Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

snakeweasel

Sandman6472 said:

My legal name is Sanford but only my dad used it when he was angry with me. To everyone else, Sandy or "Sandy with a Y". Kids were easy, I named the 1st, wife the 2nd and me, the 3rd.
Stacy
Jody
Andrew but I call him "Drew" and it just stuck. Really waned it to be "AJ" as his middle name is Jason but I was vetoed on that.

My name happens to be Andrew with the middle initial of J. Many people have tried to call me Drew and AJ, when they do I simply ignore them.

bwia

qbrozen said:

Giuliana is traditional? Never heard that name before that I can recall.

I'm on board with despising when standard names are spelled differently. Always makes me wonder why the parents hate the kid so much as to torture him/her for the rest of their life having to explain EVERY DAMNED TIME how to spell it. What's worse is that the younger generation has gotten to where they can't even pronounce normal names because they are expecting them to be different. There is actually a great skit about this very thing.

Unfortunately, I have one of those old-fashioned first names. I hardly use it, instead I use my last name which is easy peasy.

28firefighter

We really do cover every topic here.

ab348

My given name is Gregory, which my mom once told me was in honor of Gregory Peck. I guess she liked his movies. Could be worse I suppose. Funny thing is, for decades people who met me for the first time often took me for a Glen or Glenn. It was weird. They absorbed the first letter of the name but then zoned out and came up with those when they had to recall it.

A lady I used to work with recently had her first child, a girl. They named her "Blaire", which causes me to cringe every time I see it spelled out. One of those ye olde spellings mayhap?

fintail

Ha, I pitch that one to my sister all the time, and she gives me an evil eye. Even better as her name is Jennifer, a trendy 70s/80s girls name I suppose.

tjc78 said:

My niece is Mallory,

That one reminds me of Family Ties

venture

When I was a kid there was a family nearby whose last name was Leer. They had a daughter and they named her Crystal. Nothing wrong so far, but her middle name was Shanda.

venture

I got a check in the mail today from HALE V. STATE FARM. Anyone else?

Evidently State Farm used non-OEM parts for repairs and were sued for it. I haven't had State Farm for about 15 years.

Michaell

When I was working in college, I had a lady buy some shoes from the store I worked at.

Name on the check was Mary Christmas.

Always wondered if she had a brother named Noel.

abacomike

When we named our son back in 1971, we wanted the name to begin with "J" because we wanted to name him after my great uncle Joe (Joseph) - but there were too many Joseph's in our family - so we settled on "Justin", an unusual name 48 years ago. But in the past 25 years, it's become more common.

@28firefighter: you are right - we really do hit on just about any and every topic. Dishwashers are due to come around again for the 30th or 40th time. The season for shovels and snowblowers is fast approaching, as well. 🤪😜

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

When we named our son back in 1971, we wanted the name to begin with "J" because we wanted to name him after my great uncle Joe (Joseph) - but there were too many Joseph's in our family - so we settled on "Justin", an unusual name 48 years ago. But in the past 25 years, it's become more common.

@28firefighter: you are right - we really to hit on just about any and every topic. Dishwashers are due to come around again for the 30th or 40th time. The season for shovels and snowblowers is fast approaching, as well. 🤪😜

Your sons name is Justin? Oh please tell us your surname is Case.

qbrozen

venture said:

I got a check in the mail today from HALE V. STATE FARM. Anyone else?

Evidently State Farm used non-OEM parts for repairs and were sued for it. I haven't had State Farm for about 15 years.

Lemme guess .... 18 cents a coupon for $100 off your next accident?

venture

qbrozen said:

venture said:

I got a check in the mail today from HALE V. STATE FARM. Anyone else?

Evidently State Farm used non-OEM parts for repairs and were sued for it. I haven't had State Farm for about 15 years.

Lemme guess .... 18 cents a coupon for $100 off your next accident?

LOL. Exactly what you would think.

It's actually for $104.38. No funny wording where you endorse it and a Goggle search does not turn up anything sinister.

jmonroe1

abacomike said:

When we named our son back in 1971, we wanted the name to begin with "J" because we wanted to name him after my great uncle Joe (Joseph) - but there were too many Joseph's in our family - so we settled on "Justin", an unusual name 48 years ago. But in the past 25 years, it's become more common.

@28firefighter: you are right - we really to hit on just about any and every topic. Dishwashers are due to come around again for the 30th or 40th time. The season for shovels and snowblowers is fast approaching, as well. 🤪😜

Only someone who lives in south Florida would think that's funny. :@ :@

jmonroe

stickguy

sometimes you can get lucky on those class action suits. My BIL and SIL told us that about a year or 2 ago, they got some notice (or saw someplace) that the pet food brand they used settled some suit (abut ingredients or some such). I think it was Blue Buffalo. So, they got the usual complicated forms basically stating there was $x.xx in the pool to be distributed to all qualifying claimants. But, you needed to fill out the forms, and send in proof of purchase. He said it was a bit of a hassle, but did it anyway. Had to dig back for receipts (not sure how he came up with what they wanted) but I guess the paperwork was good enough, because they sent it in and the lawyers accepted it.

they kinda forgot all about it, and one day a check arrived for over $1,000 (more than they even had receipts for). Turns out, so few people actually met all the submission requirements, that they had money left in the settlement, which got disbursed to all valid claimants (apparently not many!). So, a big windfall.

he was please with making about $500/hour on the process.

Me, I do it and get the $1.25 and free taco coupon.

jmonroe1

snakeweasel said:

abacomike said:

When we named our son back in 1971, we wanted the name to begin with "J" because we wanted to name him after my great uncle Joe (Joseph) - but there were too many Joseph's in our family - so we settled on "Justin", an unusual name 48 years ago. But in the past 25 years, it's become more common.

@28firefighter: you are right - we really to hit on just about any and every topic. Dishwashers are due to come around again for the 30th or 40th time. The season for shovels and snowblowers is fast approaching, as well. 🤪😜

Your sons name is Justin? Oh please tell us your surname is Case.

Close, but I think his surname is Time.

jmonroe

stickguy

Hey, JM, you are a construction guy. How hard is it to install a pre-hung interior door? Can any fool with a 4' long level handle it?

abacomike

I cannot remember a summer/fall season down here that has been this hot and humid. It's been in the 90's every day these past few weeks. I can't wait for the first cold front of the season to settle in to south Florida. We sure could use the cool weather.

driver100

abacomike said:

I cannot remember a summer/fall season down here that has been this hot and humid. It's been in the 90's every day these past few weeks. I can't wait for the first cold front of the season to settle in to south Florida. We sure could use the cool weather.

Thanks for the heads up....we fly down to Tampa area tomorrow. It has been a great October here for October....no frost yet which is very unusual. Trees just starting to change colors....usually they are finished by now. Temp should be around 60F tomorrow....so maybe I won't see any snow this winter......I still have 50% to go hoping there won't be snow when we get back in April....though it usually does once or twice during the month.

imidazol97

abacomike said:

I cannot remember a summer/fall season down here that has been this hot and humid. It's been in the 90's every day these past few weeks. I can't wait for the first cold front of the season to settle in to south Florida. We sure could use the cool weather.

Don't come to my door for sympathy. Soon we'll have 15 degree F and 20 mph winds blowing in. Enjoy every degree while you've got it.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

I cannot remember a summer/fall season down here that has been this hot and humid. It's been in the 90's every day these past few weeks. I can't wait for the first cold front of the season to settle in to south Florida. We sure could use the cool weather.

Thanks for the heads up....we fly down to Tampa area tomorrow. It has been a great October here for October....no frost yet which is very unusual. Trees just starting to change colors....usually they are finished by now. Temp should be around 60F tomorrow....so maybe I won't see any snow this winter......I still have 50% to go hoping there won't be snow when we get back in April....though it usually does once or twice during the month.

Speaking of flying. Our friends fly to FLL tomorrow. I had to print out their boarding passes on their computer.

Their son and Sig Oth will fly back to Columbus with them in 10 days. Then drive the car of the Sig Oth's parents back to south Florida. The car? A SMART car.

I don't envy their drive at all. I think I'd have had it trucked down for her parents. They want that car at their winter place.

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

fintail said:

I thought all kids these days were given names in variations on the trite "aiden" naming convention, or replacing any vowels with the letter "y".

I dread the non conventional name spelling. My parents didn’t want to name me Bradley or Bradford, so they named me Bradd. I’m 43 years old and people still don’t spell my name properly.

Lol - My niece and nephew (wife’s brother’s kids) are Madison and Aidan. Very popular. Very funny with the “Y.” I can see someone trying to be “different” and name their kid Aydan or Aidyn. Works with Madyson too.

My other niece (sister’s kid) is Isabella. Up there with popular names every year like Sophia (Sophya).

I have relatives where the parents both have names that start with M. So they names all 4 of their kids with M names. They started off “trendy different” with Mason, then went down hill from there. Madden, Maclain (from Die Hard?), and Myla. They went for the 4th wanting a girl so bad. I thought they’d get a boy for sure and would name him Myles.

I know of someone who has a son named “winter.” A friend told me his son has a friend named “Merrick.”

My niece named her kid Winter.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

Hey, JM, you are a construction guy. How hard is it to install a pre-hung interior door? Can any fool with a 4' long level handle it?

Sorry to butt in on JM but pre hung doors are a snap. Get some shims too.

oldfarmer50

abacomike said:

I cannot remember a summer/fall season down here that has been this hot and humid. It's been in the 90's every day these past few weeks. I can't wait for the first cold front of the season to settle in to south Florida. We sure could use the cool weather.

BIL in St. Cloud says it’s in the mid 80s near him which is just where he likes it. Maybe it takes a while for the cool to get to you.

imidazol97

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

Hey, JM, you are a construction guy. How hard is it to install a pre-hung interior door? Can any fool with a 4' long level handle it?

Sorry to butt in on JM but pre hung doors are a snap. Get some shims too.

Look for videos on youtube or on Ask This Old House's site.

jmonroe1

stickguy said:

Hey, JM, you are a construction guy. How hard is it to install a pre-hung interior door? Can any fool with a 4' long level handle it?

Funny you should ask. On Son #1's flip house we installed 4 pre-hung 6 panel doors to replace the plain slab doors that were in bad shape in all the bedrooms. One of the bedrooms was a total gut job the door for that room was the easiest because it was framed by experts (us). Also, we did 2 bathrooms and two metal pre-hung jobs (outside front door and door leading into house from the garage). I also did a few before this flip house, so I think I have some experience doing this.

It's relatively easy but like anything there are some tips/tricks that come in handy. One thing that a lot of people do that is TOTALLY WRONG. DO NOT REMOVE THE DOOR FROM THE JAM and DON'T REMOVE THE PLASTIC PLUG THAT HOLDS THE DOOR IN THE JAM UNTILL THE DOOR IS HUNG CORRECTLY.

It is too involved to explain all of it here so I would go on line to see how it's done. And yes, a 4 foot level is good to insure the vertical sides are plumb but a torpedo or 2 foot level should be used at the top to check for level. You probably have all the tools needed but probably not the shims that will definitely be needed for the sides and top. Shims are cheap and if you are doing only one door, one package should be enough but buy 2 packs, they could come in handy for other work.

If after going to YouTube you have any questions, you have my number.

FWIW, a couple were cruising the neighborhood 30 minutes ago and wanted to see it. I told them it was not completely done but they could come in if they wanted to. They were very insistent about seeing it.The guy retired about 3 months ago and they want to get out of their two story house ASAP (the flip is a ranch). For being older I would have thought the woman would know better than to gush about almost everything. It is essentially a new house on the inside. All new doors, and woodwork, laminate floor in the living room, dining room and kitchen. Pretty nice carpeting for the 4 bedrooms and new windows. Oh, the 1original bathroom and the bathroom we put in has all new fixtures and tile floors and around tub and shower. The kitchen is also new with new stainless steel appliances. New vinyl siding too. Like his mother told him, if he doesn't get his price she'll buy it and use it as a get away retreat from me. Should be on the market in about 6 weeks.

jmonroe

venture

stickguy said:

sometimes you can get lucky on those class action suits. My BIL and SIL told us that about a year or 2 ago, they got some notice (or saw someplace) that the pet food brand they used settled some suit (abut ingredients or some such). I think it was Blue Buffalo. So, they got the usual complicated forms basically stating there was $x.xx in the pool to be distributed to all qualifying claimants. But, you needed to fill out the forms, and send in proof of purchase. He said it was a bit of a hassle, but did it anyway. Had to dig back for receipts (not sure how he came up with what they wanted) but I guess the paperwork was good enough, because they sent it in and the lawyers accepted it.

they kinda forgot all about it, and one day a check arrived for over $1,000 (more than they even had receipts for). Turns out, so few people actually met all the submission requirements, that they had money left in the settlement, which got disbursed to all valid claimants (apparently not many!). So, a big windfall.

he was please with making about $500/hour on the process.

Me, I do it and get the $1.25 and free taco coupon.

I didn't do anything. According to the web site you had to opt out. I didn't. I'm pretty sure I just threw it away.

What the hay. A hundred bucks is a hundred bucks.

stickguy

Thanks OF and JM. I have seen it done on TV and it seems like one of those easy to do but also really easy to screw up jobs. So having correct tools and knowing the tricks, and taking your time on the first one, should be enough. Putting the casing trim on right is probably harder.

we actually have 9 total, so paying to have it done will add up. Got one quote that was higher than expected so daughter reached out to the guy that did her floors and new baseboards (guy was a maestro at that) who said that he does other stuff and has family that does more too.

Might pick one up and do a practice run on the spare bedroom closet, so if we screw it up, don't have much invested in it.

Biggest worry is the crappy plaster walls that like to crumble. Plus no clue what the framing is going to look like under there!

houdini2

stickguy said:

He named his daughter after an Italian car. Nothing wrong with that!

He named his daughter after President Trump's lawyer?

tjc78

stickguy said:

Thanks OF and JM. I have seen it done on TV and it seems like one of those easy to do but also really easy to screw up jobs. So having correct tools and knowing the tricks, and taking your time on the first one, should be enough. Putting the casing trim on right is probably harder.

we actually have 9 total, so paying to have it done will add up. Got one quote that was higher than expected so daughter reached out to the guy that did her floors and new baseboards (guy was a maestro at that) who said that he does other stuff and has family that does more too.

Might pick one up and do a practice run on the spare bedroom closet, so if we screw it up, don't have much invested in it.

Biggest worry is the crappy plaster walls that like to crumble. Plus no clue what the framing is going to look like under there!

When we had the contractor here, we changed door styles. I had the contractor get me door blanks to replace the few old ones that were left. He said I was nuts to mortise in new hinges and drill out for the door knob, etc. and he would just replace with a pre hung.

I thought it was less work than ripping out all the old jambs, redoing the casing, patching the walls and paint.

It did help that he loaned me all the fancy tools to do it!

In the end it came out nice so that’s all that matters.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

I cannot remember a summer/fall season down here that has been this hot and humid. It's been in the 90's every day these past few weeks. I can't wait for the first cold front of the season to settle in to south Florida. We sure could use the cool weather.

Thanks for the heads up....we fly down to Tampa area tomorrow. It has been a great October here for October....no frost yet which is very unusual. Trees just starting to change colors....usually they are finished by now. Temp should be around 60F tomorrow....so maybe I won't see any snow this winter......I still have 50% to go hoping there won't be snow when we get back in April....though it usually does once or twice during the month.

Speaking of flying. Our friends fly to FLL tomorrow. I had to print out their boarding passes on their computer.

Their son and Sig Oth will fly back to Columbus with them in 10 days. Then drive the car of the Sig Oth's parents back to south Florida. The car? A SMART car.

I don't envy their drive at all. I think I'd have had it trucked down for her parents. They want that car at their winter place.

I see those SMART cars and I would never want to drive one on any highway, let alone I-75. I say, the more metal around me, the better I feel.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

Thanks OF and JM. I have seen it done on TV and it seems like one of those easy to do but also really easy to screw up jobs. So having correct tools and knowing the tricks, and taking your time on the first one, should be enough. Putting the casing trim on right is probably harder.

we actually have 9 total, so paying to have it done will add up. Got one quote that was higher than expected so daughter reached out to the guy that did her floors and new baseboards (guy was a maestro at that) who said that he does other stuff and has family that does more too.

Might pick one up and do a practice run on the spare bedroom closet, so if we screw it up, don't have much invested in it.

Biggest worry is the crappy plaster walls that like to crumble. Plus no clue what the framing is going to look like under there!

The only problem I could see in an old house is that the rough opening might be thicker than the jamb is wide requiring some finagling of the mounding. JM is absolutely correct in saying not to remove the door and not to “unplug” it either. I did 10 of them when I built and if I can do it anyone can.

stickguy

quite possible the frames are a funky size. And one of the reasons to do it is to replace the crappy stained wood trim. She was going to paint it but it would be a ton of work, and much of it is in rough shape anyway. Plus the doors are the cheap wood laminate so not easily paintable, and also in rough shape.

so could replace the trim, to match the new baseboards, but the doors would look hideous. And if we put new blanks in, the trim would still look like crap. so if doing it, need to rip them out and and do it all.

that is why I thought about trying a closet. worst case, we end up with a crappy rough opening and not door to a closet in a room they really don't use, and hire someone to clean up the mess!

jmonroe1

tjc78 said:

stickguy said:

Thanks OF and JM. I have seen it done on TV and it seems like one of those easy to do but also really easy to screw up jobs. So having correct tools and knowing the tricks, and taking your time on the first one, should be enough. Putting the casing trim on right is probably harder.

we actually have 9 total, so paying to have it done will add up. Got one quote that was higher than expected so daughter reached out to the guy that did her floors and new baseboards (guy was a maestro at that) who said that he does other stuff and has family that does more too.

Might pick one up and do a practice run on the spare bedroom closet, so if we screw it up, don't have much invested in it.

Biggest worry is the crappy plaster walls that like to crumble. Plus no clue what the framing is going to look like under there!

When we had the contractor here, we changed door styles. I had the contractor get me door blanks to replace the few old ones that were left. He said I was nuts to mortise in new hinges and drill out for the door knob, etc. and he would just replace with a pre hung.

I thought it was less work than ripping out all the old jambs, redoing the casing, patching the walls and paint.

It did help that he loaned me all the fancy tools to do it!

In the end it came out nice so that’s all that matters.

I know what that is like. I replaced every door in our house with 6 panel doors. Like you, I bought just the slab door and mortised in the hinges. I bought a couple jigs for that and for the door strike. I already had a couple routers and the right size forstner bit for the handle hole.

On the flip house, we were going to replace just the doors but since we were replacing all of the casing and some of the jams were messed up too, we decided to go with pre-hungs. Don't ask me how people can screw up door jams but the previous owners did it. As you know, it takes time to do it but without the right tools and the jigs it is impossible to do it right.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

stickguy said:

Thanks OF and JM. I have seen it done on TV and it seems like one of those easy to do but also really easy to screw up jobs. So having correct tools and knowing the tricks, and taking your time on the first one, should be enough. Putting the casing trim on right is probably harder.

we actually have 9 total, so paying to have it done will add up. Got one quote that was higher than expected so daughter reached out to the guy that did her floors and new baseboards (guy was a maestro at that) who said that he does other stuff and has family that does more too.

Might pick one up and do a practice run on the spare bedroom closet, so if we screw it up, don't have much invested in it.

Biggest worry is the crappy plaster walls that like to crumble. Plus no clue what the framing is going to look like under there!

If you are going to do more than one door I would buy a compound miter saw to do the casing work. Even a 10 inch job from Harbor Freight will work (a little over $100). We have a 12 inch sliding compound, dual bevel miter saw, but you don't need that and I'm sure you don't want to spend more than 500 bucks to get one either. And there are tips for doing the miter cuts on the casing. Namely, the 45 degree cuts should be back-cut for a better fit. Easy to do with a compound miter saw. Again, tough to explain so go to YouTube.

jmonroe

stickguy

I have a power miter saw. Bought that when I did a Pergo floor in the dining room. very handy. Not the fanciest, but I think it is compound. Not that sliding arm though. Most likely, even if I did manage to do the doors, I would hire the guy that did the baseboards to come in and do the casing. That is the part you see!

ab348

When I had the renos done here 2 years ago I had the original 1950s doors replaced with new 5-panel ones. The originals were plain slab plywood doors that were stained/varnished and while they might have looked good when new in a mid-century kind of minimalist way I always hated them. The contractor just replaced the doors and kept the original frames. On the sides facing the renovated areas he replaced the trim so everything matched, but on the other side where those rooms were untouched he left the original trim in place. Did a nice job.

stickguy

those look nice.

tjc78

Doors can make a big difference in the interior of a home. Here is what we have.

jmonroe1

If you are not a carpenter you need not post today.

jmonroe

fintail

My mom's 1920s house has original interior doors, solid heavy 5 panel with original hardware (glass knobs as typical of the era). They can be very pleasing to slam, makes a statement For some reason, when the house was renovated in the early 90s, it got a heavy metal exterior door, but still has the original paned glass rear door. I suspect new replacement cost on those solid wood doors would be significant. My grandma's time capsule early 60s rambler has all of its original doors and windows, doors being the light finish slab style that was probably modern at the time.

PF_Flyer

driver100 said:

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

I cannot remember a summer/fall season down here that has been this hot and humid. It's been in the 90's every day these past few weeks. I can't wait for the first cold front of the season to settle in to south Florida. We sure could use the cool weather.

Thanks for the heads up....we fly down to Tampa area tomorrow. It has been a great October here for October....no frost yet which is very unusual. Trees just starting to change colors....usually they are finished by now. Temp should be around 60F tomorrow....so maybe I won't see any snow this winter......I still have 50% to go hoping there won't be snow when we get back in April....though it usually does once or twice during the month.

Speaking of flying. Our friends fly to FLL tomorrow. I had to print out their boarding passes on their computer.

Their son and Sig Oth will fly back to Columbus with them in 10 days. Then drive the car of the Sig Oth's parents back to south Florida. The car? A SMART car.

I don't envy their drive at all. I think I'd have had it trucked down for her parents. They want that car at their winter place.

I see those SMART cars and I would never want to drive one on any highway, let alone I-75. I say, the more metal around me, the better I feel.

We were driving on the Beltway around DC in typical traffic one time and came up on a smart. Driver looked absolutely terrified, even of my Versa hatch.

jmonroe1

PF_Flyer said:

driver100 said:

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

I cannot remember a summer/fall season down here that has been this hot and humid. It's been in the 90's every day these past few weeks. I can't wait for the first cold front of the season to settle in to south Florida. We sure could use the cool weather.

Thanks for the heads up....we fly down to Tampa area tomorrow. It has been a great October here for October....no frost yet which is very unusual. Trees just starting to change colors....usually they are finished by now. Temp should be around 60F tomorrow....so maybe I won't see any snow this winter......I still have 50% to go hoping there won't be snow when we get back in April....though it usually does once or twice during the month.

Speaking of flying. Our friends fly to FLL tomorrow. I had to print out their boarding passes on their computer.

Their son and Sig Oth will fly back to Columbus with them in 10 days. Then drive the car of the Sig Oth's parents back to south Florida. The car? A SMART car.

I don't envy their drive at all. I think I'd have had it trucked down for her parents. They want that car at their winter place.

I see those SMART cars and I would never want to drive one on any highway, let alone I-75. I say, the more metal around me, the better I feel.

We were driving on the Beltway around DC in typical traffic one time and came up on a smart. Driver looked absolutely terrified, even of my Versa hatch.

That driver was probably terrified as soon as the car was out of the garage. I don't understand how a Smart car is even legal.

jmonroe

ab348

Last week I pulled into a parking lot here nose to nose with a Smart having Virginia plates. I cannot imagine driving that from there to here.

stickguy

A smart is a weather tight 4 wheeled motorcycle.

I did not install doors, but I did hang a mirror for the kid a couple days ago. My laser level and drywall anchor skills are tuned to Olympic levels at this point.

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

Last week I pulled into a parking lot here nose to nose with a Smart having Virginia plates. I cannot imagine driving that from there to here.

Maybe you should consider getting an upscale SmartCar.

snakeweasel

jmonroe1 said:

PF_Flyer said:

driver100 said:

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

I cannot remember a summer/fall season down here that has been this hot and humid. It's been in the 90's every day these past few weeks. I can't wait for the first cold front of the season to settle in to south Florida. We sure could use the cool weather.

Thanks for the heads up....we fly down to Tampa area tomorrow. It has been a great October here for October....no frost yet which is very unusual. Trees just starting to change colors....usually they are finished by now. Temp should be around 60F tomorrow....so maybe I won't see any snow this winter......I still have 50% to go hoping there won't be snow when we get back in April....though it usually does once or twice during the month.

Speaking of flying. Our friends fly to FLL tomorrow. I had to print out their boarding passes on their computer.

Their son and Sig Oth will fly back to Columbus with them in 10 days. Then drive the car of the Sig Oth's parents back to south Florida. The car? A SMART car.

I don't envy their drive at all. I think I'd have had it trucked down for her parents. They want that car at their winter place.

I see those SMART cars and I would never want to drive one on any highway, let alone I-75. I say, the more metal around me, the better I feel.

We were driving on the Beltway around DC in typical traffic one time and came up on a smart. Driver looked absolutely terrified, even of my Versa hatch.

That driver was probably terrified as soon as the car was out of the garage. I don't understand how a Smart car is even legal.

jmonroe

I took an opportunity to drive a Smart car when they first came out and found it to be a great little car to drive around. Now mind you I drove it in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago which is densely populated with highly congested tight streets. It seemed to be made for that environment as I was easily able to get through tight spaces and around traffic that I would never have been able to in any other car.

With that in mind I cannot say I would have the same feeling about it in an suburban or rural environments. But it's great for densely populated and congested urban areas.

driver100

If it doesn't have a hood on it I am not interested!

fintail

I think Smarts actually crash OK, at least with normal cars, as they are kind of a safety cage. But they seem to bounce around at speed, maybe not intended for interstate use. I am always a little taken aback when I see one on the freeway. Something for city or suburban sprawl at most.

bwia

I was driving behind a Mercedes Benz GLA yesterday, and frankly it looked not much bigger than the above Smart Cars. Life is too precious to risk it on micro Smart car.

qbrozen

oldfarmer50 said:

ab348 said:

Last week I pulled into a parking lot here nose to nose with a Smart having Virginia plates. I cannot imagine driving that from there to here.

Maybe you should consider getting an upscale SmartCar.

Remind me of Penny Racers.