Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

jmonroe1

@abacomike said:

@sda said:
Late 1967 I remember dad and mom bringing home a red on red 66 442 complete with red line tires. It was an auto, ac. We were still in St Pete. Dad had all three kids jump in for a ride. I remember when he jumped on it both mom and dad let out an expression of delight. Dad never cared for mom’s 63 Dynamic 88. Dad had a mechanic look the 442 over and found that it had a previous under hood fire. No sale. Mom looked great in that car. They kept the 63 until 70 when it was replaced with a 69 Olds 98, which later in 72 was replaced with a 72 Cutlass Supreme.

I bought a 1966 red GTO with Hurst 4 on the floor off the showroom floor. Just looking at it sitting there was enough to cause my body to shake. Just had to have it. I think I paid $3,200 for it which was sticker price with options. It had Tiger Paw red striped tires, black interior, and was faster than I could really handle at first.

Magnificent vehicle!

I didn’t know a ‘66 GTO was that inexpensive. My middle brother had a friend in the development we lived in that bought a ‘66 GTO with a Hurst 4 on the floor job that had 3 deuces. I’ll never forget the time he stopped to show it off and raised the hood one morning as I was leaving for work. That beast sounded like it wanted to eat something.

FWIW, I had just recently bought my first new car; a ‘66 Bonneville, automatic with a 389 engine that had a window sticker of $4009. That wouldn’t even buy very many option packages today.

jmonroe

Sandman6472

My grandpa had a '66 Olds Cutlass coupe and it was a pretty plain looking thing so my mom bought her folks a '67 Olds Cutlass Supreme 4-door, turquoise with a black vinyl top. After he passed in my senior year of high school, 1971, it became my daily driver and lasted me through college. It got painted a dark blue in the summer of 1973 and then light brown in 1976, looked quite sharp to. Found a set of 1962 Olds hubcaps for it, from a Starfire I'm guessing, that really completed the look. The a/c still worked and I had an FM converter installed a few years earlier. It got me up & back to school in New Orleans for my last 3 years as freshman were not allowed to have a vehicle parked on campus during weekdays.
Kept it till 1977 when I got that awful Buick Opel and never went back to a domestic again for my personal vehicle. My in-laws did buy us a 1985 Olds Cutlass Supreme, white with a blue vinyl top and wire wheel covers which looked rather upscale for it's time. That would be my wife's last domestic, as she also turned to foreign makes with her 1993 Toyota Camry.

explorerx4

This is a pretty awesome Steve Buscemi video.
Never would have figured this was his him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cmDztFWPTk

cdnpinhead

jmonroe1 said:

I had just recently bought my first new car; a ‘66 Bonneville, automatic with a 389 engine . . .

A friend and I rented one of those in '67 for a fancy double date. What a beast -- all it needed extra was navigation lights.

jmonroe1

@cdnpinhead said:
A friend and I rented one of those in '67 for a fancy double date. What a beast -- all it needed extra was navigation lights.

Needless to say whenever I double dated I was the driver. Even triple dated a few times and still had room to comfortably seat 6. Good old days for sure.

jmonroe

explorerx4

Anyone want to indulge their kids/grandkids?
Here you go.
https://www.wfsb.com/this-aston-martin-for-children-might-cost-more-than-your-real-car/article_a303a182-2660-54bb-84f2-a57708f7e3c4.html?block_id=994141

snakeweasel

explorerx4 said:

Anyone want to indulge their kids/grandkids?
Here you go.
https://www.wfsb.com/this-aston-martin-for-children-might-cost-more-than-your-real-car/article_a303a182-2660-54bb-84f2-a57708f7e3c4.html?block_id=994141

Save yourself $100K for $23K I'll send you one of these;

driver100

jmonroe1 said:

@abacomike said:

@sda said:

Late 1967 I remember dad and mom bringing home a red on red 66 442 complete with red line tires. It was an auto, ac. We were still in St Pete. Dad had all three kids jump in for a ride. I remember when he jumped on it both mom and dad let out an expression of delight. Dad never cared for mom’s 63 Dynamic 88. Dad had a mechanic look the 442 over and found that it had a previous under hood fire. No sale. Mom looked great in that car. They kept the 63 until 70 when it was replaced with a 69 Olds 98, which later in 72 was replaced with a 72 Cutlass Supreme.

I bought a 1966 red GTO with Hurst 4 on the floor off the showroom floor. Just looking at it sitting there was enough to cause my body to shake. Just had to have it. I think I paid $3,200 for it which was sticker price with options. It had Tiger Paw red striped tires, black interior, and was faster than I could really handle at first.

Magnificent vehicle!

I didn’t know a ‘66 GTO was that inexpensive.

FWIW, I had just recently bought my first new car; a ‘66 Bonneville, automatic with a 389 engine that had a window sticker of $4009. That wouldn’t even buy very many option packages today.

jmonroe

Maybe you overpaid!

driver100

I went to the local tennis store to get my racket restrung. Mike the owner mentioned he got a new Corvette....I took a look at it....it is beautiful, especially the inside. This is the mid-engine model...he had one before, I think a 2014....but he said there is no comparison...this one is a totally different and much better car. It looks good in this blue color;

ab348

driver100 said:

I went to the local tennis store to get my racket restrung. Mike the owner mentioned he got a new Corvette.

Who knew that restringing tennis rackets could be so lucrative!?!

driver100

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

I went to the local tennis store to get my racket restrung. Mike the owner mentioned he got a new Corvette.

Who knew that restringing tennis rackets could be so lucrative!?!

Usually it isn't. Tennis guys don't spend big buck$ like golfers do....but we worked it out and with restringing and selling top equipment he must be making $150k a year. That's just us trying to figure it out. Unless you make it into the top 30 or 40 players in the world you probably aren't making a whole lot.

sda

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

I went to the local tennis store to get my racket restrung. Mike the owner mentioned he got a new Corvette.

Who knew that restringing tennis rackets could be so lucrative!?!

Sounds like a racket to me. Sorry, couldn’t resist.

abacomike

I got some horrific news last night! My son’s X-wife texted me with a message, “Call Justin”! I was caught off guard, especially since it was out of the blue that she would text me. At first, I thought it was in error that she would text me. So I called her and left a message for her to call me back.

I then called my son, but it went right to voicemail. I then called his significant other which also went to voicemail. Finally, I called my grandson who is at college - he was sheepish and said my dad needs to answer my questions - he further stated that he should not be the one to share this information. I asked if he was in jail or was in a car accident. He finally broke down and I got enough information from him - my son has has a malignancy in his cervical spine high up just below his neck. My grandson asked me to not talk about it right now as he was pretty upset.

I then got a return call from my son’s X who explained that the tumor had “leaked” and she and Justin’s SO we’re at his house consoling him. The oncologist and orthopedic doctors took biopsies and are attempting to determine how best to treat the malignancy. They won’t have a course of therapy until lab work is done to determine the possibility of chemo and/or radiation. But I was told it doesn’t look good.

I am just devastated - he’s only 50 years old. I want to fly out there (Palm Desert CA) but with my health issues and bad back, that would be impossible - I would not be much help to anyone.

They assured me that they would keep me informed. I will be speaking with my daughter later this morning to get more details.

sda

abacomike said:

I got some horrific news last night! My son’s X-wife texted me with a message, “Call Justin”! I was caught off guard, especially since it was out of the blue that she would text me. At first, I thought it was in error that she would text me. So I called her and left a message for her to call me back.

I then called my son, but it went right to voicemail. I then called his significant other which also went to voicemail. Finally, I called my grandson who is at college - he was sheepish and said my dad needs to answer my questions - he further stated that he should not be the one to share this information. I asked if he was in jail or was in a car accident. He finally broke down and I got enough information from him - my son has has a malignancy in his cervical spine high up just below his neck. My grandson asked me to not talk about it right now as he was pretty upset.

I then got a return call from my son’s X who explained that the tumor had “leaked” and she and Justin’s SO we’re at his house consoling him. The oncologist and orthopedic doctors took biopsies and are attempting to determine how best to treat the malignancy. They won’t have a course of therapy until lab work is done to determine the possibility of chemo and/or radiation. But I was told it doesn’t look good.

I am just devastated - he’s only 50 years old. I want to fly out there (Palm Desert CA) but with my health issues and bad back, that would be impossible - I would not be much help to anyone.

They assured me that they would keep me informed. I will be speaking with my daughter later this morning to get more details.

Mike, that’s beyond horrible. I wish the best for your son and family. God Bless.
Steve

jmonroe1

@ab348 said:
Who knew that restringing tennis rackets could be so lucrative!?!

That’s what happens when you get @driver100 to over pay for racket restringing jobs.

jmonroe

stickguy

Mike, so sorry to hear. Terrible news, and way too young. Your family has been through the wringer already.

jmonroe1

@Mike, that is surely not good news but don’t jump to conclusions. He’s got your genes so he’ll fight this like you’ve done.

We’re all praying for him.

jmonroe

imidazol97

A study of the self-driving feature of a certain car brand.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/20/mit-study-finds-tesla-drivers-become-inattentive-when-autopilot-is-activated/

"A new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology lends credence to the idea that the FSD system, which despite its name is not actually an autonomous system but rather an advanced driver assist system (ADAS), may not actually be that safe. Researchers studying glance data from 290 human-initiated Autopilot disengagement epochs found drivers may become inattentive when using partially automated driving systems. "

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

I went to the local tennis store to get my racket restrung. Mike the owner mentioned he got a new Corvette....I took a look at it....it is beautiful, especially the inside. This is the mid-engine model...he had one before, I think a 2014....but he said there is no comparison...this one is a totally different and much better car. It looks good in this blue color;

Beautiful car but did you try to sit in it? I sat in one and that center console really intrudes into the driver’s space. It was more cramped than my C4 and that’s saying something. The space issue turned me off to considering one but that was always more fantasy anyway.

oldfarmer50

abacomike said:

I got some horrific news last night! My son’s X-wife texted me with a message, “Call Justin”! I was caught off guard, especially since it was out of the blue that she would text me. At first, I thought it was in error that she would text me. So I called her and left a message for her to call me back.

I then called my son, but it went right to voicemail. I then called his significant other which also went to voicemail. Finally, I called my grandson who is at college - he was sheepish and said my dad needs to answer my questions - he further stated that he should not be the one to share this information. I asked if he was in jail or was in a car accident. He finally broke down and I got enough information from him - my son has has a malignancy in his cervical spine high up just below his neck. My grandson asked me to not talk about it right now as he was pretty upset.

I then got a return call from my son’s X who explained that the tumor had “leaked” and she and Justin’s SO we’re at his house consoling him. The oncologist and orthopedic doctors took biopsies and are attempting to determine how best to treat the malignancy. They won’t have a course of therapy until lab work is done to determine the possibility of chemo and/or radiation. But I was told it doesn’t look good.

I am just devastated - he’s only 50 years old. I want to fly out there (Palm Desert CA) but with my health issues and bad back, that would be impossible - I would not be much help to anyone.

They assured me that they would keep me informed. I will be speaking with my daughter later this morning to get more details.

Oh man, that’s so sad. That’s the last thing you need to be dealing with.

imidazol97

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

I went to the local tennis store to get my racket restrung. Mike the owner mentioned he got a new Corvette....I took a look at it....it is beautiful, especially the inside. This is the mid-engine model...he had one before, I think a 2014....but he said there is no comparison...this one is a totally different and much better car. It looks good in this blue color;

Beautiful car but did you try to sit in it? I sat in one and that center console really intrudes into the driver’s space. It was more cramped than my C4 and that’s saying something. The space issue turned me off to considering one but that was always more fantasy anyway.

Every time I've sat in a Corvette in the showroom at my local dealers, I found it's a great upper body strength developer. I had to pull myself up and out. Thank goodness, I don't have arthritis to any degree like many my age have. I would have had to have a salesperson help me up and out.

oldfarmer50

imidazol97 said:

A study of the self-driving feature of a certain car brand.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/20/mit-study-finds-tesla-drivers-become-inattentive-when-autopilot-is-activated/

"A new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology lends credence to the idea that the FSD system, which despite its name is not actually an autonomous system but rather an advanced driver assist system (ADAS), may not actually be that safe. Researchers studying glance data from 290 human-initiated Autopilot disengagement epochs found drivers may become inattentive when using partially automated driving systems. "

Is this the author of that study:

stickguy

That’s why my wife frowns on me getting a low slung sports car. She gets embarrassed having to fallout onto the road then try and get up, just to get out of the car.

[Deleted User]

Sorry to hear that news @abacomike, prayers for all involved.

tjc78

So sorry to hear Mike. We are all thinking about you.

driver100

@abacomike
Really sorry to hear this Mike, we are all hoping for the best.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

I went to the local tennis store to get my racket restrung. Mike the owner mentioned he got a new Corvette....I took a look at it....it is beautiful, especially the inside. This is the mid-engine model...he had one before, I think a 2014....but he said there is no comparison...this one is a totally different and much better car. It looks good in this blue color;

Beautiful car but did you try to sit in it? I sat in one and that center console really intrudes into the driver’s space. It was more cramped than my C4 and that’s saying something. The space issue turned me off to considering one but that was always more fantasy anyway.

Mike was a pro tennis player and though in his 60s he still plays well, so has great agility.
One thing I forgot to mention was he buys everything he sells in the store on his GM VISA credit card, so he had $16000 in GM dollars he could use.

driver100

Another thing is the salesman who handled the sale of the Corvette was not very good. Mike had a great salesman when he bought his truck from this dealer, but that salesmen wasn't allowed to sell Corvettes. This one didn't get the bill of sale to Mike ontime, and he needed it for the bank. He finally got him to send it when he was at the bank, and showed the bank the bill on his phone...the guy did leave out the $1000 deposit but they were OK with that. His other salesmen had someone pick him up when the car was Vette was ready...it is about 1 hour away......60 miles.
Mike gave him a bad report. The salesmen said I hope you don't do that to me again.
Mike said, "Don't worry I won't, I won't be buying a car from you again".

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

I went to the local tennis store to get my racket restrung. Mike the owner mentioned he got a new Corvette....I took a look at it....it is beautiful, especially the inside. This is the mid-engine model...he had one before, I think a 2014....but he said there is no comparison...this one is a totally different and much better car. It looks good in this blue color;

Beautiful car but did you try to sit in it? I sat in one and that center console really intrudes into the driver’s space. It was more cramped than my C4 and that’s saying something. The space issue turned me off to considering one but that was always more fantasy anyway.

Mike was a pro tennis player and though in his 60s he still plays well, so has great agility.
One thing I forgot to mention was he buys everything he sells in the store on his GM VISA credit card, so he had $16000 in GM dollars he could use.

Just enough to cover the ADM.

benjaminh

Mike: So sorry to hear this very sad news.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

I went to the local tennis store to get my racket restrung. Mike the owner mentioned he got a new Corvette....I took a look at it....it is beautiful, especially the inside. This is the mid-engine model...he had one before, I think a 2014....but he said there is no comparison...this one is a totally different and much better car. It looks good in this blue color;

Beautiful car but did you try to sit in it? I sat in one and that center console really intrudes into the driver’s space. It was more cramped than my C4 and that’s saying something. The space issue turned me off to considering one but that was always more fantasy anyway.

Mike was a pro tennis player and though in his 60s he still plays well, so has great agility.
One thing I forgot to mention was he buys everything he sells in the store on his GM VISA credit card, so he had $16000 in GM dollars he could use.

Just enough to cover the ADM.

That $16000 is better than it seems, he'd probably have to earn $24k or $25k to end up with $16k.

roadburner

@abacomike said:
I got some horrific news last night! My son’s X-wife texted me with a message, “Call Justin”! I was caught off guard, especially since it was out of the blue that she would text me. At first, I thought it was in error that she would text me. So I called her and left a message for her to call me back.

I then called my son, but it went right to voicemail. I then called his significant other which also went to voicemail. Finally, I called my grandson who is at college - he was sheepish and said my dad needs to answer my questions - he further stated that he should not be the one to share this information. I asked if he was in jail or was in a car accident. He finally broke down and I got enough information from him - my son has has a malignancy in his cervical spine high up just below his neck. My grandson asked me to not talk about it right now as he was pretty upset.

I then got a return call from my son’s X who explained that the tumor had “leaked” and she and Justin’s SO we’re at his house consoling him. The oncologist and orthopedic doctors took biopsies and are attempting to determine how best to treat the malignancy. They won’t have a course of therapy until lab work is done to determine the possibility of chemo and/or radiation. But I was told it doesn’t look good.

I am just devastated - he’s only 50 years old. I want to fly out there (Palm Desert CA) but with my health issues and bad back, that would be impossible - I would not be much help to anyone.

They assured me that they would keep me informed. I will be speaking with my daughter later this morning to get more details.

Prayers for your son’s recovery.

carnaught

@abacomike, just read about your son’s unfortunate news. As someone mentioned, please don’t jump to conclusions. Today there are tools available to treat what we’re formerly untreatable. Although I am not equipped and qualified to speculate regarding treatment in the realm of Neurosurgery, he for example might be a candidate for the Cyberknife. It’s a highly precise mode for treatment via radiation. Anyway, medicine today has many tricks up their sleeve that could be offered.

This is not news that one wants to receive - I am so sorry to hear it. Thoughts and prayers for your son, you and family!

imidazol97

Re: Corvettes

When I was getting one of my recent oil changes, the service manager was telling me about a 2020 Vette they were just getting in on a long delayed order. He called the buyer, whom they know, and he told them not to remove the plastic protectors on the car to deliver it to him--he had already sold it for more than he paid for it and was shipping it on to the buyer.

jmonroe1

@imidazol97 said:
Re: Corvettes

When I was getting one of my recent oil changes, the service manager was telling me about a 2020 Vette they were just getting in on a long delayed order. He called the buyer, whom they know, and he told them not to remove the plastic protectors on the car to deliver it to him--he had already sold it for more than he paid for it and was shipping it on to the buyer.

I guess everyone is a flipper today.

jmonroe

sda

Mistakenly I submitted a price proposal to the VW dealer I frequent to compare it to Carvana and others. Their bid was about $1k lower. I have received at least 6 calls from them asking if I want to sell and have replied no and thinking that would be the end of it. After this last call minutes ago I politely asked them to take me off the list. I guess I am the slow learner, sheesh.

driver100

jmonroe1 said:

@imidazol97 said:

Re: Corvettes

When I was getting one of my recent oil changes, the service manager was telling me about a 2020 Vette they were just getting in on a long delayed order. He called the buyer, whom they know, and he told them not to remove the plastic protectors on the car to deliver it to him--he had already sold it for more than he paid for it and was shipping it on to the buyer.

I guess everyone is a flipper today.

jmonroe

But you gotta have something worth flipping

btw, a black Altima passed me today, and I thought, I know why that young lady went over to JMonroe when he was driving the Altima..........she felt sorry for him!

bwia

abacomike said:

I got some horrific news last night! My son’s X-wife texted me with a message, “Call Justin”! I was caught off guard, especially since it was out of the blue that she would text me. At first, I thought it was in error that she would text me. So I called her and left a message for her to call me back.

I am just devastated - he’s only 50 years old. I want to fly out there (Palm Desert CA) but with my health issues and bad back, that would be impossible - I would not be much help to anyone.

They assured me that they would keep me informed. I will be speaking with my daughter later this morning to get more details.

This is perhaps one of the most gut wrenching pieces of news a parent ever wants to hear or experience. Continue to be strong and place your cares in God’s hands. In spite of that, advances in nuclear medicine give hope to patients and their love ones. Peace and love.

bwia

Israeli company unveils electric vehicle battery that can recharge in 10 minutes. This is impressive, however, what is the damage to the battery when charging so fast? This is a challenge for Tesla and frequent DCFC users. This is the basis of Tesla's throttling issues. https://www.timesofisrael.com/storedot-unveils-electric-vehicle-battery-that-can-recharge-in-10-minutes/

jmonroe1

@driver100 said:
But you gotta have something worth flipping

btw, a black Altima passed me today, and I thought, I know why that young lady went over to JMonroe when he was driving the Altima..........she felt sorry for him!

That wasn’t the look I got.

jmonroe

stickguy

IMO real EV acceptance requires a new breakthrough battery technology. One that doesn’t use so many rare (earth or otherwise) and dangerous materials. So easier, cheaper and cleaner to make, and recycle.

And of course more range and/or super fast recharging.

explorerx4

One thing that puts me off on battery power is that they seem to degrade over time.
I saw that Ford based their original charging curve on preserving 70 % capacity after 10 years.
They are upping the charge rate now that they have some experience. Not sure how big a change.
Every ICE vehicle I've owned keeps getting more efficient for the first 110-120k.

stickguy

would certainly help if packs were affordable and easy to swap out when needed. But hopefully not for at least 10 years.

oldfarmer50

Here’s one of life’s little annoyances.

I’m taking my convertible in for new shocks, driving at or below the speed limit when this young guy in a VW pulls out of his driveway right in front of me…AND STOPS. He’s blocking the road but he beeps at ME. I throw up my hands as if to indicate that the next move is his.

He finally moves and goes down the road in front of me. As an afterthought he flips me off, I guess to say thanks for slamming on my brakes and not hitting him.

I’m trying to figure the sense of entitlement in this guy.

explorerx4

Found another good one!
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6835-Case-Rd_North-Ridgeville_OH_44039_M33553-32663

tjc78

@explorerx4 said:
Found another good one!
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6835-Case-Rd_North-Ridgeville_OH_44039_M33553-32663

Nice home but I’d have to redo every room. Way too much honey colored wood for my tastes.

Also … I must comment on the laundry room. Anyone notice very old washer/dryer next to the modern ones ? I bet they use the old ones more.

Speaking of Laundry…
The set at our condo at the shore is very old (obviously the PO took it from their house or bought it used because it’s much older than the condo). The washer works but is quite worn and noisy. I decided to replace both and went with bottom barrel Amana units from Lowes. I figured with all the sand from the beach I was better off with an old fashioned agitator machine. $1250 for the pair delivered, installed and taken away. I have had three different top line HE top loaders and have not been impressed with any of them. The current Samsungs we have are just adequate.

kyfdx

EV acceptance happens when those are the only cars available.

Don't believe it?
When will people pay over MSRP for vehicles? When that is the only price available.
It's happening right now. We have dozens of new members asking if $1500 over MSRP is a good deal.

It doesn't matter what YOU will do. The vast majority of buyers will take whatever is available.

snakeweasel

Mike, I do hope that everything works out. They are doing some wonderful things these days in the field of medicine. We will keep you and yours in our prayers and pray that everything works out.

benjaminh

Cubans kept American cars from the 1950s going for decades. Some might consider keeping their last ice cars going for a long time.

abacomike

Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts. From what I have learned today from my family out in California is that the cancer/tumor was leaking due to a tear in my son’s upper back. This has caused malignant cells to metastasize which is considered stage 4 cancer. Things are beginning to look ominous and frightfully clear. I am just distraught over this.

Tomorrow morning I am having another series of epidural injections with a procedure to remove some scar tissue. I pray this works so I can fly out to California to see my son when an opportunity arises.

Again, thanks to those of you who have added my son to your prayers.