Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

ruking1

oldfarmer50 said:

ruking1 said:

explorerx4 said:

Hey oldfarmer50,
I'm now officially part owner of a farm, about 1/3 of 2/3s.
My sister said it's about 8k hectares and it's in Deutschland.
On my mother's side, her family had a farm, but with WW2 and the subsequent iron curtain, it got appropriated.
In the mean time they moved to the other side of the line before it got closed off.
After the fall of the iron curtain and subsequent reunification, land was 'given' back to families who had previously lost it.
It was not the exact property they originally owned.
About 3 years ago, we went there after we fulfilled my mom's wish to have her ashes be deposited in the Baltic Sea(very normal thing over there).
The area is very run down, as is many of the part of the old East Germany.
They have a sign signifying where the old border was, gave me the creeps because I still remember a border guard sticking a machine gun in the car window at my dad's head one time when we were crossing to the East side.

So the nearest I can figure, 8,000 hectors is approximately 19,000 to 19,800 acres ? Your 1/3 being 6,587 acres? What do you plan to do with it? I’m guessing unless you lease it out, it’s a likely money pit? Around here agricultural land tops is $5,000 per acre= $33 M.

Location, location, location. In the country farm land is $5k an acre, in suburbia it’s $50k and near a city it can be $5 million an acre.

Indeed! Are we to take it by the above response that it is currently (a money pit), in need of rehabilitation? Hopefully the tax burden is ridiculously low. It would also be exciting if the properties are located in around and through urban boundaries.

stickguy

I had a couple of rentals on cars I never would have looked at, but was impressed enough to maybe consider. One was a malbu (probably about a 2012) I rented to drive from Philly to Norfolk for work. Did nice job.

the other, back in IIRC the late 90's, was of all things, a Chrysler cloud car (cirrus I think), Brand new (maybe 100 miles on it), and loaded with power everything, moonroof, perf leather seats. Was sharp looking, comfy, pretty quick (I think it was a 6). Compared to what I drove at the time, a real luxury car! It was nice enough that if I had been shopping right then, and the price was good, I could have bought one.

houdini2

henryn said:

I will agree that a base 12 system would allow for better fractions. Myself, personally, I'll take decimals, you can keep the fractions. And when you get right down to it, hexadecimal is much better than base 12, yes?

I have no idea why there are 12 inches in a foot. Quick google search -- usual historical weirdness, no scientific basis.

First Usage of the 12-Inch Foot
The typical roman foot was approximately 11.64 inches which are about 97% of the measurements used today, but in the provinces the people used Nero Drusus’s foot (which was about 13.15 inches long). Initially, the Romans divided their foot into 16-digits, but they later split it into 12 unciae (which in English means ounce or inch).

And don't even get me started on how hard it is to work with 5,280. Sheesh.

But all of that pales in comparison to time. Trying to do time in a computer system is ridiculous. Today's higher level languages make it much easier, but I remember back in 1983 writing a device driver (in x86 assembly language) to deal with a clock built into the motherboard of an IBM Clone pc. The Leading Edge Model M, to be specific. Now that was a challenge!

henryn said:

I will agree that a base 12 system would allow for better fractions. Myself, personally, I'll take decimals, you can keep the fractions. And when you get right down to it, hexadecimal is much better than base 12, yes?

I have no idea why there are 12 inches in a foot. Quick google search -- usual historical weirdness, no scientific basis.

First Usage of the 12-Inch Foot
The typical roman foot was approximately 11.64 inches which are about 97% of the measurements used today, but in the provinces the people used Nero Drusus’s foot (which was about 13.15 inches long). Initially, the Romans divided their foot into 16-digits, but they later split it into 12 unciae (which in English means ounce or inch).

And don't even get me started on how hard it is to work with 5,280. Sheesh.

But all of that pales in comparison to time. Trying to do time in a computer system is ridiculous. Today's higher level languages make it much easier, but I remember back in 1983 writing a device driver (in x86 assembly language) to deal with a clock built into the motherboard of an IBM Clone pc. The Leading Edge Model M, to be specific. Now that was a challenge!

I thought people were smaller in those days. For little guys they sure had big feet.

ab348

houdini2 said:

Here is another idea. It might be possible to just "unhook" the top from all the motors and switches that are not working. Then you could operate the top manually for the few times you might want to or need to.

Back when I had my '64 Skylark convertible it had a power top activated by a hydraulic pump and rams to move the mechanism. On the base Special model it had a manual top, with large assist springs to make it move a little easier. One time the pump failed on my Skylark and it took two of us to move it into place just to lock it down since the rams were not helping and probably actually hurting. I suspect without any counterbalance it would be a bear to move a top like that manually.

roadburner

My store sold about 100 X3s and 4 Series convertibles to Enterprise. When the Enterprise guys came to pick them up hilarity usually ensued. One time I gave a guy a key fob and told him it went with a blue 4 Series convertible; ten minutes later I found him in the midst of our 5, 6, and 7 Series inventory-none of which were blue-forlornly pressing the fob’s unlock button. 

Mr_Shiftright

Best top ever was on a Fiat 124. One hand flip up right from the driver's seat, easy locking. Simplicity of the old days--modern drivers would never consent to manually raise a top.

As things speed up, we speed up. If any of us had to use a rotary phone, we'd be pushing the dial with our fingers and yelling "C'MON!!!"

ab348

Mr_Shiftright said:

As things speed up, we speed up. If any of us had to use a rotary phone, we'd be pushing the dial with our fingers and yelling "C'MON!!!"

I used to have a replica 1940s style black rotary landline phone but instead of twirling the dial to make a call, each of the finger holes was replaced by a button. The novelty wore off fast.

I'd post a picture, but... well, you know.

houdini2

Mr_Shiftright said:

Best top ever was on a Fiat 124. One hand flip up right from the driver's seat, easy locking. Simplicity of the old days--modern drivers would never consent to manually raise a top.

As things speed up, we speed up. If any of us had to use a rotary phone, we'd be pushing the dial with our fingers and yelling "C'MON!!!"

Unless they have changed recently, the Miata is like that.

snakeweasel

explorerx4 said:

https://mycreativetype.com/ It came back that I'm a Dreamer.

I got dreamer too.

snakeweasel

houdini2 said:

I guess summer is early this year - we hit 91 degrees today with high humidity - feels like temp was 99 degrees.  A/C running full blast. 🤪😜😀😩

Yes, but it is snowing in Chicago, etc. When the alarmists changed to name from global warming to climate change it was a stroke of genius. With that term they are right if it gets cooler or warmer. Problem is, if they spend money to fix the cooling, they are making the warming worse. If they fix the warming they are making cooling worse. Nobody wins.

Oh it's snowing, I was wondering what that was. 10 seconds ago:

snakeweasel

oldfarmer50 said:

It's a little hard to render an informed opinion on that old convertible without more information, what repairs have been recommended, the cost of each of those repairs, etc. Depending on what is wrong with it, I would probably either leave it alone and drive it until the wheels fall off, or just get rid of it now.

Here is another idea. It might be possible to just "unhook" the top from all the motors and switches that are not working. Then you could operate the top manually for the few times you might want to or need to.

Unhook, go on the highway.....and watch your roof fly away.

On my vert the latches are manual so that wouldn’t happen which is why I suggested that possibility. Unfortunately, his car was made under the reign of Daimler so of course it was unnecessarily complex which is why I changed my recommendation.

IIRC my car is post Dainler but pre Fiat.

oldfarmer50

ruking1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

RE: Metric System -- it seems to work well for cars at any rate.

I’m not sure what is meant by that. Metric or English seems to be pretty seamless to most people in America.

I like it as metric tools are mentally easier flow to. to 6mm to 20 mm, etc.

Until you try to change your oil and you don’t have the correct metric socket.

oldfarmer50

ruking1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ruking1 said:

explorerx4 said:

Hey oldfarmer50,
I'm now officially part owner of a farm, about 1/3 of 2/3s.
My sister said it's about 8k hectares and it's in Deutschland.
On my mother's side, her family had a farm, but with WW2 and the subsequent iron curtain, it got appropriated.
In the mean time they moved to the other side of the line before it got closed off.
After the fall of the iron curtain and subsequent reunification, land was 'given' back to families who had previously lost it.
It was not the exact property they originally owned.
About 3 years ago, we went there after we fulfilled my mom's wish to have her ashes be deposited in the Baltic Sea(very normal thing over there).
The area is very run down, as is many of the part of the old East Germany.
They have a sign signifying where the old border was, gave me the creeps because I still remember a border guard sticking a machine gun in the car window at my dad's head one time when we were crossing to the East side.

So the nearest I can figure, 8,000 hectors is approximately 19,000 to 19,800 acres ? Your 1/3 being 6,587 acres? What do you plan to do with it? I’m guessing unless you lease it out, it’s a likely money pit? Around here agricultural land tops is $5,000 per acre= $33 M.

Location, location, location. In the country farm land is $5k an acre, in suburbia it’s $50k and near a city it can be $5 million an acre.

Indeed! Are we to take it by the above response that it is currently (a money pit), in need of rehabilitation? Hopefully the tax burden is ridiculously low. It would also be exciting if the properties are located in around and through urban boundaries.

I can’t imagine the taxes in any European country being low, although I understand that at least in France they take pretty good care of farmers. Time to plant some potatoes.

Mr_Shiftright

oldfarmer50 said:

ruking1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

RE: Metric System -- it seems to work well for cars at any rate.

I’m not sure what is meant by that. Metric or English seems to be pretty seamless to most people in America.

I like it as metric tools are mentally easier flow to. to 6mm to 20 mm, etc.

Until you try to change your oil and you don’t have the correct metric socket.

I got me one of those adjustable metric wrenches!

oldfarmer50

roadburner said:

My store sold about 100 X3s and 4 Series convertibles to Enterprise. When the Enterprise guys came to pick them up hilarity usually ensued. One time I gave a guy a key fob and told him it went with a blue 4 Series convertible; ten minutes later I found him in the midst of our 5, 6, and 7 Series inventory-none of which were blue-forlornly pressing the fob’s unlock button. 

We had to move about 40 X3s out of a local dealer last summer. The dealer handed us a bag of key fobs and dismissively told us that they were “out back somewhere”. We found out pretty quickly that the fobs hadn’t been activated and so we had to wander the lot matching VIN # to the key tag. Once we found the cars we also found that BMW doesn’t put ANY gas in new cars so we had to drive across the street on fumes to put in a few gallons so we could make it the 3 miles to our lot.

As to color, a number of our guys are color blind and a blue car would look the same as a black or dark grey. Not knowing the difference between a small SUV and a sedan I’d have to ascribe to senility.

ab348

ruking1 said:

This does not detract from the point that Canada has one of the best socialize medicine schemes around.

Read this (and the comments) and see if that belief still holds true:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/doctor-shortage-cancer-video-nova-scotia-health-yarmouth-ontario-hospital-1.5113552

Canadians generally always used to use the health care system ("the best in the world!") as the hole card to end such debates. But I sense a sea change has occurred among the citizenry in just a short time as the system is falling apart across the country. It is suddenly a mess.

ruking1

Mr_Shiftright said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ruking1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

RE: Metric System -- it seems to work well for cars at any rate.

I’m not sure what is meant by that. Metric or English seems to be pretty seamless to most people in America.

I like it as metric tools are mentally easier flow to. to 6mm to 20 mm, etc.

Until you try to change your oil and you don’t have the correct metric socket.

I got me one of those adjustable metric wrenches!

I’m old school that way. Using the correct socket with correct ft #’s apply with a torque wrench.

Anybody can “fake it”.

oldfarmer50

Mr_Shiftright said:

Best top ever was on a Fiat 124. One hand flip up right from the driver's seat, easy locking. Simplicity of the old days--modern drivers would never consent to manually raise a top.

As things speed up, we speed up. If any of us had to use a rotary phone, we'd be pushing the dial with our fingers and yelling "C'MON!!!"

https://youtu.be/UR1rHKywseI

driver100

houdini2 said:

fintail said:

Ah, the love it or leave it rebuttal. No wonder a certain demographic is so beloved.

Some people might be working as they can to change it.

Thanks

jmonroe1 said:

Given our country is so bad, both with health care and real estate, why are you still here?

jmonroe

Well, jm has a point. That Canadian border is not very far....

What, do you think Canada is like Australia used to be, a place to send your criminals, miscreants and offenders?
We have certain standards too you know.
(brw........this is a general comment, not intended for fintail who I am sure is a fine upstanding citizen)

oldfarmer50

snakeweasel said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

houdini2 said:

henryn said:

It's a little hard to render an informed opinion on that old convertible without more information, what repairs have been recommended, the cost of each of those repairs, etc.

Depending on what is wrong with it, I would probably either leave it alone and drive it until the wheels fall off, or just get rid of it now.

Here is another idea. It might be possible to just "unhook" the top from all the motors and switches that are not working. Then you could operate the top manually for the few times you might want to or need to.

Unhook, go on the highway.....and watch your roof fly away.

On my vert the latches are manual so that wouldn’t happen which is why I suggested that possibility. Unfortunately, his car was made under the reign of Daimler so of course it was unnecessarily complex which is why I changed my recommendation.

IIRC my car is post Dainler but pre Fiat.

Daimler sold Chrysler in May of 2007 which means the design of your 2008 was part of the 2007 redesign of the Sebring under their leadership.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

and they kept building Impalas as rental cars. Once again it is looking at the small picture. When you rent a stripper (I mean a bare bones car here) you are not impressed and would never consider buying one. If you rent a car you really like, there is a chance you will consider buying one, especially if yo are a person who is not driven by a particular brand.

Continuing the Classic Impala production was smart because it helped keep lines operating that had paid for themselves. The same was done with the Malibu and, I believe, the Cruze.

driver100 said:

When you rent a stripper (I mean a bare bones car here) you are not impressed and would never consider buying one. If you rent a car you really like, there is a chance you will consider buying one, especially if yo are a person who is not driven by a particular brand.

Frankly, I disagree. I don't see a Mercedes owner liking a Gen 8 Malibu because they are comparing it to their C400. I wouldn't either. I'm rather limited because I think in terms of regular sedans and not SUVs.

So Perhaps an Equinox rental or an Envision rental would capture an alien owner looking for a similar replacement vehicle.

I did have a rental Malibu a few years ago...probably last generation. I was pleasantly surprised at the content etc. considering the price etc. No, it didn't make me want to run out and buy one, but, if I knew someone looking for a car in that category I would have mentioned they should consider a Malibu.

driver100

Mr_Shiftright said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ruking1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

RE: Metric System -- it seems to work well for cars at any rate.

I’m not sure what is meant by that. Metric or English seems to be pretty seamless to most people in America.

I like it as metric tools are mentally easier flow to. to 6mm to 20 mm, etc.

Until you try to change your oil and you don’t have the correct metric socket.

I got me one of those adjustable metric wrenches!

Don't they sell adjustable "Old English Measurement" style wrenches?

oldfarmer50

Just got an innovative scam call. The answering machine cut off the first part but what I heard was that “my account” was going to be debited $399 unless I called to cancel my “subscription”.

I assume that when the victim calls back to inquire what subscription he is asked for a credit/debit number and the crook is off to the races.

Pretty clever actually. Much better that the IRS demanding Walmart gift cards.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

roadburner said:

My store sold about 100 X3s and 4 Series convertibles to Enterprise. When the Enterprise guys came to pick them up hilarity usually ensued. One time I gave a guy a key fob and told him it went with a blue 4 Series convertible; ten minutes later I found him in the midst of our 5, 6, and 7 Series inventory-none of which were blue-forlornly pressing the fob’s unlock button. 

. Once we found the cars we also found that BMW doesn’t put ANY gas in new cars so we had to drive across the street on fumes to put in a few gallons so we could make it the 3 miles to our lot..

Costs more to ship if all the cars are filled up with gas!

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

Just got an innovative scam call. The answering machine cut off the first part but what I heard was that “my account” was going to be debited $399 unless I called to cancel my “subscription”.

I assume that when the victim calls back to inquire what subscription he is asked for a credit/debit number and the crook is off to the races.
.

Gotta give them credit for creativity......that is a clever one. Almost makes me want to call back to see how they handle my call.

ruking1

The first new tires 5000 miles rotation was performed on the 2014 MB GLK 250 BT @ app 81,000 miles. So far the tires & alignment are spot on. A free dealer car wash should clean up a 420 miles mountain (snow) trip & 270 miles week of commuting.

driver100

My 59 Sprite had a convertible top like this one;

Imagine trying to put that up when it rained.....and doing it before the rain stopped. First you had to fish it out of the big cave behind the seats...no trunk lid.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

roadburner said:

My store sold about 100 X3s and 4 Series convertibles to Enterprise. When the Enterprise guys came to pick them up hilarity usually ensued. One time I gave a guy a key fob and told him it went with a blue 4 Series convertible; ten minutes later I found him in the midst of our 5, 6, and 7 Series inventory-none of which were blue-forlornly pressing the fob’s unlock button. 

. Once we found the cars we also found that BMW doesn’t put ANY gas in new cars so we had to drive across the street on fumes to put in a few gallons so we could make it the 3 miles to our lot..

Costs more to ship if all the cars are filled up with gas!

Chrysler gives you 1/4 tank. Ford gives you about 40 miles worth.

Mr_Shiftright

driver100 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ruking1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

RE: Metric System -- it seems to work well for cars at any rate.

I’m not sure what is meant by that. Metric or English seems to be pretty seamless to most people in America.

I like it as metric tools are mentally easier flow to. to 6mm to 20 mm, etc.

Until you try to change your oil and you don’t have the correct metric socket.

I got me one of those adjustable metric wrenches!

Don't they sell adjustable "Old English Measurement" style wrenches?

Whitworth wrenches---yes I have a set of those!

ruking1

ab348 said:

ruking1 said:

This does not detract from the point that Canada has one of the best socialize medicine schemes around.

Read this (and the comments) and see if that belief still holds true:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/doctor-shortage-cancer-video-nova-scotia-health-yarmouth-ontario-hospital-1.5113552

Canadians generally always used to use the health care system ("the best in the world!") as the hole card to end such debates. But I sense a sea change has occurred among the citizenry in just a short time as the system is falling apart across the country. It is suddenly a mess.

Given the principle that “sooner or later socialism run out of other peoples’ money”, AH....NO! Information has been slowly leaking out (for decades) about structural flaws, serious cracks‘ & flaws, errors, omissions & almost Wild West medical lethality in the socialistic Canadian medical systems.

It’s inexplicable why US folks want to “socialize” the US medical systems, when, for example 4 of the “best” USA SOCIALISTIC examples, VA, Medicare, Medicaid, Indian Affairs have been/are “problematic @ best & for a very, very long time. Now the very BEST socialistic systems, the US military & military treatment of Congress & their families, remains by most accounts rated very high, except for a few areas. It serves .00415 % of the US population.

I just had a old dear friend (dual citizenship USA/Norway) recently go through a cluster “grove” of serious (socialistic) medical foul ups. I also follow a CN MD. (practicing for 15 years+) have to deal with the same frustrating CN system to get non standard treatment for the MD’s rare degenerative eye disease.

On the other hand, one of my cousins’ boys (38 years old) just went to the University of Toronto, CN to study under (fellowship) one of the worlds foremost pediatric neurosurgeons. Go figure.

snakeweasel

Mr_Shiftright said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ruking1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

RE: Metric System -- it seems to work well for cars at any rate.

I’m not sure what is meant by that. Metric or English seems to be pretty seamless to most people in America.

I like it as metric tools are mentally easier flow to. to 6mm to 20 mm, etc.

Until you try to change your oil and you don’t have the correct metric socket.

I got me one of those adjustable metric wrenches!

I have a metric screwdriver set that I am willing to part with for the right amount, and I'll throw in a left handed hammer.

ruking1

snakeweasel said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ruking1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

RE: Metric System -- it seems to work well for cars at any rate.

I’m not sure what is meant by that. Metric or English seems to be pretty seamless to most people in America.

I like it as metric tools are mentally easier flow to. to 6mm to 20 mm, etc.

Until you try to change your oil and you don’t have the correct metric socket.

I got me one of those adjustable metric wrenches!

I have a metric screwdriver set that I am willing to part with for the right amount, and I'll throw in a left handed hammer.

Oh yes, that reminds me of the metric skyhooks that we used to use in tanker, bomber, and fighter aviation.

snakeweasel

ruking1 said:

ab348 said:

ruking1 said:

This does not detract from the point that Canada has one of the best socialize medicine schemes around.

Read this (and the comments) and see if that belief still holds true:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/doctor-shortage-cancer-video-nova-scotia-health-yarmouth-ontario-hospital-1.5113552

Canadians generally always used to use the health care system ("the best in the world!") as the hole card to end such debates. But I sense a sea change has occurred among the citizenry in just a short time as the system is falling apart across the country. It is suddenly a mess.

Given the principle that “sooner or later one run out of other peoples money”, ah...no. Its been slowly leaking out there are serious cracks‘ & flaws in the socialistic Canadian medical system. It’s inexplicable why folks want to socialize US medical systems, when two of the “best” examples, VA, Medicare have been/are “problematic @ best & for a very long time.

I just had a old dear friend (dual citizen USA/Norway) recently go through a cluster grove of serious (socialistic) medical foul ups. I also follow a CN MD practicing for 15 years+ have to deal with the same CN system to get non standard treatment for a rare degenerative eye disease.

The one thing people don't realize is the level of spending for many countries these days is unsustainable and things will go south if this isn't addressed.

graphicguy

sda said:

graphicguy said:

RENTAL CARS.....I rent A LOT of cars. Probably not as many as I did 2-3 years ago with the availability of Lyft and Uber. But, traveling 3 weeks out of every month, there are times when dealing with flaky Uber drivers (a whole other story for another time) just isn’t conducive to having a productive work day when traveling.

Mainly, my company rents from Hertz. We use Avis as a backup. But, for some inexplicable reason, Avis hasn’t been competitive with their rates for the last couple of years.

Hertz takes pretty good care of their cars. I see service stickers in all of them, and agree that they probably are better at maintenance than at least ½ the driving public is with their personal cars.

Since I rent so much, they do upgrade me to either a car that has lower miles (and sometimes into their premium lux selection), or a class or two above what we usually get.

They don’t mess too much with smaller imperfections (like paint chips, minor scrapes, etc). But, if anything is more noticeable, they fix it. The big one was getting a smoker’s car. I don’t care how much they tried to mask or eliminate the smoke smell, it’s impossible to get rid of it out of cloth upholstery. They’ve eliminated that by not allowing smoking in any of their cars in recent years.

I’d buy a rental.

BTW.....when upgraded, that’s how I decide which cars I would buy as my personal car. I’ve been able to drive CLA and C Class rentals. I’ve driven Corollas, Camrys, and 4-runners. Lots is Nissan Products (which makes up my opinions on the Versa being one of the worst cars I’ve ever driven). I actually rented a Smart Car while traveling in Europe on a business trip. Apparently, EU countries love them. They’re garbage.....not even worth the cheap price they go for.

Lastly, I rented a Fiat 500 in Boston a few months, ago. Yes, it handled fine. It was a bit slow, but still fun to drive. If Fiat could ever get their act together and make a well built, and reliable car, it would be a hit.

Wow, I had no idea you traveled that extensively. When do you find time for yourself and maintain your sanity?

That’s one of the results of telecommuting. I travel to my company’s Bay Area HQ a couple times a year. I report out of our large office in Austin TX....there once every couple of months. We have a large engineering office in Mississauga Canada, which I travel to every couple of months. I have staff that reports to me in Detroit, New York, Orlando, and Houston...That I try to meet with regularly. Then, I do customer visits.

Probably 50% of my travel is actually day trips. For example, I can get to Chicago for customer visits by 7:00 a.m. and be waiting at O’Hare for my trip home no later than about 7:00 p.m. But, that’s only with a rental car.

If I’m staying in a particular area (like in Canada) for a few days, I rent a car.

That’s becoming less and less, though. If I don’t have a tight schedule, I do use Uber and Lyft. I try to stay in hotels near where I need to be to minimize the amount of time and distance I need to travel, too.

snakeweasel

ruking1 said:

snakeweasel said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ruking1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

RE: Metric System -- it seems to work well for cars at any rate.

I’m not sure what is meant by that. Metric or English seems to be pretty seamless to most people in America.

I like it as metric tools are mentally easier flow to. to 6mm to 20 mm, etc.

Until you try to change your oil and you don’t have the correct metric socket.

I got me one of those adjustable metric wrenches!

I have a metric screwdriver set that I am willing to part with for the right amount, and I'll throw in a left handed hammer.

Oh yes, that reminds me of the metric skyhooks that we used to use in tanker, bomber, and fighter aviation.

I remember shyhooks, we used to keep them next to the shore lines and the relative bearing grease.

graphicguy

Has anyone seen any of the new “Wheeler Dealer” episodes? I see them advertised, and I have them scheduled to be recorded on Motor Trend channel, but all I’m getting are the old episodes.

ruking1

houdini2 said:

If our latest batch of "new socialists" ever get in office, they might not be bold enough yet to start taking control of private businesses, but you can bet your last dollar that they would use all sorts or regulations and red tape to strangle or transform any type of business they did not like, similar to what they did with the coal industry. Think ICE (engines), arms mfg, healthcare, education, etc.

The small business (government) agency use to be the keeper of 75% failure statistic of small businesses FAILING by 5 years. 😱😩 Nowadays, they are proud to report that it has gone up to 85% !👺😱

There is no doubt that the coal industry has gone through storms like no other. But I think like Germany, they will have a new market on COAL because of the new electrical grid UPGRADES, and electrical car, & building self sufficiency phenomenons. In CA, its starting to happen with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company(PG& E) bankruptcies. So basically, like the airlines, the (unnecessary) debt loads are being cleared, so that the new company can continue to so called operate. Of course the price per kWh is going through the roof.

Michaell

graphicguy said:

Has anyone seen any of the new “Wheeler Dealer” episodes? I see them advertised, and I have them scheduled to be recorded on Motor Trend channel, but all I’m getting are the old episodes.

I've watched both episodes of the new season.

ab348

graphicguy said:

Has anyone seen any of the new “Wheeler Dealer” episodes? I see them advertised, and I have them scheduled to be recorded on Motor Trend channel, but all I’m getting are the old episodes.

We don't get them on Velocity (not MT here, at least not yet) for a few months after they air in the US. Why, I do not know, but it seems pretty common with most of those specialty cable channels like HGTV too. They all have Canadian counterparts that are slightly different due to federal broadcasting laws here. When Speed went away in the US a few years ago to be replaced with Fox Sports 1 & 2, the govt would not allow that change here. So we still have a Speed equivalent here, except it is called Fox Sports Racing and is a bizarre mix of live auto racing programming from FS1 and 2 plus the old reruns of Speed original programing like "Are You Faster Than a Redneck", oh joy.

I watch the new WD episodes when they air but I find I don't ever watch them again, unlike the older ones.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

roadburner said:

My store sold about 100 X3s and 4 Series convertibles to Enterprise. When the Enterprise guys came to pick them up hilarity usually ensued. One time I gave a guy a key fob and told him it went with a blue 4 Series convertible; ten minutes later I found him in the midst of our 5, 6, and 7 Series inventory-none of which were blue-forlornly pressing the fob’s unlock button. 

. Once we found the cars we also found that BMW doesn’t put ANY gas in new cars so we had to drive across the street on fumes to put in a few gallons so we could make it the 3 miles to our lot..

Costs more to ship if all the cars are filled up with gas!

Chrysler gives you 1/4 tank. Ford gives you about 40 miles worth.

But, they're not shipped on a ship!

driver100

snakeweasel said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ruking1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

RE: Metric System -- it seems to work well for cars at any rate.

I’m not sure what is meant by that. Metric or English seems to be pretty seamless to most people in America.

I like it as metric tools are mentally easier flow to. to 6mm to 20 mm, etc.

Until you try to change your oil and you don’t have the correct metric socket.

I got me one of those adjustable metric wrenches!

I have a metric screwdriver set that I am willing to part with for the right amount, and I'll throw in a left handed hammer.

I'd be interested in buying it if it wasn't for the left handed hammer.....since I am right handed!

sda

We are having a beautiful sun filled weekend, a nice break from the successive rainy weekends recently.  It gave me the chance to give the TL a decent wax.  This pic doesn't capture the pearl in the paint.

oldfarmer50

graphicguy said:

Has anyone seen any of the new “Wheeler Dealer” episodes? I see them advertised, and I have them scheduled to be recorded on Motor Trend channel, but all I’m getting are the old episodes.

Having just discovered that’s show I can’t be sure they’re old or new but they have a line up on Motor Trend (formerly Velocity).

tjc78

@sda
Looks great! I love a white car.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

roadburner said:

My store sold about 100 X3s and 4 Series convertibles to Enterprise. When the Enterprise guys came to pick them up hilarity usually ensued. One time I gave a guy a key fob and told him it went with a blue 4 Series convertible; ten minutes later I found him in the midst of our 5, 6, and 7 Series inventory-none of which were blue-forlornly pressing the fob’s unlock button. 

. Once we found the cars we also found that BMW doesn’t put ANY gas in new cars so we had to drive across the street on fumes to put in a few gallons so we could make it the 3 miles to our lot..

Costs more to ship if all the cars are filled up with gas!

Chrysler gives you 1/4 tank. Ford gives you about 40 miles worth.

But, there not shipped on a ship!

Also, it came to me that shipping a Euro built car to the states with Euro spec gas might be prohibited by US environmental laws.

explorerx4

I saw part of an episode with an orange VW Type 3. I think that is one of the new ones.

oldfarmer50

sda said:

We are having a beautiful sun filled weekend, a nice break from the successive rainy weekends recently.  It gave me the chance to give the TL a decent wax.  This pic doesn't capture the pearl in the paint.

I’m jealous that cars don’t rust where you are.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

sda said:

We are having a beautiful sun filled weekend, a nice break from the successive rainy weekends recently.  It gave me the chance to give the TL a decent wax.  This pic doesn't capture the pearl in the paint.

I’m jealous that cars don’t rust where you are.

The TL looks like new and the white does it justice.
I don't see very many rusted out cars anymore.......at least the body. Cars don't last nearly as long in the north...salt, snow, dirt, chemicals, whatever, but, the bodies don't seem to rust out for many years.

imidazol97

Just renewed my SiriusXM. Another endurance test. Each time I said I want to cancel unless they can reasonably match the 5 month promo I was on.
First person had trouble finding my account. But said the promo was not available.
Second person tried to sell me again on something else. I said if they look at the time that car spent listening on XM during the last 5 months, I don't drive it much and not a lot of time is spent on XM. If they couldn't renew, I'd put music on my phone and my USB and use those. Otherwise CANCEL.

Third person

Said he could help me when I went through same spiel.

Someone else on here renewed for a longer term than 5 months but at what seemed a similar rate. I should have looked it up or asked before calling so I could have asked about that rate.

But the third person did have a rate similar to what I wanted at about a dollar more per month. Great.

The other poster had an easy time renewing. Am I just being treated badly by SiriusXM because I own a GM car?

imidazol97

oldfarmer50 said:

Until you try to change your oil and you don’t have the correct metric socket.

I recommend Harbor Freight. Sign up for email and get one of their 20% off coupons, sometimes 25% off around holidays, and buy a set of metrics.

I just needed a 22 for my lug nuts on the Malibu and found out they don't sell separately in that size deep socket.

I should have bought a set when I bought the 19 mm for the lug nuts on the Cobalt and leSabre...

Found a padded lug nut socket at Autozone, however. So it worked out.