syndrome.  He likes swimming and we have an Olympic size swimming pool right behind my building.  Also thought about taking him to the Miami SeaQuarium on Key Biscayne.  Probably take them to Deerfield Beach one afternoon.  Will take them shopping for clothes at Sawgrass Mills.

Can’t wait to see him - and my son of course.

stickguy

sounds like a fun time Mike. Hard to be so far from family.

stickguy

So, had another successful DIY project today (after doing the new gas grill Wednesday). I had a problem with our KA dishwasher (the wife yanked on the top rack too hard and broke off one of the little wheels). after a bit of online research, looking for replacement parts, turns out that they had redesigned the entire adjustment unit. So I ended up ordering that part #, which turned out to be a big box of parts. Much better design though (even metal instead of plastic).

So today, spread out a towel on the kitchen table, took the rack out, and managed to take all the old pieces off and follow the (once again not that great) instructions to get the new ones on both sides. Seems to have worked, since it went back in, is level, and no longer falls out!

certainly cheaper than paying for a service call, or a new unit.'

I am, however, tired of things I owned breaking, costing me time, money and effort to resolve. I'm getting too old for this nonsense.

roadburner

I finally snapped a shot of the Wrangler while it was relatively clean; now going on 19 years and 117k miles...

stickguy

looks good, especially for the age.

tjc78

roadburner said:

I finally snapped a shot of the Wrangler while it was relatively clean; now going on 19 years and 117k miles...

Looks good. I bet that would sell in 3 days if you wanted to.  

roadburner

I've got a couple of friends who want to buy it; I'll almost certainly sell it rather than trade it. The Wrangler JK or JL are still the top candidates to replace it...

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

Oldfarmer....just to clarify, when no one had an answer to why your Ford stalled I said because it was a Ford because people say stuff like that.....I should have used a smiley face.
I in no way was beseeching the good name of the Ford Motor Company. Ford makes good cars.

J.M.onroe will say I am backpedaling, but I mean it, l was just saying a fast trash comment, that definitely was not taken the way I intended.

Don't worry driver100, I know what you meant. I have no illusions about Ford. They have built some terrific cars but like all manufacturers they've had flops and dogs. In the 60s I wouldn't touch a Ford because of the trannies, now they have a few cars I wouldn't mind owning. I think the choice to stop producing sedans is the stupidest move they ever made.

I am glad you understand what I was trying to say oldfarmer. It would wouldn't make sense to say you don't like one particular brand because almost every brand has some awesome models....or, could have cars that don't suit my needs but are perfect for someone else. Even if I didn't like Chrysler, I still would still consider a He'll cat for example. I love Mustangs....If I could have any 10 cars in Driver's Garage, a Mustang would be one of them.

driver100

Mike.....sounds like a great visit coming up!

Stick, about the dishwasher repair......isn't the satisfaction from fixing something worth it? What a sense of accomplishment!

Roadburner, Jeep looks brand new......is that original paint?

abacomike

stickguy said:

sounds like a fun time Mike. Hard to be so far from family.

You are right, stick.  Being 2500 miles from those you love is a terrible situation.  Doctor won’t let me fly since I developed a blood clot in my left knee area 10 years ago.  So, I have to wait for summer to see them.

Checked American Airlines and it will cost about $1000 round trip for both of them.  Once my son selects the flights, I’ll give him my credit card number.  I always pick up the cost of the trip since he has to support 2 boys, one of which starts college in 5 weeks.

If only I could fly things would be so much simpler. I missed my grandchildren growing up, although I did see my oldest grandson a couple of times a year from the week he was born until 2008 when I had to stop flying.  Doctor said it has to do with the high pressure in the plane’s cabin coupled with sitting in one place for 3+ hours each leg of the trip.  It is what it is!

abacomike

There has been a lot of discussion here about Ford discontinuing production of 4-door sedans in the very near future.  I agree that they are making an unwise decision.  Ford produces a couple of great looking sedans comparable to Chevy, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, Nissan, etc., at a moderate price.  The Focus and Fusion are nicely styled for that segment.  The Taurus leaves me less enthusiastic for a host of reasons.

The Lincoln division’s sedans just have not caught on as some would have expected.  I sincerely hope they reconsider that decision.

roadburner

driver100 said:

Mike.....sounds like a great visit coming up!

Stick, about the dishwasher repair......isn't the satisfaction from fixing something worth it? What a sense of accomplishment!

Roadburner, Jeep looks brand new......is that original paint?

Yes- and it usually sits outside - although that will change when the i3 is turned in.

roadburner

abacomike said:

There has been a lot of discussion here about Ford discontinuing production of 4-door sedans in the very near future.  I agree that they are making an unwise decision.  Ford produces a couple of great looking sedans comparable to Chevy, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, Nissan, etc., at a moderate price.  The Focus and Fusion are nicely styled for that segment.  The Taurus leaves me less enthusiastic for a host of reasons.

The Lincoln division’s sedans just have not caught on as some would have expected.  I sincerely hope they reconsider that decision.

Lincoln is an odd duck in the luxury market. I think soon they will resemble Cadillac in that the Navigator will be the sales flagship, the remaining SUVs will be their bread and butter, and cars will be relegated to the ash heap.
Sad.

berri

Aba - young people today have to be mobile for careers, so many end up miles apart. Your health just makes the situation worse. The money you are spending for their plane tickets is one of the best investments you can make.

berri

Ford let too much product go stale after Mullaly left and got too wrapped around tech and the future of things like autonomous cars to the point of losing focus on current product. The new Expedition and some recent Lincoln shows they are waking up to that. I can see both sides of the arguments regarding the recent car product line decisions. I guess time will tell.

stickguy

RB, the lease on that i3 is just about to end? I was wondering why you were looking to swap it for something else this soon. I forgot you did a lease take over on that. Time flies!

roadburner

stickguy said:

RB, the lease on that i3 is just about to end? I was wondering why you were looking to swap it for something else this soon. I forgot you did a lease take over on that. Time flies!

It was a two year lease and we assumed it with about 23 months left. It goes back August 28. I’d be inclined to keep it as my daily commuter car but the residual is over twice what the car is worth. With the recent management upheaval I can’t work out a deal at my old store. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. 

suydam

Hopefully you get points for the flights so that you can eventually get some free ones.

bwia

I watched the Godfather movie last night on the AMC tv movie channel. Of course the movie is a classic but to me the cars stole the movie in every scene they appeared. Don't know if director Coppola is a car guy but his car selections were standouts.

Although I am not a car buff of the early 1940s era I recognized a few including an Alfa Romero, Cadillac and Mercedes Benz. The dual split windshields looked exquisite but compared to today's cars they don't look safe. The police cars, which I believe were Chevys, appeared to be tanklike, substantial and powerful. And at idle they sounded like freight trains.

One question for you guys, why were all the cars black? Was it that bland back? or just a gangster thing?

graphicguy

@bwia.....while quite a bit before my time, every picture I’ve seen of my relatives from that era, have cars that are black, too (of course those pics are only black and white, too).

Mr_Shiftright

jmonroe said:

driver100 said:

I saw that message that we will be logging in a new way soon. Well, if you never hear from me again you should know I just wasn't able to conquer the new system.....

I will be like i.S.E.L.L., lost in cyberspace for all eternity.

Gee, maybe the cyber gods are our friends after all.

jmonroe

The Edmunds Team is like the Marines--we don't leave anybody behind.

Mr_Shiftright

PF_Flyer said:

Heh... yea but he was trying to fix something!

It is forbidden to criticize Fearless Leader Elon Jong-IL. Miscreants will be banished to the Model 3 Assembly Tent! :@

henryn

I blew out a tire on my 2016 Chrysler Town and Country yesterday. Interesting experience with that mid-mounted spare, but made it home okay. There is a hole in the sidewall, and these tires are worn down enough I'm going to buy 4 new tires Monday or Tuesday.

Anyone have experience with the house brand Arizonian tires at Discount Tires? The online reviews seem decent (they're actually made by Cooper it seems), and the price is right. $536 out the door for these, and $740 for a set of Michelins.

snakeweasel

andres3 said;
I've debunked the "speeding doesn't save time, or at least not significant time" many times. I've debunked it in my own real-world studies. Occasionally you'll get caught up to at red lights, but occasionally you'll also arrive 15 minutes earlier on a 30 minute drive because the slowpoke got caught by a 20 MPH moving train that's 3 miles long, the train you managed to avoid by mere seconds because you sped for mere seconds. The sucker gets caught by the falling traffic arms by mere seconds. I'm sure if we graphed the time savings it would be a bell curve like anything else. Multiple 5 minutes saved by thousands of commute days in your lifetime, and suddenly you've lived years longer; at least outside of your car. If you call commuting living, well, then you win.

You haven't debunked it as much as disagreed with it. Time saved by going faster is a function of speed difference and distance, but that doesn't account for traffic, traffic controls and other obstacles. For example, I will be driving to Florida later this month, a drive just over 1,200 miles. Going 1 MPH faster could save me 12 minutes or more, but on my daily commute an additional 1 MPH shortens my drive time by maybe 10 seconds. And that doesn't account for congestion.

In high congestion areas especially in rush hour traffic going faster mostly gets you to the next light faster, not through it faster.

Since the average driver drives less than 50 miles a day on average and a great deal of it in congested areas little time can be saved.

Now for your 5 minutes a day, saved time must be spent when saved or its wasted. If I save $5 a day for 30 days and I would have an extra $150 at the end of the month. If you save 5 minutes a day for 30 days at the end of the month you will not have any extra time.

tbirdmarco

Have bin injoying  reading all in hear  how was everyone’s. 4thh  mine was good hung out with family   For an few days came home  last night