Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

fintail

Square hockey puck is a touchpad for screen inputs. There's a redundant wheel under it in my car, which is what I prefer, as it is faster and more precise. I think in the latest ICE interface update, the wheel is gone, and the screen can use touch inputs, which I would never use due to fingerprints.

snakeweasel

fintail said:

I think MB does among the best job at integrating screens into the overall design. I don't like the "suddenly it's 2012" fixed stand up tablet look that still seems to be in vogue.

E-class handles it especially well, as I know you can relate:



For whatever reason, GM always had sad looking steering wheels back in the day.

driver100 said:

I am using the MB GLE450 to compare....just to point out one looks like it is fresh and a completely new look, one looks like it was quickly freshened up.

Now that's a well placed infotainment screen.

ab348

Doesn't look as though M-B makes much provision for cup holders.

stickguy

Dragged the wife out again this AM about 8:30. Though she was the one that needed a couple of specific items, so we decided to get a few more staples. 1st stop Walmart. Surprisingly not that crowded, but some aisles were wiped out. Meat, milk was empty. But we pretty much got what we needed. And somehow an overflowing cart which was sad.

Produce junction, that was like any other day.

Shop Rite was not at all bad (not like the zoo Friday). got the rest of the needed stuff (mostly some meat and deli items) and pretty quick checkout. So all in all, not at all bad. we also should not need to shop for quite a while unless run out of milk or meat or fresh veggies.

fintail

Cupholders are under the door in front of the square hockey puck - the door fully retracts. Not made for Super Big Gulps.

Driving the fintail again today as my road trip was canceled - no gas lineups anyway. I fear that's the next target of panic buying.

stickguy

Princess decided to get an apartment closer to work (she has been back home for about a month now, and really wants to get out in the world and away from town her where the former BF is) so yesterday we went and explored a trendy neighborhood in Wilmington. Actually a cool place. Took a look at an apartment that tickled her fancy and this plan (about the 75th version since she arrived bad) happened quick. So May 1, back to U Haul (hopefully they are open at that point) to move her on out again.

Going to be busy month. Son is supposed to close on his house purchase in NY on 5/18. Again hopefully people are allowed to go out and about by then. So I expect to be up for a few days helping paint, etc.

these kids need to pick a place and stay there for a while. Son should be good. daughter moves about ever 6-8 months now it seems.

going to be noisy around the house now. I am used to being home alone weekdays (permanent WFH) but daughter just found out she is WFH next week. Wife now was given option, but not required, but that of course could still happen.

stickguy

fintail said:

Cupholders are under the door in front of the square hockey puck - the door fully retracts. Not made for Super Big Gulps.

Driving the fintail again today as my road trip was canceled - no gas lineups anyway. I fear that's the next target of panic buying.

I think should be OK there, only because there is no place to go. Wife and I had a weekend away scheduled for next week in the finger lakes but pretty sure the wine tour we were going to do is being cancelled, so we will likely just cancel the hotel and stay home and work on cleaning the basement instead.

between that and not going out to dinner Fridays when the powers that be make restaurants close, at least will save quite a bit of money!

driver100

ab348 said:

Doesn't look as though M-B makes much provision for cup holders.

Cup holders are in that sliding door that looks like it could be a large ash tray. Power outlet is in there.

They don't have Big Gulps in Europe. A large coffee is smaller than a small one in the U.S.

driver100

gagrice said:

No Diesel, No Lexus. Besides no dealer where I live. I refuse to go to Las Vegas to buy and have service. So it is GM or Jeep/Chrysler for me.

Jeep is OK, nothing too spectacular though:

Now, the Hyundai Pallisade looks pretty good;

gagrice

I think the cup holders are just right on the new 2021 Chevy Tahoe. The cell charging pad is also convenient. I also love the color of the leather. I hate black leather, would never buy a vehicle that is black or has black leather. Way too hot in the Summer.

gagrice

stickguy said:

Princess decided to get an apartment closer to work (she has been back home for about a month now, and really wants to get out in the world and away from town her where the former BF is) so yesterday we went and explored a trendy neighborhood in Wilmington.

Mine is just the opposite. My daughter living in Indiana lost her husband to heart attack age 45. So she has no reason to stay there. Will sell her home and we are building her a new home next to ours on the golf course. I bought the two lots next to us to protect my view and she wanted to build on one. Cabinets just being installed. We are not getting any younger so be nice having her close by. Grandson sworn into Air Force after Purdue.

graphicguy

gagrice said:

No Diesel, No Lexus. Besides no dealer where I live. I refuse to go to Las Vegas to buy and have service. So it is GM or Jeep/Chrysler for me.

https://www.towbindodge.net/

abacomike

Southeast Florida Beaches were just closed and Spring Break has been cancelled until further notice. The decision by all the mayors of Southeast Florida was made after all of them agreed to the need to end the mass gathering of college and high school kids in, on and around the coastal beaches.

The entire community has been shut down except for gas stations, grocery stores, etc. Grocery stores and Walmart stores are closing at 8:00 PM every night and will reopen at 8:00 AM. Movie theaters are required to limit audiences to 50% of capacity and a minimum of 10 feet between patrons.

This is getting scary!

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

venture said:

Mrs. Venture just got home from grocery shopping. She said when she was at Walmart she was going to get chicken eggs. There was not an egg to be found.

Evidently that is going to be the next thing.

venture said:

Mrs. Venture just got home from grocery shopping. She said when she was at Walmart she was going to get chicken eggs. There was not an egg to be found.

Evidently that is going to be the next thing.

Are there some kind of other eggs?

Duck eggs.

If they sell duck eggs in a normal grocery store....I have never noticed them.

Probably sold out in the panic.

oldfarmer50

gagrice said:

I think the cup holders are just right on the new 2021 Chevy Tahoe. The cell charging pad is also convenient. I also love the color of the leather. I hate black leather, would never buy a vehicle that is black or has black leather. Way too hot in the Summer.

How much extra would you have to pay to get a nice interior like that?

fintail

I like having covers for my cupholders - I very seldom drink anything in the car anyway, no use having it open, looks better closed.

Drove around in the old car today, visited a friend, seemed to be a few people out for walks, at parks, etc, at least everyone isn't going insane. Planning on getting in some skating tomorrow, it'll either be packed with kids or deserted.

fintail

Local insanity via my cousin's social media feed:

stickguy

at least during the week, nothing going to change for me (other than having my wife and daughter around the house every day instead of just Friday when they both WFH anyway). I will still walk around the neighborhood with and without the dog, and might have to run out to Target or the supermarket once or twice for a few things. I don't normally do anything else so won't notice the restrictions.

it will impact our weekend getaway (now cancelled, but not something essential or that we normally do), but mostly if they close down eat in restaurants, will be a shock to not go out Friday evening for our weekly night out dinner.

People with active social lives and jobs they go to might have a serious shock to their system though.

stickguy

they still got SPAM! I would have bought a can.

seems that everyone has basically stocked up on 2 months worth of hard goods, and done next weeks shopping a week early. One of these days stores will be overflowing with stuff, because everyone will have full pantries and fridges!

fintail

I wonder if people are concerned about supply chain/delivery issues, or if this is just one thing they can control, and it is personal, so that's the psychology behind it.

Comment on my cousin's page:
Same amt of people out to me, still lines outside Costco, lines in tacoma fred Meyer. 20 to 30 min wait in line.
We have been out a few times and still cant find toilet paper. Larry went to Tacoma costco today and got paper towels but no toilet paper and if u want flour, forget it, cant find it, water, nope , this is beyond insane

driver100

gagrice said:

I think the cup holders are just right on the new 2021 Chevy Tahoe. The cell charging pad is also convenient. I also love the color of the leather. I hate black leather, would never buy a vehicle that is black or has black leather. Way too hot in the Summer.

gagrice, that interior looks better from that angle, you see the media center looks more integrated...not floating in mid air. I agree about black interiors and even black exteriors.....a black car can look good but not for me....my father said his last ride would be in a black car so he didn't want one. Black interior doesn't do much for me, having contrasting interior is a big bonus.

Sorry to hear about your daughter losing her husband, especially at such a young age. Life is fragile....nice that you can help her out.

driver100

We are supposed to self quarantine for 2 weeks since we flew back from out of the country. We will try, but not OCD about this. We did try ordering groceries online for the first time....it is kind of fun. For a $10 delivery charge it is worth it, if you consider cost of gas and time. They allowed you to buy one package of T-paper, but we could get a 20 pack of the one with the bear on the package, and 20 with the kitten. Great, the stores are sold out, amazon says they won't have any until May.
I could get used to buying groceries online....and bonus, less chance of someone slamming my car with their door, or shopping cart.

nyccarguy

@gagrice - I remember that name from way back when. Welcome back. I’m so sorry to hear about your son in law’s untimely death. This April 1, my brother in law will have been dead 3 years already. He was 41.

stickguy

We would have trouble ordering groceries online. especially the wife. She is especially picky about which item she gets (produce, meat, etc.). Even though she complains about not wanting to go most of the time.

Fin, I think it is just uncertainty that freaks people out. and since not much that you can do otherwise, they buy essentials. And after stories about Italy, and rumors about closures, not taking any chances on stores closing or being stuck in the house and not able to get things you need later.

roadburner

My first assistant's daughter just came back from a semester in London, so according to the emergency court rules she can't come to the courthouse for 14 days. My part-time assistant is high risk due to age and high blood pressure, so it looks like I'll be the only one o deck. It's a good thing I thrive on chaos.

qbrozen

graphicguy said:

gagrice said:

No Diesel, No Lexus. Besides no dealer where I live. I refuse to go to Las Vegas to buy and have service. So it is GM or Jeep/Chrysler for me.

https://www.towbindodge.net/

Can’t believe they are still in business following the tv show. Maybe folks didn’t see it through the same lens as me.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

at least during the week, nothing going to change for me (other than having my wife and daughter around the house every day instead of just Friday when they both WFH anyway). I will still walk around the neighborhood with and without the dog, and might have to run out to Target or the supermarket once or twice for a few things. I don't normally do anything else so won't notice the restrictions.

it will impact our weekend getaway (now cancelled, but not something essential or that we normally do), but mostly if they close down eat in restaurants, will be a shock to not go out Friday evening for our weekly night out dinner.

People with active social lives and jobs they go to might have a serious shock to their system though.

I’m going to work an extra day for the next two weeks because some of the health impaired guys have called out until this is over. I’ll wash my hands after each car I drive and try not to listen to the doom and gloom on the radio.

venture

driver100 said:

gagrice said:

No Diesel, No Lexus. Besides no dealer where I live. I refuse to go to Las Vegas to buy and have service. So it is GM or Jeep/Chrysler for me.

Jeep is OK, nothing too spectacular though:

Now, the Hyundai Pallisade looks pretty good;

driver100 said:

gagrice said:

No Diesel, No Lexus. Besides no dealer where I live. I refuse to go to Las Vegas to buy and have service. So it is GM or Jeep/Chrysler for me.

Jeep is OK, nothing too spectacular though:

Now, the Hyundai Pallisade looks pretty good;

graphicguy

qbrozen said:

graphicguy said:

gagrice said:

No Diesel, No Lexus. Besides no dealer where I live. I refuse to go to Las Vegas to buy and have service. So it is GM or Jeep/Chrysler for me.

https://www.towbindodge.net/

Can’t believe they are still in business following the tv show. Maybe folks didn’t see it through the same lens as me.

Didn’t realize they were still around, either. Kind of stereotypical of everything we all hate about the car business.

This was a few years ago, but I had read that Josh Towbin (The Chopper) filed for bankruptcy. Not sure what became of that, or him.

graphicguy

Kia Teluride interior was gorgeous when I got a chance to see it at the auto show a month or so, ago.

graphicguy

Went to Costco yesterday. Not bad as it was less crowded than usual for a Sunday. Lady supervising the bottled water, paper towels and TP, only allowing a certain number of each for each family. She was jovial about it.

Still can’t understand why people can’t get a glass of water from their tap or their refrigerator.

I bought eggs, some apples, a nice package of rib eyes and organic chicken breasts. Check out was quick and easy, too.

While my office is in my home, my company has stopped all travel (which I do a lot of). So, aside from a couple of emails asking about topics I can’t answer as the people I travel to see are also on “lockdown”, this is turning into a forced vacation, except I can’t go anywhere.

dino001

I get sanitizer-related buying (wipes, gels, etc.), but bottled water has baffled me completely. It's not a hurricane,
when your electricity and water can get shut off, the virus does not transmit through tap water, so this is complete nonsense, unless one needs bottled water for their daily in activities outside. Same thing with toilet paper or towels. I basically buy it in bulk at Costco and then use it until it's gone. One bag is usually good for months. Not sure how much one has to use to run through those in couple of weeks of shutdown (if one were to come) in order to needing more than a regular replenishment. Or large quantities of certain foods. Seems like people just rush in to feel good that they're "doing something". I'm sure the manufacturers will keep supplying them in weeks to come. As far as I know, nobody has bombed their facilities, or roads that lead to stores. So far, anyway.

abacomike

dino001 said:

I get sanitizer-related buying (wipes, gels, etc.), but bottled water has baffled me completely. It's not a hurricane,
when your electricity and water can get shut off, the virus does not transmit through tap water, so this is complete nonsense, unless one needs bottled water for their daily in activities outside. Same thing with toilet paper or towels. I basically buy it in bulk at Costco and then use it until it's gone. One bag is usually good for months. Not sure how much one has to use to run through those in couple of weeks of shutdown (if one were to come) in order to needing more than a regular replenishment. Or large quantities of certain foods. Seems like people just rush in to feel good that they're "doing something". I'm sure the manufacturers will keep supplying them in weeks to come. As far as I know, nobody has bombed their facilities, or roads that lead to stores. So far, anyway.

I buy those Charmin Megarolls - 6=36 - a package of 6 rolls lasts me a month or longer if I get "constipated"! 😜😜😛😋

abacomike

Ouch - stock market down 2500+ points. So much for the Feds rate reduction to almost zero to stimulate the economy.

I have a jumbo CD maturing this Friday. I'll have to put the money into my checking account - why put the money in a CD for 6-8-12 months at .5% interest rate - tying up the money?

qbrozen

I counted last night. We still have 22 rolls in one bathroom from the jumbo pack we bought ... I don't even know when, but it has been a while. Probably another half dozen rolls in the other bathrooms.

imidazol97

dino001 said:

I get sanitizer-related buying (wipes, gels, etc.), but bottled water has baffled me completely. It's not a hurricane,
when your electricity and water can get shut off, the virus does not transmit through tap water, so this is complete nonsense, unless one needs bottled water for their daily in activities outside. Same thing with toilet paper or towels. I basically buy it in bulk at Costco and then use it until it's gone. One bag is usually good for months. Not sure how much one has to use to run through those in couple of weeks of shutdown (if one were to come) in order to needing more than a regular replenishment. Or large quantities of certain foods. Seems like people just rush in to feel good that they're "doing something". I'm sure the manufacturers will keep supplying them in weeks to come. As far as I know, nobody has bombed their facilities, or roads that lead to stores. So far, anyway.

dino001 said:

Seems like people just rush in to feel good that they're "doing something".

Someone else said that and I think that's a big factor. The media has been using that voice we've heard for years that cries of desperation that the end is coming. Or locally in most winters here "the white death" is coming--a snow storm.

Locally, about water supply, we had a bad experience because the mayor of Dayton and her minions had not prepared the two water treatment facilities for a tornado possibly cutting the power supplies. The supposed backup plan, generators in trucks to show up the next morning by noon, didn't appear until the next noon. And then only one plant was partially on line.

So about 1/3 of the city and County that it supplies water to lost pressure after a day or two. So I can understand the water mentality here, but most areas, nope. I suffered an intestinal upset after the supply was supposely safe to drink when pressure was restored because I "drank the water." I should have stayed on bottled gallons.

dino001 said:

I get sanitizer-related buying (wipes, gels, etc.), but bottled water has baffled me completely. It's not a hurricane,

This is a version of the other flu viruses, although the media has refused to use the word "flu." It's like the word smiths trying to control other talk about crises by the terminology.

The testing is going to show lots of cases that are mild, as shown by the data charts I posted recently. A few of the cases will be more noticeable infections. A few of us oldies are more at risk of respiratory problems. Each year the flu culls some of us weaker elements. This one will do the same, although some try to say that no one should die from diseases.

My wife and I were talking about how viruses would go through her elementary classroom and through the school building when other colds or flues to which the children had not been exposed to build up antibodies earlier. Some had quick cases a day or so after the first carrier appeared. A few had severe cases. Same for the workplace I observed.

We're going to Chick Fil A for lunch today. Inside dining at restaurants has been curtailed. Appropriately. Probably about 2 weeks late doing it in terms of best effecting a lowering of the spread rate of the flu which is the goal of Ohio's plan.

fintail

I should buy some TP supplier stock, seems to be a solid business.

Got a report this morning that there were plenty of shoppers when local supermarkets opened at 5-6am this morning. Fred Meyer apparently had some TP and sanitizing wipes, but I bet those are depleted before noon,

ab348

The media in this has been a mix of good and bad. Even aside from the more questionable sources that provide alarmist reports to outright misinformation, in situations like this I think people would do well to disconnect from the constant stream of chatter/noise that one finds online or on news channels. It can cause significant stress if you don't pick your spots, process that, then do something else for a while. A constant stream of bad/horrific/worrisome news isn't good for anyone.

But then you have members of the media who think it is their job to try to make politicians look bad. Now sometimes that is deserved, but I witnessed something last night that just made me cringe. The video is here:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1239335937060016128

Now the blonde lady in the center is the federal Minister of Tourism I believe, or Heritage, some insignificant Ministry, and she does herself no favors with her dumb grin and nodding. But the reporter on the left screaming at her over the voices of other reporters is ridiculous. That reporter (who I sort of know, because I met her when she used to be a local reporter here before moving to cover federal politics) is trying to make the politicians look incompetent, which they may well be given that they are elected officials, but also doesn't realize how she is making herself look dumb. Her key point seems to be why there were not people from the govt at airports telling arriving international passengers everything they needed to do in the crisis. A fair question. But screaming and trying to shout over the questions from other reporters is a very bad look. As is the total lack of recognition that this is a very junior member of Cabinet, in a department without a large staff that could be mobilized at zero notice on a weekend, without any kind of coordination or clear direction. That is not the way bureaucracies work, especially federal bureaucracies. Surely a political reporter would know that. Even the military can't do anything useful that they have not already planned or practiced for. Plus this is a very fluid situation, with things developing by the hour, and everyone is flying by the seat of their pants to some extent. But this reporter seemed to have making someone look bad as her prime objective. I'm not sure what value that adds.

driver100

stickguy said:

We would have trouble ordering groceries online. especially the wife. She is especially picky about which item she gets (produce, meat, etc.). Even though she complains about not wanting to go most of the time.

Fin, I think it is just uncertainty that freaks people out. and since not much that you can do otherwise, they buy essentials. And after stories about Italy, and rumors about closures, not taking any chances on stores closing or being stuck in the house and not able to get things you need later.

I didn't like the idea of buying groceries online, but, when we did it, it is fun....and, you actually see some alternatives that may work out better. We have a Wallymart down the street, so we also placed an order with them that we drive in and pick up....I might get used to shopping like this.

About the water in bottles. I need them for sports, if I use one of those aluminum things I forget them and lose them. Water costs about 12 cents a bottle...rather forget that. And, some people, like my brother lives in an apartment, if the electricity goes off, water won't get pumped to the 12th floor. Another thing is people think "DISASTER", and that fresh water somehow won't be available.

Stocking up on toilet paper makes no sense...except, if people are doing it it forces you to do it too :@

tjc78

Before I got laid off we did the online ordering where you just pick it up at store. We buy our produce at a small produce chain we have in the area so still have to stop in there.

I grocery shopped this morning. I'll confess... I stocked up. Did what I would consider a two week shop. It's not that I'm worried about getting supplies, but I just don't want to deal with the chaos!

Store was restocking everything. There was nothing I couldn't get unless I needed TP. They had a two package limit on all fresh chicken products.

Kids are off from school starting tomorrow, wife's office is most likely going to shift to WFH. It's going to be a fun few weeks!

28firefighter

I heard things articulated best this way: If we look back on this experience and say that we probably overreacted in terms of restrictions, then that means we likely did it right.

Even though our child care facility is still open, we made the difficult decision to pull the little one. I'm a high risk patient and given the incubation period, I could end up needing serious intervention at a time when the hospitals are starting to get overrun. Better just to suck it up and keep all of us in.

tjc78

We are pulling my daughter out of her child care as well. I told them this morning that this is her last day there today, permanently. She only goes two days a week and it's 13 miles from my home and no longer convenient anyway (it's right by my old office). They also have been bought yet again by some large corporate outfit and is just not the same place it was when family owned despite having many of the same teachers.

Once I'm settled in a new position we will just find her something closer or near where my wife grabs the train. Our town does a 5 day a week pre-school starting Sept so we would only need a few months elsewhere or maybe just wait until summer camps start.

graphicguy

abacomike said:

Ouch - stock market down 2500+ points. So much for the Feds rate reduction to almost zero to stimulate the economy.

I have a jumbo CD maturing this Friday. I'll have to put the money into my checking account - why put the money in a CD for 6-8-12 months at .5% interest rate - tying up the money?

Well...that CD is due in just about the time you’re thinking of buying another car. You’re good to go!

tjc78

Oh boy..NJ just ordered all bars, restaurants and schools closed.

stickguy

I thought schools already were. I am going to miss bars and restaurants though!

Are they allowing take out or drive thru at least?

snakeweasel

qbrozen said:

I counted last night. We still have 22 rolls in one bathroom from the jumbo pack we bought ... I don't even know when, but it has been a while. Probably another half dozen rolls in the other bathrooms.

Ok now we are talking about how many rolls of TP we have. Everytime I think we have discussed it all you guys surprise me.

tjc78

stickguy said:

I thought schools already were. I am going to miss bars and restaurants though!

Are they allowing take out or drive thru at least?

Schools weren't mandatory yet.

I'm not sure about take out. They didn't say and the article doesn't specify

ab348

snakeweasel said:

qbrozen said:

I counted last night. We still have 22 rolls in one bathroom from the jumbo pack we bought ... I don't even know when, but it has been a while. Probably another half dozen rolls in the other bathrooms.

Ok now we are talking about how many rolls of TP we have. Everytime I think we have discussed it all you guys surprise me.

You're just sore because @qbrozen has more TP than you do. :laughing:

I've got 24 rolls here, bought long ago. I have a habit of buying the stuff when I see it on a good sale, and over that last couple of months that happened a few times. I'm fixed for paper towels too.

snakeweasel

tjc78 said:

Oh boy..NJ just ordered all bars, restaurants and schools closed.

They did that here in Illinois, just pickup and deliveries are going to be allowed.

stickguy

We do too, just turns out it hasn’t happened lately on a few things we buy in bulk.