Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

snakeweasel

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

abacomike said:

Lows tomorrow morning are expected to be in the mid to low 40’s down in South Florida accompanied by strong NW winds (15-25 mph) which means wind factor temps in the 30’s.  Thank goodness for heated seats in the car.

Thoughts and prayers for the Floridians freezing in the 40 degree icebox.

Thanks, it is easy for you because you are used to those temps....we aren't.
btw....tax freedom day is now in July.

kyfdx said:

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

abacomike said:

Lows tomorrow morning are expected to be in the mid to low 40’s down in South Florida accompanied by strong NW winds (15-25 mph) which means wind factor temps in the 30’s.  Thank goodness for heated seats in the car.

Thoughts and prayers for the Floridians freezing in the 40 degree icebox.

Thanks, it is easy for you because you are used to those temps....we aren't.
btw....tax freedom day is now in July.

Aren't you from Canada?

I am from Canada but we have been here since late October......and I am not used to cold temperatures any more.
I used to go back in mid Dec with Mrs D. But the last time we did that 3 years ago there was about 3 feet of snow at Buffalo airport, cars were all over the side of the road.....they had spun out. When we were about a mile from our house my friend who picked us up couldn't get up the hill. Some guys came to push and I felt guilty so I got out and pushed the car with my light jacket on, no gloves, and summer shoes. All I could think of was "Why am I doing this.....this is insane".
Now Mrs D goes back for 5 days in Dec and Feb., and I stay in Florida........why would I do that when it is usually sunny and bright here?

So you let your wife push cars through the snow in her shorts and flip flops? That’s cruel?

Went to work today and it was so bad that none of the bosses bothered to show up as they figured no one was crazy enough to come out. Boy, were they wrong to underestimate the group of retired workaholics they employ. It was standing room only in the driver’s room.

There was no work to do since none of the offices had made any requests for cars and the dealers wouldn’t accept any deliveries today. The boss said if we wanted a few hours work we could clean the 18” of snow off some cars but seeing that it was -8F with brisk wind we all fled out the door.

Retired workaholics? Kind of a oxymoron isn't it?

stickguy

I’m afraid to do mine this year, but hoping for the best. Though I was going to take a hit on the old rules, losing my last dependent, and the tuition tax credit. Hopefully the new rules make up for that. I believe it will be a wash though with itemizing, since my total was just about equal to the new standard deduction.

berri

Don't disagree that most will have a reduced tax bill, but on a percent reduction basis the wealthy make out better overall. Interesting that as business is getting more familiar with the new tax law, their initial enthusiasm seems to be waning a bit as new investment actually appears to be slowing down.

I feel sorry for your sister and other new doctors as they walk into this mess of multiple insurers, reimbursement rates, so much coding that offices need specialists in just that area, and other varying requirements such as average time with patient measurements. They mostly have to join physician groups because of all the overhead it creates. I don't think this is what they envisioned when they initially spent all that time and money becoming a doctor. I see school overhead rates being driven up too by similar stuff.

dino001

stickguy said:

I’m afraid to do mine this year, but hoping for the best. Though I was going to take a hit on the old rules, losing my last dependent, and the tuition tax credit. Hopefully the new rules make up for that. I believe it will be a wash though with itemizing, since my total was just about equal to the new standard deduction.

Why would you be afraid? The new taxes are actually simpler for those ending with larger std. deduction. The only problem is people set up their witholdings "old way" and did not adjust them, i.e. if they now used 3, 4, 5 exemptions on their W-4, they underpaid the tax. Essentially their paycheck grew too much, reflecting lower rates applied on too much reduced income.

stickguy

Afraid of how big a check I need to write at the end.

28firefighter

So far we're looking good for taxes, but because of our mortgage interest, will still have to itemize which is quite annoying.

stickguy

Why? The tax software just calculates it both ways and spits out the best result. Still have to enter in all the same raw data.

I should go buy that soon and get started. Probably will be getting W2s soon.

Mr_Shiftright

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

"How can I trade my Canadian healthcare for the American system?".....asked no Canadian ever.

Actually Danny Williams, former Premier (think Governor) of Newfoundland, needed a heart bypass and went to the USA for it, paying for it himself. That is not too uncommon given our wait times for orthopaedics as well.

We have TV ads that say you can go to Buffalo (one hour drive) and have MRI's done immediately, instead of waiting for months.

Well the rich can go wherever they wish and just pay for it. The whole point of socialized medicine is not to cater to them of course. If you are poor in America, statistically you will have a shorter life span than a well-to-do person. Of course, there are many factors in that determination.

oldfarmer50

snakeweasel said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

abacomike said:

Lows tomorrow morning are expected to be in the mid to low 40’s down in South Florida accompanied by strong NW winds (15-25 mph) which means wind factor temps in the 30’s.  Thank goodness for heated seats in the car.

Thoughts and prayers for the Floridians freezing in the 40 degree icebox.

Thanks, it is easy for you because you are used to those temps....we aren't.
btw....tax freedom day is now in July.

kyfdx said:

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

abacomike said:

Lows tomorrow morning are expected to be in the mid to low 40’s down in South Florida accompanied by strong NW winds (15-25 mph) which means wind factor temps in the 30’s.  Thank goodness for heated seats in the car.

Thoughts and prayers for the Floridians freezing in the 40 degree icebox.

Thanks, it is easy for you because you are used to those temps....we aren't.
btw....tax freedom day is now in July.

Aren't you from Canada?

I am from Canada but we have been here since late October......and I am not used to cold temperatures any more.
I used to go back in mid Dec with Mrs D. But the last time we did that 3 years ago there was about 3 feet of snow at Buffalo airport, cars were all over the side of the road.....they had spun out. When we were about a mile from our house my friend who picked us up couldn't get up the hill. Some guys came to push and I felt guilty so I got out and pushed the car with my light jacket on, no gloves, and summer shoes. All I could think of was "Why am I doing this.....this is insane".
Now Mrs D goes back for 5 days in Dec and Feb., and I stay in Florida........why would I do that when it is usually sunny and bright here?

So you let your wife push cars through the snow in her shorts and flip flops? That’s cruel?

Went to work today and it was so bad that none of the bosses bothered to show up as they figured no one was crazy enough to come out. Boy, were they wrong to underestimate the group of retired workaholics they employ. It was standing room only in the driver’s room.

There was no work to do since none of the offices had made any requests for cars and the dealers wouldn’t accept any deliveries today. The boss said if we wanted a few hours work we could clean the 18” of snow off some cars but seeing that it was -8F with brisk wind we all fled out the door.

Retired workaholics? Kind of a oxymoron isn't it?

What would you call people who come to work at a job they don’t need when it’s -30 windchill?

dino001

28firefighter said:

So far we're looking good for taxes, but because of our mortgage interest, will still have to itemize which is quite annoying.

You know you don't "have to" itemize, you can always take a std. deduction pay higher tax and save all this time and have a gratitude of your country. Unless Miss Alexandria decides you were still not paying your fair share.. LOL.

oldfarmer50

dino001 said:

stickguy said:

I’m afraid to do mine this year, but hoping for the best. Though I was going to take a hit on the old rules, losing my last dependent, and the tuition tax credit. Hopefully the new rules make up for that. I believe it will be a wash though with itemizing, since my total was just about equal to the new standard deduction.

Why would you be afraid? The new taxes are actually simpler for those ending with larger std. deduction. The only problem is people set up their witholdings "old way" and did not adjust them, i.e. if they now used 3, 4, 5 exemptions on their W-4, they underpaid the tax. Essentially their paycheck grew too much, reflecting lower rates applied on too much reduced income.

1st world problem: “I made so much more money my taxes went up!” LOL

dino001

stickguy said:

Why? The tax software just calculates it both ways and spits out the best result. Still have to enter in all the same raw data.

I should go buy that soon and get started. Probably will be getting W2s soon.

It's good to know the result before, so you can skip it, if std. deduction is the way. Not that hard. Get the receipts and 1099s, add them up in a calculator and see if they exceed the std. deduction. If it's not even close, why bother with the data input. That's what I'll do this year.

ab348

imidazol97 said:

My thermometer on the sill of the storage barn showed -7.5 deg F as the low overnight. Currently the airport is at -2 which is what my Cobalt showed when I drove it to get coffee.

I'm posting this in case any of the Florida or California contingents want to send sympathy. And yes we do have winter coats. They don't help much.

BTW for the NEastern folks, we really lucked out and only got about 3 inches of snow instead of the prediction if there were no rain but all snow of 10-12 inches. I hope all of you did as well.

The storm made its way up here to Atlantic Canada yesterday. It was a very mixed bag depending on where you were. Here on the Atlantic coast we had an inch or two of snow in the morning but that stopped midday and the temp got above freezing. Then around 8PM it began to rain very hard and that continued through the overnight hours (over 2" of rain). I woke up around 0630 and it had stopped by then with temps in the low 40s F. but the temp has been steadily dropping and it is supposed to get into the mid-teens F tonight. No matter as all the rain washed away every bit of the snow that was on the ground plus all the road salt and a good chunk of the snowbanks. It is a pleasant if cloudy day here

Not the same for more inland areas and especially New Brunswick who got hammered with all snow and lots of it. Plus it is already very cold there today. NB is always a miserable spot in the winter.

dino001

oldfarmer50 said:

What would you call people who come to work at a job they don’t need when it’s -30 windchill?

Responsible, dependable, self-actuated.

Mr_Shiftright

dino001 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

What would you call people who come to work at a job they don’t need when it’s -30 windchill?

Responsible, dependable, self-actuated.

Hopefully, my brain surgeon.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

snakeweasel said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

abacomike said:

Lows tomorrow morning are expected to be in the mid to low 40’s down in South Florida accompanied by strong NW winds (15-25 mph) which means wind factor temps in the 30’s.  Thank goodness for heated seats in the car.

Thoughts and prayers for the Floridians freezing in the 40 degree icebox.

Thanks, it is easy for you because you are used to those temps....we aren't.
btw....tax freedom day is now in July.

kyfdx said:

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

abacomike said:

Lows tomorrow morning are expected to be in the mid to low 40’s down in South Florida accompanied by strong NW winds (15-25 mph) which means wind factor temps in the 30’s.  Thank goodness for heated seats in the car.

Thoughts and prayers for the Floridians freezing in the 40 degree icebox.

Thanks, it is easy for you because you are used to those temps....we aren't.
btw....tax freedom day is now in July.

Aren't you from Canada?

I am from Canada but we have been here since late October......and I am not used to cold temperatures any more.
I used to go back in mid Dec with Mrs D. But the last time we did that 3 years ago there was about 3 feet of snow at Buffalo airport, cars were all over the side of the road.....they had spun out. When we were about a mile from our house my friend who picked us up couldn't get up the hill. Some guys came to push and I felt guilty so I got out and pushed the car with my light jacket on, no gloves, and summer shoes. All I could think of was "Why am I doing this.....this is insane".
Now Mrs D goes back for 5 days in Dec and Feb., and I stay in Florida........why would I do that when it is usually sunny and bright here?

So you let your wife push cars through the snow in her shorts and flip flops? That’s cruel?

Went to work today and it was so bad that none of the bosses bothered to show up as they figured no one was crazy enough to come out. Boy, were they wrong to underestimate the group of retired workaholics they employ. It was standing room only in the driver’s room.

There was no work to do since none of the offices had made any requests for cars and the dealers wouldn’t accept any deliveries today. The boss said if we wanted a few hours work we could clean the 18” of snow off some cars but seeing that it was -8F with brisk wind we all fled out the door.

Retired workaholics? Kind of a oxymoron isn't it?

What would you call people who come to work at a job they don’t need when it’s -30 windchill?

CRAZY!

stickguy

dino001 said:

stickguy said:

Why? The tax software just calculates it both ways and spits out the best result. Still have to enter in all the same raw data.

I should go buy that soon and get started. Probably will be getting W2s soon.

It's good to know the result before, so you can skip it, if std. deduction is the way. Not that hard. Get the receipts and 1099s, add them up in a calculator and see if they exceed the std. deduction. If it's not even close, why bother with the data input. That's what I'll do this year.

If I have to do all that, just as easy to type it into the software so I have it if I need it. Pretty much only my mortgage statement isn’t already in there, outside of a few donation receipts. I never figure out threshold items like medical.

imidazol97

dino001 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

What would you call people who come to work at a job they don’t need when it’s -30 windchill?

Responsible, dependable, self-actuated.

That's why so many places like to employ older folks. Most of us have a work ethic.
So many of the youngsters they employ and hope to train to be good workers have teh
attitude that if the employer tells me to do something I don't like, I just hang up my uniform and walk out the door right then and there.

I heard of one young lady working in a trendy mall shop who was needed beccause they were busy and
was asked to take her break later. She quit right then and there.

imidazol97

Someone had recommended a good tax software for home computer a few months back. Was it TurboTax?

I usually lay my stuff out on a spreadsheet on paper with columns to add up for various income categories. Then run things through by hand. But it's too easy to make a mistake and I'd like to have the computer double check me.

I found that most of my sources have downloadable 1099's to import into the tax software. Amazing.

My check through the year is whether I've having as much withheld as I/we owed last year--that way I don't have to pay a penalty. I've already gotten notice of long term capital gains from some income sources. More than last year. That'll cost me.

dino001

stickguy said:

If I have to do all that, just as easy to type it into the software so I have it if I need it. Pretty much only my mortgage statement isn’t already in there, outside of a few donation receipts. I never figure out threshold items like medical.

I'm sure your life is more complicated then mine. I don't really have to calculate anything. I was itemized three years ago, but it was on the bubble, had a std. deduction two years ago, jumped back into the itemizing last year due to the car purchase (added sales tax deduction due to no income tax in FL), but it was barely over, since in the meantime I paid off a decent chunk of my mortgage, I just know I don't have to bother with data input for the deductions.

qbrozen

imidazol97 said:

Someone had recommended a good tax software for home computer a few months back. Was it TurboTax?

I usually lay my stuff out on a spreadsheet on paper with columns to add up for various income categories. Then run things through by hand. But it's too easy to make a mistake and I'd like to have the computer double check me.

I found that most of my sources have downloadable 1099's to import into the tax software. Amazing.

My check through the year is whether I've having as much withheld as I/we owed last year--that way I don't have to pay a penalty. I've already gotten notice of long term capital gains from some income sources. More than last year. That'll cost me.

I used taxact.

This year is going to be quite the challenge given my unemployment and freelance work for the first 9 mos or so.

dino001

imidazol97 said:

dino001 said:

Responsible, dependable, self-actuated.

That's why so many places like to employ older folks. Most of us have a work ethic.
So many of the youngsters they employ and hope to train to be good workers have teh
attitude that if the employer tells me to do something I don't like, I just hang up my uniform and walk out the door right then and there.

I heard of one young lady working in a trendy mall shop who was needed beccause they were busy and
was asked to take her break later. She quit right then and there.

That's quite extreme example. I have an opposite one, just not from this country, it's from Poland, where employment isn't as easy to come by and the "employers" behave like dukes on their exclusive domains. My nephew was employed by this guy as a driver for a delivery network of medical supplies. He was efficient, accurate, always delivered, figured out right routes quickly. It was noticed, the guy gave him what looked like a good opportunity to prove himself as a dispatcher and route handler for other drivers. Things looked up, business looked up. Then the business slowed down, just enough for the guy to panic even it was mostly due to seasonal factors, present essentially every year. It was not first year it happened, yet the guy started acting like the company in is some kind of danger, cut the workforce and fleet (mind you those medical deliveries aren't as simple as it appears, so the drivers need to be well trained). The business picked up in just couple of months, but there were no people to handle that. The guy started pushing extreme amount of work on my nephew, essentially making him work 12+ hour shifts and sending him to work 150+ miles away as a substitute. Would not listen to reason, his mantra was "I'm paying you more than others" The problem was if you broke down that "great pay" per hour, he was making barely over minimum wage. My nephew tried to talk, more than once, he wrote a short email explaining why he can no longer do that schedule and work outside the home location. The guy responds with a rebuff and puts him in retaliation on a "month probation" for a month with looming demotion back to the driver. After a month he wants to extend the "probation". My nephew walked away there and then. I say AND GOOD FOR HIM!

stickguy

I use HR block. Used to be called something else. They are all probably comparable now, but that is the one I am used to (and imports nicely to carry over from prior year)

berri

I believe that due to the shutdown mess, the government has agreed to only apply a withholding penalty below 85%, instead of the usual 90% for this year only. Personally, I think 85% is more reasonable regardless, but I suspect the 90% minimum has been a good revenue generator for Uncle Sam.

dino001

berri said:

I believe that due to the shutdown mess, the government has agreed to only apply a withholding penalty below 85%, instead of the usual 90% for this year only. Personally, I think 85% is more reasonable regardless, but I suspect the 90% minimum has been a good revenue generator for Uncle Sam.

This is not because of the shutdown, but because of the poor communication and lack of compatibility between the old-style "number withholding exemptions" format of the declarations on W-4 with the new double standard deduction and reduced itemized local tax+mortgage deductions. Most people did not adjust their W4s, which was fine for those taking std. deduction before and after, or having small number of the exemptions, but those who had unchanged from last year many exemptions claimed (due to large deduction or number of family dependents) ended up underpaying taxes by fairly large amounts, as new tax withholding rules assumed the person knew what they were doing and applied reduced tax rates on the overly reduced income. So, to make up some numbers, if you claimed say five exemptions ($4100 each = $20.5K), but your deduction is only $12K, the employer was withholding taxes based on assumption that your income is to be reduced by 8 thousand more than it will be. At 22% marginal rate, the potential underpayment is $1760. In biweekly scheme, you paycheck was too large by $67 each in this case. This is my simplified understanding what's happening with W4s.

A lot of people will be for a shock when they file - they will scream bloody murder, saying "I was supposed to pay less", but they actually will, just they took too much credit already. This may even results in much larger tax receipts than anticipated, as I don't think peoples' inaction was accounted properly.

fintail

Reading about how the new generation is lazy and entitled and the brave and wonderful oldsters who did it all with hard work and bootstraps and not by lucky birth are all dynamos who emulated Horatio Alger in their youth never fails to crack me up. Think about it codgers, the oldsters when you were young said the exact same things about you.

fintail

Not just compared to an affluent person, but also shorter lifespans (and lower quality of life) compared to their counterparts in other first world nations. But yeah, the system isn't broken,

Mr_Shiftright said:

Well the rich can go wherever they wish and just pay for it. The whole point of socialized medicine is not to cater to them of course. If you are poor in America, statistically you will have a shorter life span than a well-to-do person. Of course, there are many factors in that determination.

fintail

I've been using TurboTax for several years. Not sure why I chose it, but it has been faultless, and has a simple interface. No real complaints, makes this irritation a little less annoying.

imidazol97 said:

Someone had recommended a good tax software for home computer a few months back. Was it TurboTax?

I usually lay my stuff out on a spreadsheet on paper with columns to add up for various income categories. Then run things through by hand. But it's too easy to make a mistake and I'd like to have the computer double check me.

I found that most of my sources have downloadable 1099's to import into the tax software. Amazing.

My check through the year is whether I've having as much withheld as I/we owed last year--that way I don't have to pay a penalty. I've already gotten notice of long term capital gains from some income sources. More than last year. That'll cost me.

berri

For the younger workers, it may really be about supply v. demand. Right now it is a qualified workers advantage making it easier to move around. As you head toward your 50's the table tends to turn except in upper management positions. Also, the lack of pensions, unions, etc. facilitate turnover of skilled workers. Nothing is really tying them to their employer anymore.

dino001

fintail said:

Reading about how the new generation is lazy and entitled and the brave and wonderful oldsters who did it all with hard work and bootstraps and not by lucky birth are all dynamos who emulated Horatio Alger in their youth never fails to crack me up. Think about it codgers, the oldsters when you were young said the exact same things about you.

LOL. However, I do believe the "Facebook-all-about-me" generation is a little different, mostly because of that technology. Young people, especially teenagers are obnoxious and self-centered by nature, it's almost their job to be, as they try to figure out their place in the world. Fine. The problems start when the environment (Facebook et al.) tells you that it actually is about you, that you get 50 followers and 2000 likes for posting that you just had a great pizza and the bathroom follow up was equally pleasant. That what's wrong - electronic form of littering. Somebody has to build and maintain those network, so those young peoples' deep thoughts are posted and followed. Other than that - it's the same is it always was. Old farts (like me) think they had it hard and the young ones have it all served on a silver platter.

28firefighter

Ha @dino001,yes, I could do that. But I’m not going to. The difference is substantial and I’m not really feeling in a giving mood these days with respect to the government.

fintail

The real estate machine buys the rules that benefit it. I wonder about the real economic cost linked to the endless gifts and subsidies.

dino001 said:

I think the biggest benefit from doing away with large deductions in favor of lower rates is we can finally as a society face up to the true costs of some things like home ownership, or local taxation. Previous tax structure (and possibly future, if this sunsets) created all kinds of wrong incentives and allowed people to delude themselves about their true cost or living. I wish it was done in less partisan way, several of those initiatives did look like an attempt to stick it to the "blue" side of the country just to spite them. I am, however, sympathetic to the argument that those former large local tax and real estate deductions were creating a hidden subsidy to the high tax states. It also allowed real estate machine to pull wool over peoples' eyes how much house really costs. People aren't great in math, so they see couple of thousand bucks saved on taxes and think they got a great gift, what they don't see are those tens of thousands leaking from their wallets to "earn" them those couple of grand. They usually make themselves believe they'd buy such a house anyway at same cost, which is unlikely to be true, as resistance points on the price would have likely been hit much sooner if not for that "but you save on taxes" mantra

fintail

Don't worry, it'll all trickle down. We've been hearing that for 35 years now, it must be just around the corner. So what if economic mobility has faltered and the socio-economic chasm has widened, it doesn't matter!

berri said:

I'm talking percentage wise, not just pure dollar amount.

fintail

After dealing with the costs of a couple ER visits a few years ago (and my insurance is considered to be decent), I am not against the idea of a reverse trade.

I also would like some snow now and then.

Mr_Shiftright said:

"How can I trade my Canadian healthcare for the American system?".....asked no Canadian ever.

However, weather is another story.....

snakeweasel

oldfarmer50 said:

Never heard of this. Anyone else?

https://youtu.be/EUdw4m3AR_k

I would rather the continue the GT.

berri

We'll probably also see the burgeoning gov deficit from the latest tax bill lead to a recession in a couple of years. Seems to be some sort of correlation there or something. The only one that really seemed to workout without kinks was way back in the Kennedy years, but the incremental tax rates were as high as around 70% back then, so it perhaps had more impact to make up for the tax revenue shortfalls. Everyone is all for small gov until something impacts them.

fintail

Yep, many teenagers and those who are teenage-adjacent have a knack for acting self-absorbed and oblivious, and of course knowing it all. 21st century tech just lets them be louder about it. The same as it always was, indeed.

I have no hesitation to say my generation ~25 years ago had it easier than the hyper-competitive and more stratified gong show of today.

dino001 said:

LOL. However, I do believe the "Facebook-all-about-me" generation is a little different, mostly because of that technology. Young people, especially teenagers are obnoxious and self-centered by nature, it's almost their job to be, as they try to figure out their place in the world. Fine. The problems starts when the environment (Facebook et al.) starts telling you that it actually is about you, that you get 50 followers and 2000 likes for posting that you just had a great pizza and the bathroom follow up was equally pleasant. That what's wrong - electronic form of littering. Somebody has to build and maintain those network, so those young peoples' deep thoughts are posted and followed. Other than that - it's the same is it always was. Old farts (like me) think they had it hard and the young ones have it all served on a silver platter.

dino001

fintail said:

After dealing with the costs of a couple ER visits a few years ago (and my insurance is considered to be decent), I am not against the idea of a reverse trade.
I also would like some snow now and then.

Mr_Shiftright said:

"How can I trade my Canadian healthcare for the American system?".....asked no Canadian ever.
However, weather is another story.....

So here is the crazy stuff. I remember watching once a film about Churchill and its issues with polar bears passing by every year and bear attacks that can literally happen inside of town. A story was told of a young lady attacked and they said she was stuck with large medical bills. I was thinking how was that possible if Canada has a free healthcare for citizens and all legal residents in the system, certainly in emergency. Never really got an answer on this. Unless she was an foreign guest, but the story implied she lived there, so it didn't make sense to me. Or perhaps it's about the medical service after she got patched up, physical or psychological therapy? I don't know.

snakeweasel

oldfarmer50 said:

snakeweasel said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

abacomike said:

Lows tomorrow morning are expected to be in the mid to low 40’s down in South Florida accompanied by strong NW winds (15-25 mph) which means wind factor temps in the 30’s.  Thank goodness for heated seats in the car.

Thoughts and prayers for the Floridians freezing in the 40 degree icebox.

Thanks, it is easy for you because you are used to those temps....we aren't.
btw....tax freedom day is now in July.

kyfdx said:

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

abacomike said:

Lows tomorrow morning are expected to be in the mid to low 40’s down in South Florida accompanied by strong NW winds (15-25 mph) which means wind factor temps in the 30’s.  Thank goodness for heated seats in the car.

Thoughts and prayers for the Floridians freezing in the 40 degree icebox.

Thanks, it is easy for you because you are used to those temps....we aren't.
btw....tax freedom day is now in July.

Aren't you from Canada?

I am from Canada but we have been here since late October......and I am not used to cold temperatures any more.
I used to go back in mid Dec with Mrs D. But the last time we did that 3 years ago there was about 3 feet of snow at Buffalo airport, cars were all over the side of the road.....they had spun out. When we were about a mile from our house my friend who picked us up couldn't get up the hill. Some guys came to push and I felt guilty so I got out and pushed the car with my light jacket on, no gloves, and summer shoes. All I could think of was "Why am I doing this.....this is insane".
Now Mrs D goes back for 5 days in Dec and Feb., and I stay in Florida........why would I do that when it is usually sunny and bright here?

So you let your wife push cars through the snow in her shorts and flip flops? That’s cruel?

Went to work today and it was so bad that none of the bosses bothered to show up as they figured no one was crazy enough to come out. Boy, were they wrong to underestimate the group of retired workaholics they employ. It was standing room only in the driver’s room.

There was no work to do since none of the offices had made any requests for cars and the dealers wouldn’t accept any deliveries today. The boss said if we wanted a few hours work we could clean the 18” of snow off some cars but seeing that it was -8F with brisk wind we all fled out the door.

Retired workaholics? Kind of a oxymoron isn't it?

What would you call people who come to work at a job they don’t need when it’s -30 windchill?

Stark raving mad.

berri

I dunno. Got several friends in Canada and they don't seem all that upset with their medical system. They seem to look at it that if isn't an emergency, it may take longer. BUT no screw jobs from insurance companies and their various networks like you can unexpectedly, or uncontrollably end up a victim from in the US. Trade offs I suppose.

henryn

This (below) is not intended to be political, in any way. But it is true, and it does mean the Canadian system is better for the majority of the population.

https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/05/01/this-is-the-no-1-reason-americans-file-for-bankrup.aspx

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), more than a quarter of U.S. adults struggle to pay their medical bills. This includes folks who have insurance, whether independently or through an employer. In fact, medical debt is the No. 1 source of personal bankruptcy filings in the U.S., and in 2014, an estimated 40% of Americans racked up debt resulting from a medical issue.

Now it's not shocking to learn that countless Americans struggle with medical debt, but what is surprising is the extent to which insured individuals have trouble keeping up. Last year, The New York Times reported that 20% of Americans under 65 with health insurance had trouble paying their medical bills over the past year. Of those, 63% claim to have used up all or most of their savings to tackle their healthcare expenses, while 42% took on an extra job to cover their costs.

stickguy

health insurance has changed since the old days, and I don't think a lot of people in these discussions account for that. With high deductible health plans, you still have insurance, but have to cover the first chunk (say, $2,000) out of pocket, before even getting to any partial coverage, and well more before it becomes full coverage. Not everyone can afford that. And that does not even take into account coverage denials, and out of network charges.

driver100

dino001 said:

fintail said:

After dealing with the costs of a couple ER visits a few years ago (and my insurance is considered to be decent), I am not against the idea of a reverse trade.
I also would like some snow now and then.

Mr_Shiftright said:

"How can I trade my Canadian healthcare for the American system?".....asked no Canadian ever.
However, weather is another story.....

So here is the crazy stuff. I remember watching once a film about Churchill and its issues with polar bears passing by every year and bear attacks that can literally happen inside of town. A story was told of a young lady attacked and they said she was stuck with large medical bills. I was thinking how was that possible if Canada has a free healthcare for citizens and all legal residents in the system, certainly in emergency. Never really got an answer on this. Unless she was an foreign guest, but the story implied she lived there, so it didn't make sense to me. Or perhaps it's about the medical service after she got patched up, physical or psychological therapy? I don't know.

Not sure why she would pay anything if she is a Canadian citizen and had been in the country for 7 months over the last year. The only medical bill she may have to pay for is cosmetic surgery but that should be covered if it is the result of an accident, and psychological care but that is often covered too, should be in this case. Maybe the reporter assumed she would be paying for the medical costs.

btw....there are no forms to fill out etc., just show your health card when you visit a doctor or hospital.

PF_Flyer

I'm thinking we can swing back a little closer to the cars in CARS & conversations. As interesting as a lot of things are, we ARE about vehicles here, not taxes and healthcare and all that. Diversions certainly welcome and interesting, but once we get to suggesting there ought to be a taxes discussion... there's your sign

Probably a combination of cabin fever and all those tax prep ads that are everywhere this time of year

Just a gentle nudge from one of your friendly neighborhood moderators!

Carry on!!

isellhondas

Anyone miss me? Didn't think so.

After months of having my password rejected I finally gave up and resigned myself to becoming a part of Edmunds history. Today I decided to give it ONE MORE try and it let me in! Can't possibly catch up at this point. Have I missed anything important?

houdini2

fintail said:

Reading about how the new generation is lazy and entitled and the brave and wonderful oldsters who did it all with hard work and bootstraps and not by lucky birth are all dynamos who emulated Horatio Alger in their youth never fails to crack me up. Think about it codgers, the oldsters when you were young said the exact same things about you.

fintail said:

Reading about how the new generation is lazy and entitled and the brave and wonderful oldsters who did it all with hard work and bootstraps and not by lucky birth are all dynamos who emulated Horatio Alger in their youth never fails to crack me up. Think about it codgers, the oldsters when you were young said the exact same things about you.

MLK once said that some people were so poor they didn't have any bootstraps.

abacomike

isellhondas said:

Anyone miss me? Didn't think so. After months of having my password rejected I finally gave up and resigned myself to becoming a part of Edmunds history. Today I decided to give it ONE MORE try and it let me in! Can't possibly catch up at this point. Have I missed anything important?

Absolutely nothing Isell!  

abacomike

I am so upset with my Mercedes service department (misnomer - certainly service is the wrong word).  They have had the car since Thursday morning.  

They ordered parts and on Friday morning they received incomplete parts - 2 left tracks instead of a left and a right.  Another order for a part is made and it comes in this morning.  The mechanic screws around with the glass sunroof only to find that he missed a part for the frame and now they have to order another overnight part.  I am furious - the mechanic is incompetent - all he had to do is pull up the service manual or bulletin while he was working on the glass and he would have known that a third part was needed.

I had to call to find this out - no one called me to let me know what was happening with my car - it’s 4:30 PM yet I had no update.  I gave the service writer a piece of my mind and insisted he give my car to someone who knows what they are doing.

I also told him that when I get the survey from Mercedes Benz, I am going to show my anger over their incompetence on the survey. I also said I was calling MBUSA to complain about this incompetence.  He begged me not to do that but I told him if I had some communication from him about what was happening I would not have been forced to do this.  :@

PF_Flyer

abacomike said:

I am so upset with my Mercedes service department (misnomer - certainly service is the wrong word).  They have had the car since Thursday morning.  They ordered parts and on Friday morning they received incomplete parts - 2 left tracks instead of a left and a right.  Another order for a part is made and it comes in this morning.  The mechanic screws around with the glass sunroof only to find that he missed a part for the frame and now they have to order another overnight part.  I am furious - the mechanic is incompetent - all he had to do is pull up the service manual or bulletin while he was working on the glass and he would have known that a third part was needed.

That's what our Dealer Ratings & Reviews page is for! Post the same there and they'll likely see it. We get a decent number of dealer comments on reviews consumers post.

28firefighter

PF_Flyer said:

abacomike said:

I am so upset with my Mercedes service department (misnomer - certainly service is the wrong word).  They have had the car since Thursday morning.  They ordered parts and on Friday morning they received incomplete parts - 2 left tracks instead of a left and a right.  Another order for a part is made and it comes in this morning.  The mechanic screws around with the glass sunroof only to find that he missed a part for the frame and now they have to order another overnight part.  I am furious - the mechanic is incompetent - all he had to do is pull up the service manual or bulletin while he was working on the glass and he would have known that a third part was needed.

That's what our Dealer Ratings & Reviews page is for! Post the same there and they'll likely see it. We get a decent number of dealer comments on reviews consumers post.

Nice plug!