Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

jmonroe

venture said:

jmonroe said:

venture said:

ab348 said:

tjc78 said:

Doing a kitchen is tough, but worth it in the end.

We did a full gut about 9 years ago and it's been great, just now things are showing a touch of wear and the walls could use a coat of paint. My kids managed to put a few dents in the fridge, I wonder if a PDR guy could fix it and if it would be worth it? We are the only ones who notice it.

I'm thinking in the fall I'll put down a new floor and paint before the holidays. We never liked the floor we chose anyway.

I had mine done 18 years ago and have been thinking about a new, more ambitious reno of it for a year or more now. The 2002 work was cheap and good but very slow, proving the old "pick 2 out of 3" rule. I couldn't put up with that now, especially since I am no longer at work all day and would have to live through it or move to temporary quarters for a time. I might need to do that anyway as I am thinking of ripping up floors and taking out part of a wall along with relocating plumbing and lots of other stuff.

When the 2002 work was done I was talked out of ceramic tile for the floors and went with engineered hardwood. While it has held up reasonably well I conclude now that hardwood in a kitchen is a bad idea. Drop something, it dents it. Move something like fridge at your peril of scraping it. Spill water on it and miss it, and it cups and warps. I think next time I might try the luxury vinyl tile that looks like ceramic but has some forgiveness to it.

I somewhat agree with you on the wood floor. We put in 3 1/2" solid maple flooring when we re-did the kitchen about 3 years ago. It does dent. It is just so gorgeous.

I was installing the over cabinet LED lighting right after the cabinets were put in and dropped my needle nose pliers. Of course they hit the floor points first and put 2 little holes in the maple. I guess that should have been a warning.

Well, Son #1 is going to need help with his second flip house but he doesn't need help from butter-fingers. His first flip had laminate floors in the living room, dining room, hall and kitchen. But they were protected with cardboard as soon as they were installed. They were in perfect shape when the house was sold, but man, we had to be extremely carefull until the cardboard was removed at the very end of all the work. Several neighbors stopped by for a look-see when we were done and their jaws literally dropped when they saw those floors. They look good alright but way more work than I'd want to put up with as far as I'm concerned. But that is what people want today so his second flip will have that too but not laminate because that house has the old fashioned red oak floors EXCEPT in the kitchen, so he's going to add real hardwood there too.

It's a shame he won't be calling you because, of all the guys in here, you're pretty close.

jmonroe

We could go to the house and take turns dropping stuff until we get thrown out and have to go to Primanti Bros. for lunch.

Whadda you say we just meet ya at Primanti's for lunch. There is one in my village that's only a couple miles from the flip. No sense running to the Strip for lunch. It won't cost you any more and will save a lot of time too.

jmonroe

stickguy

if you are redoing the kitchen floor anyway no way I would put in real wood. Just go with tile. Maybe one of the plank style that mimics wood.

In the house I helped my daughter redo we put in a new kitchen floor. It came with a cheap engineered would one they had put in. House had cat issues. I knew it was bad when I pulled up the first board and it was all mushy.

we put in a nice think floating vinyl plank. I highly recommend it. easy DIY, and really affordable. Looked great and seemed indestructible. and if you get tired of it, can remove in an hour!

oldfarmer50

tjc78 said:

All you need is a few of these are you are ready roll.



I'd take the modern bright orange over that mess anyday!

I had those tapes.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

my son just got a deal (offer) accepted on a house. He has been renting for a few years with a roommate, who is moving in with his girlfriend and my son was planning to go out on his own anyway, so figured it was better to buy instead. apparently a hot market, at least on the lower end, these days in Albany. But after getting outbid in a feeding frenzy on one place, found another he actually likes better for just slightly more money. In the last year it had a fancy new kitchen put in. They took down the wall between the kitchen and DR/LR (it is an older ranch) so nice and open. He wanted no part of a place that needed significant work.

as to virus, we were supposed to be making a trip to Chicago over Memorial day WE. Planning to pass on that now. just don't want to deal with it.

Where did he finally find his place?

stickguy

Albany. just below UA on that side of Western. Can walk to Juniors!

given where he works it is extremely convenient. He had been looking out in Rotterdam too but that was kind of out in the boonies.

should be a good fit for him.

jmonroe

stickguy said:

if you are redoing the kitchen floor anyway no way I would put in real wood. Just go with tile. Maybe one of the plank style that mimics wood.

In the house I helped my daughter redo we put in a new kitchen floor. It came with a cheap engineered would one they had put in. House had cat issues. I knew it was bad when I pulled up the first board and it was all mushy.

we put in a nice think floating vinyl plank. I highly recommend it. easy DIY, and really affordable. Looked great and seemed indestructible. and if you get tired of it, can remove in an hour!

I hear you and we've already had a couple discussions about this. I don't want hardwood in the kitchen because it will look patched. Just because he wants red oak like the rest of the house doesn't mean it's going to take stain like the original wood that is from 1956 (I think). If nothing else I squelched his first thought of tearing out some of the dining room hardwood where it meets the kitchen and feathering in where the two floors meet. The width of the new wood can't possibly be the same size as the original wood nor will the tongues and grooves match because they weren't machined with the same shaping tools. So, that is definitely out. I'm leaning towards a contrasting color of ceramic tile in the newer sizes not the old square uniform sized stuff.

jmonroe

stickguy

just pick one that looks nice in a complementary way to the hardwood stain you picked, and good to go.

https://www.flooranddecor.com/ceramic-tile/carson-walnut-wood-plank-ceramic-tile-100512268.html#start=6

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

Albany. just below UA on that side of Western. Can walk to Juniors!

given where he works it is extremely convenient. He had been looking out in Rotterdam too but that was kind of out in the boonies.

should be a good fit for him.

Not a bad location. Good for him.

jmonroe

stickguy said:

just pick one that looks nice in a complementary way to the hardwood stain you picked, and good to go.

https://www.flooranddecor.com/ceramic-tile/carson-walnut-wood-plank-ceramic-tile-100512268.html#start=6

That could work but I'm thinking of something like a multi-colored gray like what was installed on the bathroom floors in the first flip house. I would like to be at that point now but in reality we're months away from that.

I will admit that this house will not take as much work as the first flip but there could be a surprise or two. Still don't understand why a bank was selling this place because those houses usually take a lot of work. I can't believe we are missing anything major. A lot of buyers would just paint this place and move right in. Even the kitchen cabinets were replaced a few years ago. OK, the bathroom needs new tile but that's about all it really needs. However, Son #1 wants to finish the basement because that adds a lot of value to a house. Oh yeah, one more thing, he wants to chop up the concrete floor in the basement to get to the drain line so he can put a bathroom down there too. I think the fun is going to start in about 10 days.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

carnaught said:

I actually like the sculpture of the flamingo. (Not a stork.)

I really like the stork, I mean flamingo.

We are going home early because of COVID-19. Not too worried about catching it, more worried about things closing up and it being difficult to get on a plane going back. Also, if we are in lock down - like in Italy, we could end up overstaying our allotted number of days.
Another problem is IF we needed medical care that could get expensive and hard to find.
I would love to stay until March 28th, but, we are scheduled to leave Tuesday March 17th.

If you’re driving back you better avoid Georgia. Guess they don’t learn ‘em right before they hand out badges.

https://youtu.be/t6ZuZD8_mFQ

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

carnaught said:

I actually like the sculpture of the flamingo. (Not a stork.)

I really like the stork, I mean flamingo.

We are going home early because of COVID-19. Not too worried about catching it, more worried about things closing up and it being difficult to get on a plane going back. Also, if we are in lock down - like in Italy, we could end up overstaying our allotted number of days.
Another problem is IF we needed medical care that could get expensive and hard to find.
I would love to stay until March 28th, but, we are scheduled to leave Tuesday March 17th.

If you’re driving back you better avoid Georgia. Guess they don’t learn ‘em right before they hand out badges.

I remember hearing about that at the time. It is crazy, young lady spends night in jail because Georgian cop doesn't know a Canadian Ontario drivers license is valid in the state...and anywhere in the U.S. But, in our case we are flying. One year I was stopped for speeding in Tennessee. Some states patrol I-75 vigorously - it's like shooting fish in a barrel. I have seen police cars parked on the median every 500 years apart for miles.

If I was driving back, I try to stay within 10 miles over the limit......you go by too many police to not get caught. It feels good when you see one, knowing they don't have a reason to nail you.

driver100

From Dean koontz book Eyes of Darkness written in 1981! Makes you think!

driver100

From the same book;

omarman

Tina was too busy with Danny to listen to Carl and Elliot.

But Danny was hearing Bro Code...

qbrozen

I'm not following the Koontz stuff at all. Because ... I dunno ... it mentions China, virus, and 2020, it is some kind of soothsaying? Pretty sure Ms Cleo was at least as accurate.

omarman

Starting a week from tomorrow the Columbus International Auto Show will run from March 19 to the 22nd. This response on FB to a question about possible cancellation:

Columbus International Auto Show We are monitoring the situation very closely with the Convention Center and following CDC protocols. We are planning and excited for a great show!

Tickets are $12 at the box office or $10 online. Tickets are not refundable.

ab348

qbrozen said:

I'm not following the Koontz stuff at all. Because ... I dunno ... it mentions China, virus, and 2020, it is some kind of soothsaying? Pretty sure Ms Cleo was at least as accurate.

Plus none of it is accurate aside from the city name. Let's keep this sort of nonsense where it belongs and not here.

imidazol97

The Arnold event was cancelled last week in Columbus. So I'd
expect the auto show to suffer the same treatment.

28firefighter

The Koontz thing has been widely disseminated and completely debunked as having no relevance to the outbreak we're experiencing right now.

houdini1

andres3 said:

houdini1 said:

Market tanking again this morning. As bad as this is, my portfolio is still way up from where it was when President Trump took office. Check yours compared to 1-1-17. I bet yours is up too.

After today, it hasn't gone up much at all since Trump took office.

Either way, the real true Socialists may come out for more bailouts if the market tanks a bit more.

For once I guessed right, took some profits (didn't want to) and made some re-allocations early on.

abacomike

Well, I had my left eye surgery yesterday morning. Was at the doctor's office this morning and he said it looked good. Started my 3 eye drops this morning.

I see him again Friday morning - the eye should be focusing for distance by then. I am already using my reading glasses for close work. He will give me an RX for permanent glasses 4 weeks from Friday when the healing process will be complete. I will then get new glasses.

Both eyes are now farsighted after being seriously nearsighted all my life. The world is bright once again!

tjc78

I never knew that was possible Mike! Best of luck with the recovery.

I wouldn't know how to act being farsighted. I'm severely nearsighted and have been since I was 6 years old. I just keep on wearing my contacts, I hate my glasses. No matter what lens/frame combination I get they are always heavy and uncomfortable. I'm a -8.5 correction (that's contacts, glasses a touch stronger) so there isn't much they can do, the lenses are always thick even when I buy the most expensive type.

ab348

I started becoming nearsighted when I was in the 8th grade when I realized I could no longer read the teacher's writing on the blackboard. Stayed that way all my life until maybe 15 years ago when I also began having trouble reading, as happens when you get older. But as an unexpected side benefit, as that happened my nearsightedness pretty much went away so now I can see things at a distance reasonably well.

omarman

The Arnold Sports Festival cancelled the Kids & Teens Expo scheduled for March 7-8 at the Ohio Expo Center, separate from the main expo.

Over Friday and Saturday spectators were allowed to attend 8 finals events. Sunday was the last day of the Arnold Sports Festival and most events were closed to spectators over coronavirus concerns but not cancelled.

Here's a Dispatch pic from Saturday:

Spectators nearly fill the Battelle Grand Ballroom during the finals of the Arnold Classic bodybuilding competition at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on Saturday, March 7, 2020.


I haven't yet seen an announcement regarding how all this will affect the upcoming car show but they're still selling tickets.

fintail

I see markets are having fun again, and the WA governor just announced a ban on gatherings of 250+ people for the near term. Looks like it's time to buy more pallets of TP and water.

I'm on a group for fans of a local WHL team, located in a wingnut area, and the whine is deafening.

abacomike

Wow, market is down over 1600 points right now with crude oil at just over $32 a barrel. Haven't seen this sustained movement down in my entire life.

nyccarguy

abacomike said:

Wow, market is down over 1600 points right now with crude oil at just over $32 a barrel. Haven't seen this sustained movement down in my entire life.

It is great! A friend of mine just paid $1.78/gallon for heating oil. I paid $1.93 the other day.

stickguy

Gas will be below $2 again. With way over supply because no one can go anywhere.

nyccarguy

stickguy said:

Gas will be below $2 again. With way over supply because no one can go anywhere.

looks like @corvette picked a good time to buy a thirsty Tundra

dino001

abacomike said:

Wow, market is down over 1600 points right now with crude oil at just over $32 a barrel. Haven't seen this sustained movement down in my entire life.

Really, Mike? Are you sure? Perhaps you were on vacation in October 1987, when Dow crashed over 20 percent in one day and more than 30 percent if you include preceding week. How about all those 5-10% down days in 2008-2009?

Let's just get some perspective.

1. So far market is down just 20 percent from its highs, still higher than December 2018 lows, or if you discount that short sudden selloff, then it's November 2017 level, 2.5 years back.
2. 2007 peak to 2000 trough move was 50 percent, which put it at the levels from 1997, 10 years back. It took market less than 4 years to reach new all-time high.
3. 1987 peak-to-trough was about 38 percent, which was only seen in July 1986, not even a year back (market was extremely overvalued at the high). It took market almost exactly 2 years to get to new all-time high, on much better fundamentals.

So we still have a way to go to call it "never seen before in my life".

driver100

28firefighter said:

The Koontz thing has been widely disseminated and completely debunked as having no relevance to the outbreak we're experiencing right now.

Of course it doesn't have anything to do with the COVID-19 virus. But, there are some very big coincidences, both name the starting point as Wuhan China, and the fact he mentions the year 2020 as the starting point for a virus that has an affect on lungs and bronchial tubes. And he wrote the book in 1981...not a conspiracy theory...just amazing coincidence.

driver100

ab348 said:

qbrozen said:

I'm not following the Koontz stuff at all. Because ... I dunno ... it mentions China, virus, and 2020, it is some kind of soothsaying? Pretty sure Ms Cleo was at least as accurate.

Plus none of it is accurate aside from the city name. Let's keep this sort of nonsense where it belongs and not here

What about the year....2020. And that he says it is a disease that affects lungs and bronchial tubes and resists all treatment. Like I say, he didn't predict anything, it is just a strange coincidence.

As far as " Let's keep this sort of nonsense where it belongs and not here" should we submit any new topics in "Cars & Conversation" to the editorial police to get approval before writing? Seems a bit officious to me to decide what someone should and shouldn't post.

imidazol97

My big problem is my aging TomTom Via 1430 does just fine for any GPS needs I have. I don't need a GPS that connects to the internet using my data on my phone to tell me traffic conditions ahead or that tries to pick routes varying on the daily traffic patterns--I just want to see the shorts and quickest paths.

TomTom has been telling me that my Lifetime Maps is no longer available and I need to buy a new TomTom, of course. Now they're messed up the quarterly map update on my TomTom and conveniently they are blaming that on problems they're having with their PC app for handling check-in and updates.

Don't buy a TomTom. They have no phone contact that I have found so far. Any efforts at support lead to online FAQs.

I guess I see an inexpensive Garmin in my future.

tjc78

I have built in GPS on both cars and find myself using WAZE more often because it does so well at avoiding traffic.

I used it to go into North Jersey last week at rush hour and it took me a way that avoided the worst of a hell road (287). It may be worth looking into a data plan and just use either WAZE or Google Maps. They are tough to beat IMO.

stickguy

data is actually cheap these days. I still don't use waze though.

qbrozen

driver100 said:

Of course it doesn't have anything to do with the COVID-19 virus. But, there are some very big coincidences, both name the starting point as Wuhan China, and the fact he mentions the year 2020 as the starting point for a virus that has an affect on lungs and bronchial tubes. And he wrote the book in 1981...not a conspiracy theory...just amazing coincidence.

Actually, according to some info I found, when he first wrote it, it was a Russian city. Then it magically changed in later release dates. I guess he felt it was no longer relevant after the Cold War ended and wanted a better shot at being current.

imidazol97

@tjc78
@stickguy

I agree with the WAZE/google maps on cell phones being efficient and effective. I did get turned around in the past because which way is "up" on the cell phone was something above my pay grade. So I turned the wrong way because what I thought was north was not. LOL

I'm looking at the sometimes when I want the GPS cell phone towers are not around for the phone to work. We're going to go over or around the Smokey Mountains in a few weeks to get into upstate SC.

Do cell phone maps work when there is no connection to cell towers? Even in some areas of Indiana I believe the cell connection may be lost on my Verizon phones. The connection used to drop on my ATT/TMobile based phones in the past.

Can I sue a Dutch company that doesn't give Lifetime Maps updates as guaranteed in their advertising?
I know the apps for updating their GPS units have had several problems through the years I've had TomTom units.

tjc78

I'm not sure what happens if you lose signal. If GPS is still working I'm thinking you'll still be OK.

If I get a chance tomorrow I'll see what happens if I shut cell data off while using WAZE.

@stickguy what do you use? Google Maps?

stickguy

I still get emails from tom tom. I have not used my unit (I think it is still around in a drawer someplace) in probably well over a decade. I have an assortment of Garmins too.

if that is what you want, go for it. They are cheap, and if nothing else, a nice back up plan. I assume they are a lot fancier now, and include real time road conditions. Garmin is actually (or was) what some manufacturers were running built in. Mazda for sure was.

ab348

driver100 said:

As far as " Let's keep this sort of nonsense where it belongs and not here" should we submit any new topics in "Cars & Conversation" to the editorial police to get approval before writing? Seems a bit officious to me to decide what someone should and shouldn't post.

Far be it from me to be officious. My only point was that if I want to see Facebook-type stuff, I know how to find that place. I come here to avoid that.

stickguy

tjc78 said:

I'm not sure what happens if you lose signal. If GPS is still working I'm thinking you'll still be OK.

If I get a chance tomorrow I'll see what happens if I shut cell data off while using WAZE.

@stickguy what do you use? Google Maps?

I am a google mapser. I seem to think if you temporarily lose signal it just fakes it until can hook back up.

driver100

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

As far as " Let's keep this sort of nonsense where it belongs and not here" should we submit any new topics in "Cars & Conversation" to the editorial police to get approval before writing? Seems a bit officious to me to decide what someone should and shouldn't post.

Far be it from me to be officious. My only point was that if I want to see Facebook-type stuff, I know how to find that place. I come here to avoid that.

I got it as an email this morning...I passed it on to about 20 people, I got 6 back that said it was amazing or wow etc., that is way more feedback than I usually get. I thought others might find it of some interest, someone might find it more interesting than flooring, eye glasses, dishwashers or where to get a corned beef sandwich in the burg - not many, but maybe someone

btw....I have no idea what is on Facebook....never joined, never looked at it.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

btw....I have no idea what is on Facebook....never joined, never looked at it.

Facebook is a giant control freak place, pretending to be open and futuristic in goals,
while censoring certain entries, or at least shadow banning them I believe it's called.

I don't want Edmunds to end up doing that.

abacomike

dino001 said:

abacomike said:

Wow, market is down over 1600 points right now with crude oil at just over $32 a barrel. Haven't seen this sustained movement down in my entire life.

Really, Mike? Are you sure? Perhaps you were on vacation in October 1987, when Dow crashed over 20 percent in one day and more than 30 percent if you include preceding week. How about all those 5-10% down days in 2008-2009?

Let's just get some perspective.

1. So far market is down just 20 percent from its highs, still higher than December 2018 lows, or if you discount that short sudden selloff, then it's November 2017 level, 2.5 years back.
2. 2007 peak to 2000 trough move was 50 percent, which put it at the levels from 1997, 10 years back. It took market less than 4 years to reach new all-time high.
3. 1987 peak-to-trough was about 38 percent, which was only seen in July 1986, not even a year back (market was extremely overvalued at the high). It took market almost exactly 2 years to get to new all-time high, on much better fundamentals.

So we still have a way to go to call it "never seen before in my life".

I really don't remember that - as I said before, I AM OLD! 🤪😜

ronsteve

dino001 said:

abacomike said:

Wow, market is down over 1600 points right now with crude oil at just over $32 a barrel. Haven't seen this sustained movement down in my entire life.

Really, Mike? Are you sure? Perhaps you were on vacation in October 1987, when Dow crashed over 20 percent in one day and more than 30 percent if you include preceding week. How about all those 5-10% down days in 2008-2009?

Let's just get some perspective.

1. So far market is down just 20 percent from its highs, still higher than December 2018 lows, or if you discount that short sudden selloff, then it's November 2017 level, 2.5 years back.
2. 2007 peak to 2000 trough move was 50 percent, which put it at the levels from 1997, 10 years back. It took market less than 4 years to reach new all-time high.
3. 1987 peak-to-trough was about 38 percent, which was only seen in July 1986, not even a year back (market was extremely overvalued at the high). It took market almost exactly 2 years to get to new all-time high, on much better fundamentals.

So we still have a way to go to call it "never seen before in my life".

What about 2000-2003, between the dot-com bubble and the post-9/11 recession? Pretty sure that was some prolonged downward action, lost about 50 percent, and it was 2007 before the S&P recovered to the previous highs. I'll reach pension eligibility in 9 years, and SS eligibility in 13, so I'm considering my moves carefully!

Sandman6472

Saw gas here for $1.99 today and suspect it'll go a bit lower. Naturally, my petrol consumption has gone down by 2/3 since I moved over to Enterprise! Filled up about 10 days ago and have only used a 1/4 of a tank...crazy really! But super happy as I no longer have that $60/month charge for tolls and wear & tear is also way down. Round trip went from 58 miles down to 6.6...a big change. And hardly any traffic now. Plus a 401K and eventual profit sharing make Enterprise so much better. So glad this gig came up and also hearing how happy OF has been there, made it an easy switch!
It's been a bit busy lately, worked 6 days last week and doing another 6 days this week. A bit more than I really want but, as long as it's just temporary, I'm fine with it. After a month or two, then I'll be looking to scale it back a bit.

qbrozen

Don’t know if I ever mentioned it here, but I dropped off all social media a few years back. (Unless edmunds is social media?)
I have no intention of ever rejoining.

stickguy

I only have FB for a couple of groups I am involved with. And a little stalking and funny tweet compilations. I really have a boring life.

tjc78

I don’t have a FB account. Wife does but under a phony name just so she can look at things.

I was never even on LinkedIn until the job loss. In some ways that’s just FB for professionals. Once I’m back to working (which could be very soon based on an email I received today) I doubt I’ll be on there much at all.

stickguy

hope the job works out. I am on linkedin but never post. Look at job listings mostly!