Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

driver100

btw....my 5 pocket jeans are Urban Stars, $14 at Costco........they are better than the $50 name brands.

graphicguy

explorerx4 said:

I thought this was a pretty funny video, 1992.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOO31qFmi9A

Just got a little shiver up my spine. Spent way TOO MUCH of my career with spreadsheets and PowerPoints. A few years before retiring, I had someone do them for me, but that’s after they got easier to use.

Further, no way the guy holding the laptop in the elevator could hold that brick (which was probably 10+ pounds) that long.

cdnpinhead

The old chart-boy axiom: If you've got nothing to say, say it in color, with dissolves.

sda

I just called the Audi dealer for a service appt. The first available is 7/15 and no loaners anymore. They will provide a shuttle to our house and upon completion then pick me up at our house in our Q5.

jmonroe1

sda said:

I just called the Audi dealer for a service appt. The first available is 7/15 and no loaners anymore. They will provide a shuttle to our house and upon completion then pick me up at our house in our Q5.

———————————————-
Next time buy a wannabe. I get that kind of service at no extra charge at the time of purchase.

jmonroe

Sandman6472

Our Audi store has never given loaners, they used to use Lyft/Uber. Luckily, it's right at the end of our development and not too far from the house. We try to schedule stuff when one of us will be home just to make things easier. Having the same n/s days each week makes scheduling appointments that much easier.
We're just about to hit 70K on the A3 and besides the occasional topping off of the coolant or oil, vehicle has been pretty reliable for us. The dealer experience has been pretty good as they usually take great care of my wife. Will she do another Audi product going forward, honestly don't know. Hopefully nothing goes majorly wrong with it for another 3 to 4 years. She likes her vehicle...it is nice for what it is.

bwia

Happy Juneteenth everybody. Is this also a national holiday in Canada? Now the only month left without a federal holiday is August and its about time we come up auspicious holiday for August 15, perhaps Full EV adoption day.

Michaell

bwia said:

Happy Juneteenth everybody. Is this also a national holiday in Canada? Now the only month left without a federal holiday is August and its about time we come up auspicious holiday for August 15, perhaps Full EV adoption day.

Given the history behind the holiday, I doubt our northern neighbors celebrate it.

They have, however, added a few holidays to coincide with major holidays in the US - I believe Family Day is celebrated with our President's Day, and Canada Day moves around to align with our Independence Day holiday.

sda

Our neighborhood is cursed with Bradford pear trees that are getting older and prone to blight and splitting by gusts of wind. We had a storm last week that got a couple of them. Ours were cut down last October. Certainly a different look. We miss the shade and privacy they provided. Our neighbors trees coming down today and what some of the street

looks like with trees.

bwia

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP) —

President Joe Biden said Monday that he's considering a federal holiday on the gasoline tax, possibly saving U.S. consumers as much as 18.4 cents a gallon.

isellhondas

oldfarmer50 said:

isellhondas said:

fintail said:

Anything in Puget Sound metro that sits on the market is either grossly overpriced or has some kind of unforgivable flaw. One of the most competitive markets in the nation, and has been for some time. When we sold my late grandmother's house last spring, we had 20+ offers in the first 36 hours, and it ended up selling for ~20% over list.

graphicguy said:

Michaell said:

Speaking of home improvement shows, does anyone watch "Unsellable Houses"? Sisters in the Seattle area fix up homes that have been on the market too long - the premise is that they invest their own money for the upgrades, then get it back, plus half of whatever the house sells for above the original asking price.

What I like about the hosts is that they are both diehard VW fanatics - their primary vehicle is an early 70's VW Bus, and there have been segments where they are shopping for more vintage VW's, or work with friends who own them.

There are actually houses that have been on the market too long?

Well, things have sure softened in the past two weeks as far as house prices. We keep talking about downsizing and probably will be listing our house soon. It's probably down 200,000 from it's high BUT so are the prices of smaller places we are looking at. Either way, it's nuts!

No, I didn't die. I just spent two hours trying to catch up here. Sorry to hear about Richard. He was always one of the good guys here. I'll try to do better. Happy Father's Day guys! Craig

Say, didn’t you buy an old style Ford Ranger some time back? How did that turn out?

I’ve been looking for one for some time but the nice low mileage ones are selling for close to original sticker.

Well, I did once own a Ranger but that was back in the 80's. Used car prices are through roof now and from what I'm hearing this isn't expected to change in the new future. A friend has a nice 2000 Ranger that he parks in his driveway. He has had several people knock on his door offering to buy it for a lot of money.

ab348

Michaell said:

bwia said:

Happy Juneteenth everybody. Is this also a national holiday in Canada? Now the only month left without a federal holiday is August and its about time we come up auspicious holiday for August 15, perhaps Full EV adoption day.

Given the history behind the holiday, I doubt our northern neighbors celebrate it.

They have, however, added a few holidays to coincide with major holidays in the US - I believe Family Day is celebrated with our President's Day, and Canada Day moves around to align with our Independence Day holiday.

Uhhh...

No, we do not celebrate June 19th here. I had never even heard the name prior to just a few years ago. The name is... different.

I had to look up President's Day since we don't celebrate that either. I guess that was formerly called Washington's Birthday which I do remember hearing in the past. The 3rd Monday in February is not a great time for a holiday in most of Canada because that is mid-winter and most people would prefer a warm-weather day instead, but there was some pressure for a holiday to slot in between the first of the year and Easter, so a few years ago it began to be instituted piecemeal province to province. It isn't a federal holiday. It isn't called Family Day everywhere either.

Google tells me: "The third Monday of February is observed as "Family Day" in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia (BC), New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan; as Louis Riel Day in Manitoba; as Nova Scotia Heritage Day in Nova Scotia; and as Islander Day in Prince Edward Island.

In Canada more generally, the third Monday in February has also been celebrated as Heritage Day, though this is not as an official holiday. This "Heritage Day" is observed by some in celebration of the country’s collective history, architecture, and cultural heritage.

In Quebec and the three territories, the third Monday in February is a regular working day. The same is true in Newfoundland and Labrador except in Corner Brook, where it is an unnamed civic holiday. In Yukon, however, one Friday in February (typically the last/near-last Friday)—rather than a Monday—is deemed Yukon Heritage Day. As Family Day is not a federal statutory holiday, employees of the federal government (such as public servants and postal workers) work on this day in all provinces."

July 1 is Canada Day. That is indeed a federal holiday. It does not move around. It is always July 1.

kyfdx

@sda I have a big pear tree in the back yard. We had 40-50 mph wind gusts, last Monday, and it was really getting buffeted. It's about 27 years old, so toward the end, I think. It's somewhat protected by topography and houses, but I keep waiting for it to happen.

driver100

Michaell said:

bwia said:

Happy Juneteenth everybody. Is this also a national holiday in Canada? Now the only month left without a federal holiday is August and its about time we come up auspicious holiday for August 15, perhaps Full EV adoption day.

Given the history behind the holiday, I doubt our northern neighbors celebrate it.

They have, however, added a few holidays to coincide with major holidays in the US - I believe Family Day is celebrated with our President's Day, and Canada Day moves around to align with our Independence Day holiday.

Yes, unfortunately Canada had slaves at one time.

I thought Presidents Day was renamed Mattress Sale Day!

ab348

driver100 said:

Yes, unfortunately Canada had slaves at one time.

Rather different from the US in some respects though. From what I gather, prior to Canada being created in 1867, apparently in the 1600s and 1700s, both English and French colonizers employed the practice to some extent, which involved both indigenous and black persons being enslaved. Indigenous tribes supposedly enslaved other indigenous people taken as prisoners of war as well. Offsetting things to some extent in the 1800s was Canada being seen as a safe haven for black slaves in the US who employed the "underground railroad" established by sympathizers to relocate here. Slavery was gradually abolished by pre-confederation governments in the late 1700s/early 1800s before being fully abolished throughout the British Empire in 1834.

jmonroe1

sda said:

Our neighborhood is cursed with Bradford pear trees that are getting older and prone to blight and splitting by gusts of wind. We had a storm last week that got a couple of them. Ours were cut down last October. Certainly a different look. We miss the shade and privacy they provided. Our neighbors trees coming down today and what some of the street


looks like with trees.

————————————————
Don’t you have tree huggers in your neighborhood?

jmonroe

ronsteve

@bwia said:
Happy Juneteenth everybody. Is this also a national holiday in Canada? Now the only month left without a federal holiday is August and its about time we come up auspicious holiday for August 15, perhaps Full EV adoption day.

In terms of actual federal government holidays, neither March nor April has one either. There are 11 total, and 9 months have at least one (January and November each have two)

snakeweasel

kyfdx said:

@sda I have a big pear tree in the back yard.

Big whoop, let us know when there is a partridge in it.

andres3

qbrozen said:

@Michaell said:

I was just reading an article about Rolexes recently. Apparently, the least expensive Rolex retails for around $14k. However, this same model sells for about $40k on the secondary market.

One of the many things in this world I don’t understand. A Rolex doesn’t do a damned thing more than a lowly $99 watch. Yeah, someone will say a $99 doesn’t do anything a $10 can’t, but I’m ballparking $99 to at least look good and be quality materials.

Not to mention for $10 Rite Aid won't honor the warranty or price tag for a return.

stickguy

felt like I was running a Raymore and Flanagan outlet today. we were listing some of the excess furniture on FB Marketplace (stuff we don't want to take with us). and ended up with a bunch of interest over the weekend when we were away, that all decided to pick up today. So we moved 3 bookcases (none of which matched) to 3 different customers. A little kids rocking chair. and the big load, our old kids furniture (well, most of it). a twin bed (all wood frame with head and foot boards), trundle bed, the bunky boards and mattresses, and the tall 5 drawer dresser.

thankfully the couple that came for that had a roofing company, and he brought a work truck (something like an F350) with a utility bad. so it all fit.

better than the people that really wanted one bookcase but it was 7' tall, and about 3" too long to fit in their Lexus RX. they had a trip to philly and did want to drive home with the hatch flapping. so they left empty handed. The 2 girls (also from philly)) that later came had a Grand Cherokee. I figured that would be easy. nope, it missed by even more (fat seats and they did not try to run one way up to the dash). she just strapped it down and tied the hatch down. Not sure it was going to make it, but hopefully it did.

the other 2 bookcases were only 6' tall so would fit in most anything, so the F250 and new Traverse swallowed them easily.

house thankfully starting to look empty (well, of furniture not stuff). Already moved a large recliner couch that neither of us even liked any more. and the guy who bought it asked about chairs so he is coming back Wednesday to pick up the 2 recliners that go with the couch.

we only have a few small items to go (nightstand, a few lamps and a couple of end tables) to get down to just what we actually need in the new place. Shocking to me, but happy about it! Now just need to finish seriously thinning out the boxes of excess stuff. which keeps piling up in the LR and DR when we empty out the furniture that was hiding it!

driver100

andres3 said:

qbrozen said:

@Michaell said:

I was just reading an article about Rolexes recently. Apparently, the least expensive Rolex retails for around $14k. However, this same model sells for about $40k on the secondary market.

One of the many things in this world I don’t understand. A Rolex doesn’t do a damned thing more than a lowly $99 watch. Yeah, someone will say a $99 doesn’t do anything a $10 can’t, but I’m ballparking $99 to at least look good and be quality materials.

Not to mention for $10 Rite Aid won't honor the warranty or price tag for a return.

Usually, the more expensive watches feel better on the wrist. I have a $30 watch with velcro band that I use for tennis....my good watch is metal and I have cut myself on it. But the $1200 watch is lighter, it is much nicer looking, and it fits better.

You haven't forgiven Right Aid....that watch incident happened about 15 years ago.

driver100

Just a note to the fans. Tomorrow evening we are supposed to fly to London U.K. We have tickets for Wimbledon for next Tuesday. If the weather is good this week, and if we can get tickets, we'd like to see a match in Eastbourne.
I may not be able to report as often, but watch for my "breaking news" stories when I am able to post.

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

Just a note to the fans. Tomorrow evening we are supposed to fly to London U.K. We have tickets for Wimbledon for next Tuesday. If the weather is good this week, and if we can get tickets, we'd like to see a match in Eastbourne.
I may not be able to report as often, but watch for my "breaking news" stories when I am able to post.

Ah, Wimbledon is starting soon. Are there any reports of people turning into Scotsmen?

sda

driver100 said:

Just a note to the fans. Tomorrow evening we are supposed to fly to London U.K. We have tickets for Wimbledon for next Tuesday. If the weather is good this week, and if we can get tickets, we'd like to see a match in Eastbourne.
I may not be able to report as often, but watch for my "breaking news" stories when I am able to post.

Enjoy. When we lived in England, 1974, dad’s office was in Wimbledon. Sometimes I would ride with dad to Wimbledon and catch the tube there to take me to Knightsbridge where the American Community School that I attended was located.

oldfarmer50

bwia said:

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP) —

President Joe Biden said Monday that he's considering a federal holiday on the gasoline tax, possibly saving U.S. consumers as much as 18.4 cents a gallon.

Good luck with that. NY declared a gas tax holiday starting June 1st. Some counties joined in with dropping their portion of sales tax as well. All together it might have dropped gas prices 25 cents.

Gas is now 10-12 cents HIGHER than before the tax holiday.

oldfarmer50

kyfdx said:

@sda I have a big pear tree in the back yard. We had 40-50 mph wind gusts, last Monday, and it was really getting buffeted. It's about 27 years old, so toward the end, I think. It's somewhat protected by topography and houses, but I keep waiting for it to happen.

Bradford Pear is an ornamental version of the callery pear which was heavily promoted by landscapers because it would grow in just about any soil. The trouble is that it has weak branches which fall apart in storms making it look a mess. After about 20 years it looks so bad that that most people regret planting it. By then the landscaper who put it in is long gone and the homeowner or municipality is stuck with cutting them down.

Nice white spring flowers though. I prefer the Kousa Dogwood as a landscape tree.

cdnpinhead

snakeweasel said:

Are there any reports of people turning into Scotsmen?

All that matters, these days, is whether they identify as Scotsmen.

driver100

snakeweasel said:

driver100 said:

Just a note to the fans. Tomorrow evening we are supposed to fly to London U.K. We have tickets for Wimbledon for next Tuesday. If the weather is good this week, and if we can get tickets, we'd like to see a match in Eastbourne.
I may not be able to report as often, but watch for my "breaking news" stories when I am able to post.

Ah, Wimbledon is starting soon. Are there any reports of people turning into Scotsmen?

If I see it happen, I'll let you know.

kyfdx

oldfarmer50 said:

kyfdx said:

@sda I have a big pear tree in the back yard. We had 40-50 mph wind gusts, last Monday, and it was really getting buffeted. It's about 27 years old, so toward the end, I think. It's somewhat protected by topography and houses, but I keep waiting for it to happen.

Bradford Pear is an ornamental version of the callery pear which was heavily promoted by landscapers because it would grow in just about any soil. The trouble is that it has weak branches which fall apart in storms making it look a mess. After about 20 years it looks so bad that that most people regret planting it. By then the landscaper who put it in is long gone and the homeowner or municipality is stuck with cutting them down.

Nice white spring flowers though. I prefer the Kousa Dogwood as a landscape tree.

There are about 30 variations of ornamental pears, now. The Bradford pear has just about disappeared. But, they all share the same weaknesses. Mostly, it's because the main trunk maxes out at around 12 feet, then branches into many smaller trunks going up. It's a beautiful tree, until it breaks.

abacomike

@driver100 said:
Just a note to the fans. Tomorrow evening we are supposed to fly to London U.K. We have tickets for Wimbledon for next Tuesday. If the weather is good this week, and if we can get tickets, we'd like to see a match in Eastbourne.
I may not be able to report as often, but watch for my "breaking news" stories when I am able to post.

I’m waiting on “pins and needles” for your posts, driver.

Have a safe trip!

sda

@oldfarmer50 said:
Bradford Pear is an ornamental version of the callery pear which was heavily promoted by landscapers because it would grow in just about any soil. The trouble is that it has weak branches which fall apart in storms making it look a mess. After about 20 years it looks so bad that that most people regret planting it. By then the landscaper who put it in is long gone and the homeowner or municipality is stuck with cutting them down.

Nice white spring flowers though. I prefer the Kousa Dogwood as a landscape tree.

Exactly what is being experienced now at great expense to the home owners. Stumps need to be ground and new topsoil and seed planted to fill the void. Our yard still looks bad after multiple seedings.

laurasdada

I've bought a several pairs of jeans at Costco:
Kirkland brand, a bit baggy.
Izod, stretchy and very comfy.
I believe I paid no more than $13 for any pair.

I've never been able to make a decent amount of $; but as a saver and bargain hunter, I've done well.

driver100

abacomike said:

@driver100 said:

Just a note to the fans. Tomorrow evening we are supposed to fly to London U.K. We have tickets for Wimbledon for next Tuesday. If the weather is good this week, and if we can get tickets, we'd like to see a match in Eastbourne.

I may not be able to report as often, but watch for my "breaking news" stories when I am able to post.

I’m waiting on “pins and needles” for your posts, driver.

Have a safe trip!

Thanks Mike, I know some of the fan base won't be able to get enough supply, so I'll try to keep up. We leave for the airport at 5 p.m. for a 9:30 flight. I hope it isn't like Heathrow, this is a picture of the baggage area;

driver100

laurasdada said:

I've bought a several pairs of jeans at Costco:
Kirkland brand, a bit baggy.
Izod, stretchy and very comfy.
I believe I paid no more than $13 for any pair.

I've never been able to make a decent amount of $; but as a saver and bargain hunter, I've done well.

I found Kirklands too baggy.....Urban Star works well for me.
I bought 2 pair in Florida and I liked them so much I bought 2 more to bring home (I can get better sizes in Florida compared to at home). When I got home one pair had a zipper that didn't work. I wanted to take them to the store to see if they would replace them....I didn't have the receipt. I thought it was a long shot, but worth a try. They checked on the computer, they gave me a refund in U.S. dollars, and they included the Florida tax that I paid.....unbelievable!

jmonroe1

driver100 said:

Just a note to the fans. Tomorrow evening we are supposed to fly to London U.K. We have tickets for Wimbledon for next Tuesday. If the weather is good this week, and if we can get tickets, we'd like to see a match in Eastbourne.
I may not be able to report as often, but watch for my "breaking news" stories when I am able to post.

————————————————
Honestly, all of us deserve a break. . Just the same enjoy yourself.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

driver100 said:

laurasdada said:

I've bought a several pairs of jeans at Costco:
Kirkland brand, a bit baggy.
Izod, stretchy and very comfy.
I believe I paid no more than $13 for any pair.

I've never been able to make a decent amount of $; but as a saver and bargain hunter, I've done well.

I found Kirklands too baggy.....Urban Star works well for me.
I bought 2 pair in Florida and I liked them so much I bought 2 more to bring home (I can get better sizes in Florida compared to at home). When I got home one pair had a zipper that didn't work. I wanted to take them to the store to see if they would replace them....I didn't have the receipt. I thought it was a long shot, but worth a try. They checked on the computer, they gave me a refund in U.S. dollars, and they included the Florida tax that I paid.....unbelievable!

————————————————-
That’s only concerning if it’s stuck in the down position.

jmonroe

ab348

driver100 said:

Thanks Mike, I know some of the fan base won't be able to get enough supply, so I'll try to keep up. We leave for the airport at 5 p.m. for a 9:30 flight.

Pro tip: don't check any bags, put everything you can in a carry-on.

Michaell

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

Thanks Mike, I know some of the fan base won't be able to get enough supply, so I'll try to keep up. We leave for the airport at 5 p.m. for a 9:30 flight.

Pro tip: don't check any bags, put everything you can in a carry-on.

Better pro tip - add an Apple AirTag into your checked luggage.

tjc78

@ab348 said:
Pro tip: don't check any bags, put everything you can in a carry-on.

Sometimes that is just not possible. Also if you are in a later boarding group often you have no choice but to check it since the overheads fill up

driver100

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

Thanks Mike, I know some of the fan base won't be able to get enough supply, so I'll try to keep up. We leave for the airport at 5 p.m. for a 9:30 flight.

Pro tip: don't check any bags, put everything you can in a carry-on.

Yes, we are away for 9 days and everything is in carry-on....even if I have to wear something 2 or 3 times. Some things like socks and underwear are Tilleys, but in spite of what they say they take 2 days to dry. Some of those subway (tube) stations can be 100 steps down into the bowels of the earth....carry-on is the best way to travel if at all possible.

driver100

tjc78 said:

@ab348 said:

Pro tip: don't check any bags, put everything you can in a carry-on.

Sometimes that is just not possible. Also if you are in a later boarding group often you have no choice but to check it since the overheads fill up

I hate when that happens, when the carry-on space gets filled up. They keep charging for bags and people stuff everything possible into numerous carry-on bags so they can avoid paying extra. They charge for baggage, and then they tell you to leave your carry-on bags with them because there isn't room for them in the overhead bins - and then they can throw them into the baggage area on the plane.

kyfdx

I could go for 9 days with what I can fit in a really big backpack. But, my wife? Not a chance.

laurasdada

kyfdx said:

I could go for 9 days with what I can fit in a really big backpack. But, my wife? Not a chance.

Shoes alone. She generally brings two pairs per night...
Her record was five pairs for one night.

driver100

To travel for up to 2 weeks with a carry-on you have to get by with running shoes, best if they look a bit like regular shoes. MrsD100 also needs Birkenstocks. But, it is surprising how little you need if you don't have to dress perfect. Every year I forget to take a sweater and I end up buying one.....I almost never wear a sweater but it can get cool and I just take a light jacket with a rain hood. Maybe I'll write a book, Travel Europe for up to 2 Weeks, with One Carry-on.

snakeweasel

laurasdada said:

kyfdx said:

I could go for 9 days with what I can fit in a really big backpack. But, my wife? Not a chance.

Shoes alone. She generally brings two pairs per night...
Her record was five pairs for one night.

Let's not talk about womens shoes. My wife has more than 60 (I stopped counting at that point).

carnaught

snakeweasel said:

laurasdada said:

kyfdx said:

I could go for 9 days with what I can fit in a really big backpack. But, my wife? Not a chance.

Shoes alone. She generally brings two pairs per night...
Her record was five pairs for one night.

Let's not talk about womens shoes. My wife has more than 60 (I stopped counting at that point).

snakeweasel said:

laurasdada said:

kyfdx said:

I could go for 9 days with what I can fit in a really big backpack. But, my wife? Not a chance.

Shoes alone. She generally brings two pairs per night...
Her record was five pairs for one night.

Let's not talk about womens shoes. My wife has more than 60 (I stopped counting at that point).

I didn’t realize you were married to Imelda Marcos, lol.

jmonroe1

@snakeweasel said:
Let's not talk about womens shoes. My wife has more than 60 (I stopped counting at that point).

————————————————
60, I don’t think I’ve had 60 pairs of shoes in my life.

jmonroe

stickguy

you really find out how much stuff the "better half" has when you have to pull it all out to move. It's ugly.

oldfarmer50

Here’s a hypothetical question.

Say you drop your car off at a repair shop after hours using the night drop and before they open in the morning your car gets stolen. Who, other than the thief is liable?

I’ve seen legal videos discussing what happens if you car is damaged by repair shop staff but never anything about liability for simply being on their property.

explorerx4

@oldfarmer50,
My guess is it varies by state.
Did you see that Steve Lehto video on the Jeep incident in MI?