Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

qbrozen

Several pieces of our sectional were delivered today from Bob’s. I had a $20 in my pocket to give the guys when done. They brought the items into the living room and set them down. I started pointing out what order they get connected in and where to set it up. He said “oh, you can take care of that when we’re gone.” Needless to say, the $20 stayed in my pocket.

explorerx4

I guess that's a good reason Bob's furniture is cheap.

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

Several pieces of our sectional were delivered today from Bob’s. I had a $20 in my pocket to give the guys when done. They brought the items into the living room and set them down. I started pointing out what order they get connected in and where to set it up. He said “oh, you can take care of that when we’re gone.” Needless to say, the $20 stayed in my pocket.

Gee, I tipped the two guys who delivered my dryer $20 and they didn’t have to climb stairs or even plug it in. Better hope Bob doesn’t come over to tell you off.

explorerx4

I have been by this store a million times.
Bob's Discount Furniture was founded in 1991 with its first store in Newington, Connecticut.

snakeweasel

oldfarmer50 said:

snakeweasel said:

A couple of car observations, first I saw a Range Rover Evoque convertible yesterday. Who thought that was a good idea?

Second on the way home I saw a 70's maybe early 80's corvette with a targa top. From the back I could see that the top of the drivers head was about 2 or 3 inches higher than the roof line of the vette.

Ha ha, that was probably a flashback of me driving my 84’ Corvette. With the top on my head was tilted sideways so it was fun to pop the top, throw it in the trunk and let my head stick out.

Speaking of drop tops I got to drive a Mazda MX5 yesterday. Made the Corvette feel like a limousine. While it felt fairly comfortable once you were in it, getting in and out was an adventure. When I got out the 3 hairs on the top of my head were totally messed up from the wind.

just to get the picture here is oldfarmer with his hair messed up from the wind.

imidazol97

My Cruze is going to need a new battery. It had not cranked as strongly as it did a couple weeks ago yesterday. Today it's really going weak. Tonight I checked it with my tester right after driving to library and back: 37%. Two weeks ago it was 75%. I guess late 2014 to now is 6. 8 years or so. And much of it's life it was outside with junior started it in really cold weather.

snakeweasel

More car observations. I was on my way home today on the bike and the low fuel light starts a blinking. So I head to our friendly neighborhood Shell station to fill up the tank. I pull up next to someone filling up a Chevy Suburban. As he is filling up his truck I shut off my bike, take off my helmet and gloves, walk into the gas station give the lady a $10 for my gas, go back outside fill up my bike (a whole $8 and change worth of gas), go back to the cashier and get my change, go back out to my bike suit up and go away. As I am leaving the guy in the Suburban is still pumping gas into his truck.

oldfarmer50

snakeweasel said:

oldfarmer50 said:

snakeweasel said:

A couple of car observations, first I saw a Range Rover Evoque convertible yesterday. Who thought that was a good idea?

Second on the way home I saw a 70's maybe early 80's corvette with a targa top. From the back I could see that the top of the drivers head was about 2 or 3 inches higher than the roof line of the vette.

Ha ha, that was probably a flashback of me driving my 84’ Corvette. With the top on my head was tilted sideways so it was fun to pop the top, throw it in the trunk and let my head stick out.

Speaking of drop tops I got to drive a Mazda MX5 yesterday. Made the Corvette feel like a limousine. While it felt fairly comfortable once you were in it, getting in and out was an adventure. When I got out the 3 hairs on the top of my head were totally messed up from the wind.

just to get the picture here is oldfarmer with his hair messed up from the wind.

abacomike

My G90 will be 6 months old in 4 weeks and has only 2404 miles on it. I got a message on my heads-up display that the car needs to go in for maintenance service next month. So I called and made an appointment for September 28th for oil and filter change, vehicle inspection, top off all fluids, etc. and a complimentary service G90 loaner. They offered to bring me my loaner and drive my car in for service and then return my car at end of day, but I don’t like people driving my car so I will drop it off.

My maintenance costs are covered for the first 3 years which includes belts, hoses, oil, filters including oil, air, and internal filters, wiper blades, disc brakes, etc. Based on my city driving and very little highway use, the car should go in for service every 6 months.

Car is under bumper-to-bumper warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first. They sure do stand behind their vehicles.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

My Cruze is going to need a new battery. It had not cranked as strongly as it did a couple weeks ago yesterday. Today it's really going weak. Tonight I checked it with my tester right after driving to library and back: 37%. Two weeks ago it was 75%. I guess late 2014 to now is 6. 8 years or so. And much of it's life it was outside with junior started it in really cold weather.

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Yeh, if the headlights and radio don't come on, then the first thing to check is the battery....smart thinking!
Batteries should last 5 years, after that you are on borrowed time. It is better to replace it at your convenience, rather than getting stuck somewhere....you were lucky it went at a fairly good time.

explorerx4

@snakeweasel,
You figured out it takes less time to pump 2 gallons versus 20.
Good job.

snakeweasel

explorerx4 said:

@snakeweasel,
You figured out it takes less time to pump 2 gallons versus 20.
Good job.

Not only pumping gas but getting off some of my gear, going into the building to prepay and going back to get my change then putting my gear back on. Not exactly fast when you're not paying at the pump. Pumping the gas is quick, doing all the other stuff takes a lot more time, especially when there is a line for the cashier.

stickguy

I hate having to buy gas out of state. Unless I am at a station where I have the branded CC (Sunoco, Shell or Exxon/Mobil, all of which are rare in my area now) I always use cash. But that is just handing it to the attendant that does the pumping. Having to do all that nonsense of going inside to prepay, then getting change, is for the birds.

so when travelling I make sure to find one of those brand stations. Thankfully they are more common elsewhere. If desperate I use a regular CC.

qbrozen

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

Several pieces of our sectional were delivered today from Bob’s. I had a $20 in my pocket to give the guys when done. They brought the items into the living room and set them down. I started pointing out what order they get connected in and where to set it up. He said “oh, you can take care of that when we’re gone.” Needless to say, the $20 stayed in my pocket.

Gee, I tipped the two guys who delivered my dryer $20 and they didn’t have to climb stairs or even plug it in. Better hope Bob doesn’t come over to tell you off.

They sent me a review link. I was very specific, telling them I could recommend them ONLY if the person was able-bodied. Had I been elderly and/or feeble, what then? I gotta call another company to come move my new furniture?

snakeweasel

stickguy said:

I hate having to buy gas out of state. Unless I am at a station where I have the branded CC (Sunoco, Shell or Exxon/Mobil, all of which are rare in my area now) I always use cash. But that is just handing it to the attendant that does the pumping. Having to do all that nonsense of going inside to prepay, then getting change, is for the birds.

so when travelling I make sure to find one of those brand stations. Thankfully they are more common elsewhere. If desperate I use a regular CC.

I don't think that I have seen an attendant pump gas since the 80's.

stickguy

snakeweasel said:

stickguy said:

I hate having to buy gas out of state. Unless I am at a station where I have the branded CC (Sunoco, Shell or Exxon/Mobil, all of which are rare in my area now) I always use cash. But that is just handing it to the attendant that does the pumping. Having to do all that nonsense of going inside to prepay, then getting change, is for the birds.

so when travelling I make sure to find one of those brand stations. Thankfully they are more common elsewhere. If desperate I use a regular CC.

I don't think that I have seen an attendant pump gas since the 80's.

one of the few benefits to living in NJ!

qbrozen

stickguy said:

snakeweasel said:

stickguy said:

I hate having to buy gas out of state. Unless I am at a station where I have the branded CC (Sunoco, Shell or Exxon/Mobil, all of which are rare in my area now) I always use cash. But that is just handing it to the attendant that does the pumping. Having to do all that nonsense of going inside to prepay, then getting change, is for the birds.

so when travelling I make sure to find one of those brand stations. Thankfully they are more common elsewhere. If desperate I use a regular CC.

I don't think that I have seen an attendant pump gas since the 80's.

one of the few benefits to living in NJ!

isn't it really odd that NJ manages to have competitive gas prices yet manage to pay attendants? Huh. Makes you wonder why all the stations in all the other states need to make so much more money.

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

Several pieces of our sectional were delivered today from Bob’s. I had a $20 in my pocket to give the guys when done. They brought the items into the living room and set them down. I started pointing out what order they get connected in and where to set it up. He said “oh, you can take care of that when we’re gone.” Needless to say, the $20 stayed in my pocket.

Gee, I tipped the two guys who delivered my dryer $20 and they didn’t have to climb stairs or even plug it in. Better hope Bob doesn’t come over to tell you off.

They sent me a review link. I was very specific, telling them I could recommend them ONLY if the person was able-bodied. Had I been elderly and/or feeble, what then? I gotta call another company to come move my new furniture?

I think companies are using covid to cheap out on all sorts of service.

Sandman6472

Had a similar issue the last time I drove a Mazda MX-5 at work, the ingress/egress was quite laughable! Once I got in, all was fine and was a hoot to drive but just getting in & knowing how hard it was going to be to get out, took most of the fun away. Still, whenever we have to move one, my lead throws me the keys and starts laughing!
Still at my Toyota shuttle gig for the time being. Have decided to wait till years end, if I can wait that long, and re-evaluate then. They just hired a new guy to replace the one that left and hear the guy who left last month wants to come back. So, employee wise, we're in good shape. And it's turning out to only get me an extra $100 a week, give or take, so just not sure how long I'm going to stay. Definitely like the Enterprise gig much more and hoping they bring back that 4th day, and if they do, I'll give my notice at Toyota. But for now, staying the course.

venture

qbrozen said:

stickguy said:

snakeweasel said:

stickguy said:

I hate having to buy gas out of state. Unless I am at a station where I have the branded CC (Sunoco, Shell or Exxon/Mobil, all of which are rare in my area now) I always use cash. But that is just handing it to the attendant that does the pumping. Having to do all that nonsense of going inside to prepay, then getting change, is for the birds.

so when travelling I make sure to find one of those brand stations. Thankfully they are more common elsewhere. If desperate I use a regular CC.

I don't think that I have seen an attendant pump gas since the 80's.

one of the few benefits to living in NJ!

isn't it really odd that NJ manages to have competitive gas prices yet manage to pay attendants? Huh. Makes you wonder why all the stations in all the other states need to make so much more money.

The oldest gas station in America still has attendants.

tjc78

@qbrozen said:
isn't it really odd that NJ manages to have competitive gas prices yet manage to pay attendants? Huh. Makes you wonder why all the stations in all the other states need to make so much more money.

I think we are still taxed on it less than some other states.

I’m the minority but wouldn’t care if we had to pump our own. Sometimes it would be faster. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve pulled up to the pump and there were 8 pumps but 4 had cones in front and a line for the other 4.

tjc78

RE:Bobs… (Jmonroe style post)

We ordered a “sectional” but in pieces to create our movie room seating.

First delivery - they sent one chair in the wrong orientation and the two middle consoles were sent back because they didn’t have the back piece.

Second delivery - only brought missing chair, still in the wrong orientation

Third delivery - only brought the consoles. I was on a call, and came out of my office to see them packing them back up. I asked what was wrong. They said both don’t have the backs. I said, wait a minute. That makes 4. Impossible. So I looked at it and lifted it up. It felt heavy so I turned it upside down and the there was a zippered compartment and the back was inside.

Fourth delivery - Via me and my Enclave because I didn’t want them back in my house. Told them they give me my money back for delivery or I dispute my credit card charge.

Oh and yes .. despite paying for the better delivery option they never hooked them together and didn’t plug them in correctly so the headrests didn’t work.

explorerx4

When I buy gas, I tap my card on the pump, then fill up. Usually, there is a button push if you want a receipt, too.

bwia

The bad news. As predicted Hurricane Ida hit land at 140 mph and dumped a lot of rain. In New Orleans, the levees held and loss of life was small considering what it could have been.

The bad news. Unlike Hurricane Harvey that destroyed over 1 million cars in Texas, flood damaged cars by Hurricane Ida will be much, much less. In New Orleans, the rules were changed to allow cars to park on grassy medians. Putting vehicles there save them from flood waters. Thus fewer flood damaged cars available for sale at auctions.

This person was not so lucky

benjaminh

As you can tell, I've been going down the rabbit hole a bit with tires. Got curious and looked up the tire size of one of the first cars I ever drove.

1966 VOLKSWAGEN Beetle: 165/80 R15, Factory tire size

They still make this tire size, but it's strange by today's standards. So narrow, and yet with quite a large aspect ratio. It was my Mom's car, and was a convertible. Didn't seem very safe to drive it over about 60 or so, and the tires were part of that.

driver100

bwia said:

The bad news. As predicted Hurricane Ida hit land at 140 mph and dumped a lot of rain. In New Orleans, the levees held and loss of life was small considering what it could have been.

The bad news. Unlike Hurricane Harvey that destroyed over 1 million cars in Texas, flood damaged cars by Hurricane Ida will be much, much less. In New Orleans, the rules were changed to allow cars to park on grassy medians. Putting vehicles there save them from flood waters. Thus fewer flood damaged cars available for sale at auctions.

I like that borscht colored car but can't make out what it is....maybe a Packard or Ford Fairlane?
btw...what is a gas attendant?

qbrozen

@tjc78 said:

@qbrozen said:
isn't it really odd that NJ manages to have competitive gas prices yet manage to pay attendants? Huh. Makes you wonder why all the stations in all the other states need to make so much more money.

I think we are still taxed on it less than some other states.

I’m the minority but wouldn’t care if we had to pump our own. Sometimes it would be faster. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve pulled up to the pump and there were 8 pumps but 4 had cones in front and a line for the other 4.

I’d get along fine without them. But you know damned well gas prices would not decrease as a result. Plus, I do appreciate that it creates more jobs.

tjc78

Agreed on the jobs.

dino001

stickguy said:

I hate having to buy gas out of state. Unless I am at a station where I have the branded CC (Sunoco, Shell or Exxon/Mobil, all of which are rare in my area now) I always use cash. But that is just handing it to the attendant that does the pumping. Having to do all that nonsense of going inside to prepay, then getting change, is for the birds.

so when travelling I make sure to find one of those brand stations. Thankfully they are more common elsewhere. If desperate I use a regular CC.

I'm not sure if I get the fuss, to be honest. Are you afraid of skimming theft? I usually use large branded large gas stations and pretty much always pay at pump with credit card that gives me highest rewards for the activity, usually my Costco Visa. With current chip technology or contactless payments skimming numbers from magnetic strips is much less of an issue than it used to be. But I don't travel a lot these days anyway.

dino001

oldfarmer50 said:

I think companies are using covid to cheap out on all sorts of service.

I think this was a trend before Covid, but it accelerated. Service is often cut (we can't because of covid), but prices are raised (we had to because of covid). Without covid there would have been other excuses, but the companies would also have been much more cautious, because competition may not be as keen to do the same.

dino001

qbrozen said:

isn't it really odd that NJ manages to have competitive gas prices yet manage to pay attendants? Huh. Makes you wonder why all the stations in all the other states need to make so much more money.

I remember being surprised to see relatively modest premium on gas price in NJ in comparison with neighboring self-serve states (sometimes even cheaper, compare NY). It seems it all boils down to taxes. The estimates are attendant put less than 10 cents premium, which is not as much as I expected, but it makes sense - it's a different math, if full service is optional, as it has to distribute over much lower number people. At the same time NY taxes are as much as 26 cents higher per gallon. Bottom line, it seems full service premium is not as high, if it's doled out to everybody. Another benefit to NJ may be proximity of large oil refinery installations and ports, making transportation of the finished product to sales point much less expensive than places further away.

stickguy

NJ used to be very low taxes. A few years back they raised them so now we are nearer the top. But 1/1, they are going down a little!

stickguy

I don’t like to give me date to anybody. Including at restaurants. Gas stations were always reported to be hotbeds for skimming.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

I don’t like to give me date to anybody. Including at restaurants. Gas stations were always reported to be hotbeds for skimming.

They can't skim with chip readers. I can't imagine going in to the cash register twice, to fill up. You have a bigger chance of getting scammed by a table service restaurant.

That's one thing I liked in Europe. Your credit card never leaves your sight. They bring the mobile credit card reader to the table.

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

stickguy said:

snakeweasel said:

stickguy said:

I hate having to buy gas out of state. Unless I am at a station where I have the branded CC (Sunoco, Shell or Exxon/Mobil, all of which are rare in my area now) I always use cash. But that is just handing it to the attendant that does the pumping. Having to do all that nonsense of going inside to prepay, then getting change, is for the birds.

so when travelling I make sure to find one of those brand stations. Thankfully they are more common elsewhere. If desperate I use a regular CC.

I don't think that I have seen an attendant pump gas since the 80's.

one of the few benefits to living in NJ!

isn't it really odd that NJ manages to have competitive gas prices yet manage to pay attendants? Huh. Makes you wonder why all the stations in all the other states need to make so much more money.

A lot of it has to do with taxes. NJ used to be 40-50 cents cheaper than NY but now they raised gas taxes almost to par.

oldfarmer50

Sandman6472 said:

Had a similar issue the last time I drove a Mazda MX-5 at work, the ingress/egress was quite laughable! Once I got in, all was fine and was a hoot to drive but just getting in & knowing how hard it was going to be to get out, took most of the fun away. Still, whenever we have to move one, my lead throws me the keys and starts laughing!
Still at my Toyota shuttle gig for the time being. Have decided to wait till years end, if I can wait that long, and re-evaluate then. They just hired a new guy to replace the one that left and hear the guy who left last month wants to come back. So, employee wise, we're in good shape. And it's turning out to only get me an extra $100 a week, give or take, so just not sure how long I'm going to stay. Definitely like the Enterprise gig much more and hoping they bring back that 4th day, and if they do, I'll give my notice at Toyota. But for now, staying the course.

We were talking amongst ourselves the other day about how we came to work for Enterprise and one guy said he was talking to a former coworker who had done rental transport after he retired. He asked the coworker what the job was like. “Old men laughing all day” was the response.

oldfarmer50

bwia said:

The bad news. As predicted Hurricane Ida hit land at 140 mph and dumped a lot of rain. In New Orleans, the levees held and loss of life was small considering what it could have been.

The bad news. Unlike Hurricane Harvey that destroyed over 1 million cars in Texas, flood damaged cars by Hurricane Ida will be much, much less. In New Orleans, the rules were changed to allow cars to park on grassy medians. Putting vehicles there save them from flood waters. Thus fewer flood damaged cars available for sale at auctions.

This person was not so lucky

What’s your guess on that bottom car, hydrolocked?

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

I don’t like to give me date to anybody. Including at restaurants. Gas stations were always reported to be hotbeds for skimming.

I’m with you, cash only. I don’t need the CIA knowing my business.🤫🤫🤫

stickguy

Stations by me, and ones I used up near old farmer land, still use readers where you stick the card in the slot.

qbrozen

oldfarmer50 said:

What’s your guess on that bottom car, hydrolocked?

The level in that pic isn't high enough, but never know what they might have driven through before the car came to a stop. A common mistake is driving too slow. An low-powered engine at idle may not push enough air to prevent the exhaust from filling with water and creating enough backpressure to stop the engine.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

I don’t like to give me date to anybody. Including at restaurants. Gas stations were always reported to be hotbeds for skimming.

I’m with you, cash only. I don’t need the CIA knowing my business.🤫🤫🤫

Is that why you live off the grid?

bwia

I wonder who came up with that neutral ground parking idea, an insurance company perhaps? I like that.

jmonroe1

@tjc78 said:
RE:Bobs… (Jmonroe style post)

We ordered a “sectional” but in pieces to create our movie room seating.

First delivery - they sent one chair in the wrong orientation and the two middle consoles were sent back because they didn’t have the back piece.

Second delivery - only brought missing chair, still in the wrong orientation

Third delivery - only brought the consoles. I was on a call, and came out of my office to see them packing them back up. I asked what was wrong. They said both don’t have the backs. I said, wait a minute. That makes 4. Impossible. So I looked at it and lifted it up. It felt heavy so I turned it upside down and the there was a zippered compartment and the back was inside.

Fourth delivery - Via me and my Enclave because I didn’t want them back in my house. Told them they give me my money back for delivery or I dispute my credit card charge.

Oh and yes .. despite paying for the better delivery option they never hooked them together and didn’t plug them in correctly so the headrests didn’t work.

Sad outcome but that’s a pi$$ poor attempt of a jmonroe length story. 😫

jmonroe

dino001

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

I don’t like to give me date to anybody. Including at restaurants. Gas stations were always reported to be hotbeds for skimming.

I’m with you, cash only. I don’t need the CIA knowing my business.🤫🤫🤫

You're so interesting that I'm sure they monitor you 25/8.

benjaminh

Here's my report on my new tires as compared to my old Goodyear Eagle LS-2 tires.

Quietness: Here the Goodyear has a small edge, but it was an exceptionally quiet tire. The Michelin CrossClimate2 is still a quiet tire that's good for a luxury car.

Comfort: About equal I think, but I need to drive the new tires longer to be sure. Both very comfortable.

MPG: As expected, the Goodyear Eagles seem to have an edge, with the new CrossClimate tires getting maybe 1-2 mpg lower on the highway. But I need to do another drive with a route I'm familiar with to really see about mpg.

Lateral grip: Wow. Big difference. Where the Goodyear tires were quite melodramatic, squealing for mercy at moderate speeds around corners, and seeming like they might lose grip, the Michelin tires are great in comparison. No drama. Excellent road grip in corners. More fun to drive. Major upgrade. Safer. Took some twisting 2-lane country roads I'm quite familiar with, as well as a steeply banked cloverleaf onramp that's a favorite, and it's clear the Michelin tires are on a whole different level.

Stopping distance: Didn't try a panic stop, but going downhill on a country road with no one behind me I did a rapid stop from a good speed up to a stop sign, and the CC tires seemed to stop significantly faster and with greater confidence.

On center feel: This was a surprise, but perhaps because of the directional V pattern of the tread it seems like the on-center feel for the new tires is much better. I like the road feel. I feel more connected to the car and to the road with the Michelin tires.

Dry day today in Louisville, and so not sure when I'll get to try out the two strongest areas for the CC tires—wet traction and snow traction, but right now I'm feeling confident the tires will live up to expectations.

Overall well worth it to me for $750 and the small (I hope) mpg hit for the performance upgrade.

stickguy

Tire basics 101. Higher MPG = lower rolling resistance = less cornering grip. Almost always.

sda

The tread pattern on the Cross Climate2 is odd looking, more like a snow tire. They have received stellar reviews.

explorerx4

The owner's manual for my MKZ said tires would take 300 miles to break in.
Filled up the Explorer today, averaged 25 mpg for the tank.
Also, new distance high, 413 miles with DTE still reading 25 left.
A couple of 70 mile rt airport runs and another couple of 50 mile rt's, but rest was just local driving one store or another.

Michaell

While I don't think this was deliberate, my granddaughter arrived early this morning and was named after a car.

Meet Adalynn Nova Marie, who came into the world at 4:47am Pacific time at 6 lbs, 2 oz and 19.5" long.

I guess I should be glad they didn't name her XT6. Or MDX.

[Deleted User]

Congrats @Michaell!! Hope everyone is doing well. Is this the first grandbaby?