Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

carnaught

One thing about Costco TP is that it (Charmin) is wider than the TP currently sold in grocery stores, and by wider I mean like all TP used to be. There, I’ve said it and I feel better.

This is the C&C board so I can do so .

imidazol97

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

Can someone explain why TP is in such demand? On the surface, it makes no sense to me.

Have you ever tried going for very long without it?

In Iran hoarding TP will get you executed.

In the old days shortage of TP wasn't a problem, at least until Sears and Montgomery Ward stopped printing catalogs.

28firefighter

Ugh, major bummer, @stickguy.

In other news, a new gadget for the ZHP arrived today. The E46 3 series is one of the last models that has a battery that can be trickle charged via the cigarette lighter jack vs on the battery itself. I got an OEM BMW trickle charger (it was discontinued) new from a BMW dealer off eBay for $50. I’m testing it now and it’s pretty cool.

andres3

stickguy said:

had a bad evening. Went to pick up a pizza for dinner. parked away from the building (of course) and while walking across parking lot, see a guy that had parked in front for some reason decide to change where he was parked. And he proceeded to back right into the back corner of my TLX. scraped the heck out of the bumper corner, but I think repairable, but worse was put a dent in the fender above the bumper. not sure if it can be popped out or what will be needed.

did not need this hassle now. Need to call insurance agent in the AM to get this process moving. I just hope it works like it should and I am only out the time to get it fixed. Because I really don't feel like having to go all Andre fighting with insurance companies!

and really glad it is a lease. Just fix it and move on. Because I think this car is jinxed.

Yup! Still dealing with my claim. Haven't received a penny from USAA. They won't pay a dime until the arbiter between them and Progressive decides on who is more correct, 70% per them, or 100% per any reasonable person or entity.

I just uploaded 32 seconds of dashcam video to Progressive to assist their case in winning subrogation and my claim. Should be resolved by the end of the month really.

Still, subrogation is only for my deductible. The rest I had to write a demand letter and claim it directly from USAA. Rental car, diminished value, and my replacement carseat for the little one.

If arbitration doesn't go well, this will end up in small claims Court. As much as I don't want to fight little battles, I can't let this one fly at 70%.

jmonroe

tjc78 said:

Really sucks!!! Hoping for a painless process to get fixed. The beauty of it being a lease is you aren’t on the hook for DV.

I've heard that about leasing. Given that there has to be the same percentage of lease cars having accidents as the typical purchased cars, I'm surprised that lease contracts haven't been changed to account for this.

jmonroe

andres3

jmonroe said:

tjc78 said:

Really sucks!!! Hoping for a painless process to get fixed. The beauty of it being a lease is you aren’t on the hook for DV.

I've heard that about leasing. Given that there has to be the same percentage of lease cars having accidents as the typical purchased cars, I'm surprised that lease contracts haven't been changed to account for this.

jmonroe

Because the banks and insurance are in bed together. They've obviously made a calculation that it is better for them to ignore the world is spherical, or that DV exists, rather than to acknowledge it.

Georgia is the only State out of 50 that I know of that automatically acknowledges, and even further, puts 1st party DV claims on the market (you can buy insurance for it).

What a Proggressive State! Who'd of thunk?

andres3

Do you think it's possible Kia Finance's collection Agency grew a conscience, or some integrity, and realized they were barking up the wrong tree with me? Or do you think they realized I wasn't bending after wasting 20 minutes on the phone with me (maybe 25)?

I haven't heard a peep from them in nearly 2 weeks.

fintail

Check your credit, be sure they didn't just send you to a different agency

Hopefully they were just blowing smoke.

andres3 said:

Do you think it's possible Kia Finance's collection Agency grew a conscience, or some integrity, and realized they were barking up the wrong tree with me? Or do you think they realized I wasn't bending after wasting 20 minutes on the phone with me (maybe 25)?

I haven't heard a peep from them in nearly 2 weeks.

28firefighter

Guarantee they sent the account to collections and dinged credit.

qbrozen

stickguy said:

had a bad evening. Went to pick up a pizza for dinner. parked away from the building (of course) and while walking across parking lot, see a guy that had parked in front for some reason decide to change where he was parked. And he proceeded to back right into the back corner of my TLX. scraped the heck out of the bumper corner, but I think repairable, but worse was put a dent in the fender above the bumper. not sure if it can be popped out or what will be needed.

did not need this hassle now. Need to call insurance agent in the AM to get this process moving. I just hope it works like it should and I am only out the time to get it fixed. Because I really don't feel like having to go all Andre fighting with insurance companies!

and really glad it is a lease. Just fix it and move on. Because I think this car is jinxed.

You got a police report, yes?

driver100

jmonroe said:

ab348 said:

jmonroe said:

I'm pretty sure I mentioned two years ago I had to replace the condenser fan motor on our Lennox unit that was installed in August of 2008. The starter winding went bad so I had to give the fan blade a spin by reaching through the grill with a table knife (needed something long and thin). Got the part on line in two days and after about 40 minutes it was installed and has purred ever since. I think the part was just shy of a hundred bucks. I'm sure "The Guy" would charged be more than that.

This old Jimmy Hatlo cartoon must have been based on you, or maybe your ancestors...

Well, that cartoon on the left pretty much looks like the back wall of my garage but it's a bit smaller than my 16 foot tool bench. That dude needs more tools. Now, that cartoon on the right looks like a wannabe that's just starting out. That could be our poster buddy @driver100.

jmonroe

Small appliance like an iron....when it breaks down, I say I have got my use out of it....time for a new one. I won't fix it.

driver100

carnaught said:

One thing about Costco TP is that it (Charmin) is wider than the TP currently sold in grocery stores, and by wider I mean like all TP used to be. There, I’ve said it and I feel better.

This is the C&C board so I can do so .

Thanks for sharing carnaught........like i say, I learn something here every day.

driver100

stickguy said:
had a bad evening. Went to pick up a pizza for dinner. parked away from the building (of course) and while walking across parking lot, see a guy that had parked in front for some reason decide to change where he was parked. And he proceeded to back right into the back corner of my TLX.

Sorry to hear about that stick. It is so aggravating....somebody else's irresponsibility and you will have to spend time and money to get it fixed. I wonder if that guy had a backup camera? Did you exchange all the information?

ab348

driver100 said:

Small appliance like an iron....when it breaks down, I say I have got my use out of it....time for a new one. I won't fix it.

That cartoon is from the late ‘40s to the mid ‘50s when things weren’t disposable like they are now.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

I told the wife. lease nice, buy old! as long as the insurance part is not a hassle, getting fixed should not be a big deal. I hope.

Did you get a police report in case the offender decides to change his story?

oldfarmer50

28firefighter said:

Ugh, major bummer, @stickguy.

In other news, a new gadget for the ZHP arrived today. The E46 3 series is one of the last models that has a battery that can be trickle charged via the cigarette lighter jack vs on the battery itself. I got an OEM BMW trickle charger (it was discontinued) new from a BMW dealer off eBay for $50. I’m testing it now and it’s pretty cool.

That’s a great idea. Can most cars be trickle charged that way or is it strictly a BMW feature?

28firefighter

I’m not entirely sure. Obviously some can, but I know newer BMWs cannot.

jmonroe

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

Small appliance like an iron....when it breaks down, I say I have got my use out of it....time for a new one. I won't fix it.

That cartoon is from the late ‘40s to the mid ‘50s when things weren’t disposable like they are now.

Our poster buddy would flip if he knew that was a rare heated paper weight which is now obsolete and is worth a fortune at antique shows but only if it still works.

jmonroe

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

28firefighter said:

Ugh, major bummer, @stickguy.

In other news, a new gadget for the ZHP arrived today. The E46 3 series is one of the last models that has a battery that can be trickle charged via the cigarette lighter jack vs on the battery itself. I got an OEM BMW trickle charger (it was discontinued) new from a BMW dealer off eBay for $50. I’m testing it now and it’s pretty cool.

That’s a great idea. Can most cars be trickle charged that way or is it strictly a BMW feature?

When I bought my trickle charger there are adapters that allow you to plug it into the cigarette lighter. They aren't expensive, I think I paid $6. I prefer to hook it up to the battery though.......I'd have to leave the window down a bit to connect to the charger....and who knows what I would find in the car when we got back....I am thinking Tarantula or mice. Rather keep the hood up and have some stuff rodents don't like under the hood. The hood closes almost all the way.

driver100

jmonroe said:

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

Small appliance like an iron....when it breaks down, I say I have got my use out of it....time for a new one. I won't fix it.

That cartoon is from the late ‘40s to the mid ‘50s when things weren’t disposable like they are now.

Our poster buddy would flip if he knew that was a rare heated paper weight which is now obsolete and is worth a fortune at antique shows but only if it still works.

jmonroe

Yes, I would!

ab348

A settlement in the class action suit against Ford regarding its Fiesta/Focus Powershift transmission problems has been reached:

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2020/03/05/ford-fiesta-focus-owners-get-buybacks-cash-class-action-lawsuit/4937362002/

What a debacle. Some of the links at the bottom of that page go to stories showing the management culture during the development and testing process that allowed this to happen.

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

A settlement in the class action suit against Ford regarding its Fiesta/Focus Powershift transmission problems has been reached:

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2020/03/05/ford-fiesta-focus-owners-get-buybacks-cash-class-action-lawsuit/4937362002/

What a debacle. Some of the links at the bottom of that page go to stories showing the management culture during the development and testing process that allowed this to happen.

Good article but boy, that web site is glitchy with pop ups and redirect to advertisements. 👹👹

What gets me is how could Ford have been so stupid in using a design that was so unsuited for it’s purpose? Didn’t the German company which made the darn things tell them that? Didn’t they test them first? What numbskull at Ford gave the go-ahead?

graphicguy

Was having a discussion with my son about the current Corona debacle. As I told him, I’d rather see this level of information and involvement, than having to say 120 days from now....”we could have been more aggressive months ago and now it’s spread like wildfire”.

Just read an article where the Gov’t is not being totally upfront about the extent of the infections attributed to Corona Virus. That’s never a good sign.

ab348

Govt is never upfront about most things. Neither is the media. Its all buyer beware in the information business these days.

imidazol97

The facts are difficult to determine under all the hype that's put in by the usually the doom and gloom media critical of the opposite party. So much info is twisted.

A problem was China wasn't forthcoming about what this was from the beginning, and even now in some analysts' minds.

The virus has mutated into two strains. The lack of candor of the media about the severity of the Flu A and Flu B this year and the number of infections from that, hospitalization numbers, and the death numbers is a problem. "Flu season is hitting its stride right now in the US. So far, the CDC has estimated (based on weekly influenza surveillance data) that at least 12,000 people have died from influenza between Oct. 1, 2019 through Feb. 1, 2020, and the number of deaths may be as high as 30,000." https://www.health.com/condition/cold-flu-sinus/how-many-people-die-of-the-flu-every-year

Same article: " the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the flu kills 290,000 to 650,000 people per year."

I linked earlier to a CDC list of tens of millions of infections this year, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and the 20000 or so deaths for this year. A problem is the media tries to make the current small numbers sound like the local media does an approaching snow storm--the white death is coming. Go buy toilet paper and milk or you will die.

While true information is good, the hyping for political points is bad.

Wash hands. Stay away from 3-6 from others and especially avoid those coughing or sneezing. Wipe surfaces with disinfectant sprays or towelettes.

EPA has a list of things that kill the virus (and other simple cold viriuses) https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/epa-releases-list-disinfectant-products-approved-kill-covid/story?id=69412861

I was at the BMV to get license plates this morning. I went early to avoid people in large numbers sitting and waiting.

The lady who sat two chairs away from me had sniffles and was wiping her nose. Then she gave a cough. I left and stood up away from her area to wait my turn. That airborne droplet thing always worries me. So I picked an upwind direction from her since the door was open and the heaters were blowing toward the open doors.

jmonroe

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

28firefighter said:

Ugh, major bummer, @stickguy.

In other news, a new gadget for the ZHP arrived today. The E46 3 series is one of the last models that has a battery that can be trickle charged via the cigarette lighter jack vs on the battery itself. I got an OEM BMW trickle charger (it was discontinued) new from a BMW dealer off eBay for $50. I’m testing it now and it’s pretty cool.

That’s a great idea. Can most cars be trickle charged that way or is it strictly a BMW feature?

When I bought my trickle charger there are adapters that allow you to plug it into the cigarette lighter. They aren't expensive, I think I paid $6. I prefer to hook it up to the battery though.......I'd have to leave the window down a bit to connect to the charger....and who knows what I would find in the car when we got back....I am thinking Tarantula or mice. Rather keep the hood up and have some stuff rodents don't like under the hood. The hood closes almost all the way.

And so will your windows.

jmonroe

driver100

Not enough to keep a Tarantula out! Or in Florida I could have a red ant farm in my car when I get back.

graphicguy

Quoted directly from the World Health Organization...a non-political body...just facts. And, it's increasing at an alarming rate.

There is now a total of 95,265 reported cases of COVID-19 globally, and 3281 deaths.

tjc78

I was just at the grocery store. Plenty of milk, bread and TP to be had.

driver100

ab348 said:

A settlement in the class action suit against Ford regarding its Fiesta/Focus Powershift transmission problems has been reached:

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2020/03/05/ford-fiesta-focus-owners-get-buybacks-cash-class-action-lawsuit/4937362002/

What a debacle. Some of the links at the bottom of that page go to stories showing the management culture during the development and testing process that allowed this to happen.

Really interesting article and once again you have to ask yourself....what were they thinking?
These days companies only care about the bottom line at the present time.......the execs want to keep their well paying jobs for at least another quarter, before the ---- hits the fan.

nyccarguy

The other night I had to go to Costco in New Rochelle, NY (Where most of the Corona Virus Cases are). There was NO 1% Milk or Bottled Water. I had to return something and the woman who helped me said they were limiting water cases to 5 per person.

My wife went to Trader Joe's looking for a donation for our kids' school PTO. The Captain said that this past Saturday & Sunday were the 2 single busiest days since the store opened.

People are crazy.

ab348

graphicguy said:

Quoted directly from the World Health Organization...a non-political body...just facts. And, it's increasing at an alarming rate.

There is now a total of 95,265 reported cases of COVID-19 globally, and 3281 deaths.

Hate to bust your bubble, but the WHO is not always "just facts". It depends on what agenda they are discussing. At times they act as a lobby group.

Michaell

Two cases now in Colorado - one in the county in which I reside.

Guess I'll be staying home, more than normal.

fintail

Well, according to an inheritance elite deity, COVID is a "hoax". He knows a lot, so I believe him.

Not slowing down one market, anyway - of course, the FIRE sector is second only to tech in my local economy, so the media is always going to be kind.

I'll ask again for the everything-is-a-conspiracy set - where do y'all get your news if everything is biased? I hear crickets...

driver100

If there truly is a neutral news site in North America I don't know what it is. I listen to the main news sources, network and cable news, newspapers, but, I only believe what is actually the facts, and I eliminate anything that is opinion, or which could be twisted to make a point.
If a tornado hits Nashville area....that is a fact, how much aid they will get is not a fact until it happens.

driver100

I just had the guy come and install 2, 10 year lithium smoke and CO detectors in the Florida home....got tired of changing the batteries every year, and the old ones reached their expiry date.
Cost $20 for them to be installed nice and neatly. I didn't have to buy tools or worry about it falling down once it was put up. Kept our local handy man busy, and he will be glad to help us on more complex jobs when needed, and it keeps people gainfully employed.
Do it myself?........no, I like to be a contributing member of society and give others work to do.....besides, my skills lie elsewhere.

Michaell

driver100 said:

.....besides, my skills lie elsewhere.

Like writing checks?

ab348

driver100 said:

Cost $20 for them to be installed nice and neatly. I didn't have to buy tools or worry about it falling down once it was put up.

When the renos here were done 3 years ago the electrician installed the wired-in smoke detectors (which still need batteries though, duh), one outside the main floor bedrooms and one outside the bedroom downstairs.

About 6 months later the downstairs one fell off the ceiling. it was installed incorrectly so I fixed it. You can't ever be certain.

omarman

Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report from the CDC for Week 9, ending February 29, 2020

Listed in the graphic Key Points:

Nationally, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses are now the most commonly reported influenza viruses this season. Previously, influenza B/Victoria viruses predominated nationally.

CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 34 million flu illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations and 20,000 deaths from flu.

Seniors 65 and older account for 75% of that mortality rate. At 60 y/o I'm not seeing conspiracy with statistics like that. It's the context of all the reported statistics which needs to be emphasized.

For example, There is now a total of 95,265 reported cases of COVID-19 globally, and 3281 deaths worldwide.

Yet the CDC reports that so far there have been "at least" 20,000 deaths from influenza A and B in the U.S. alone. (As of the Feb 29, 2020 report.)

I must be missing something, otherwise I'd be out there scavenging for Charmin and Purell.
Can't complain though because the only thing I've suffered so far is an unfortunate urge to touch my face every time a TV reporter reminds viewers to "Stop touching your face!"

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

graphicguy said:

Quoted directly from the World Health Organization...a non-political body...just facts. And, it's increasing at an alarming rate.

There is now a total of 95,265 reported cases of COVID-19 globally, and 3281 deaths.

Hate to bust your bubble, but the WHO is not always "just facts". It depends on what agenda they are discussing. At times they act as a lobby group.

Those stats are for China only. In other countries the mortality rate is much lower as I understand it. I heard stories that over there when a case is identified in a building they just weld the door shut for two weeks and let’s things sort themselves out.

driver100

Michaell said:

driver100 said:

.....besides, my skills lie elsewhere.

Like writing checks?

Why I don't have to be handy:

jmonroe

driver100 said:

Not enough to keep a Tarantula out! Or in Florida I could have a red ant farm in my car when I get back.

So now you're telling me your windows don't close, right?

jmonroe

explorerx4

The interest rate cut did help someone.
My niece just wrote a 15 year fixed @2.5%.

ab348

oldfarmer50 said:

Those stats are for China only. In other countries the mortality rate is much lower as I understand it. I heard stories that over there when a case is identified in a building they just weld the door shut for two weeks and let’s things sort themselves out.

My CDC comment was unrelated to the Covid stats, but to other things the CDC has been involved in recently.

jmonroe

driver100 said:

I just had the guy come and install 2, 10 year lithium smoke and CO detectors in the Florida home....got tired of changing the batteries every year, and the old ones reached their expiry date.
Cost $20 for them to be installed nice and neatly. I didn't have to buy tools or worry about it falling down once it was put up. Kept our local handy man busy, and he will be glad to help us on more complex jobs when needed, and it keeps people gainfully employed.
Do it myself?........no, I like to be a contributing member of society and give others work to do.....besides, my skills lie elsewhere.

Don't keep that a secret. Please tell us what they are. Just remember, we know you and we only want verifiable facts.

jmonroe

jmonroe

driver100 said:

Michaell said:

driver100 said:

.....besides, my skills lie elsewhere.

Like writing checks?

Why I don't have to be handy:

Boy, are you in trouble. We've seen your pic and you have already told us about your handyness. So, where do you go from here?

jmonroe

stickguy

the trump card to handy and handsome.

Money.

tjc78

@stickguy Virus may have hit our county... we better run.

graphicguy

Facts are facts. You may not like those facts, that doesn’t change them.

BTW...just today, the amount of people inflicted have exceeded 100,000.

Claim whatever you want with regards to your politics, but lets not minimize the rapid increase of Coronavirus cases. It’s accelerating, too.

WHO has given no one any reason to debate their facts.

stickguy

my wife just mentioned it. The only place I am running right now, is out to dinner. and happy hour!