Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

fezo

So now driver makes sense but I'm wondering about Tim Horton's.... That disturbs me because when in Canada Tim's is a second home. Donut shops are like the biggest industry in Ontario! There's even a song about them! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiAhmX3gGVc&ab_channel=skumm60

Since driver's ways work for him more power to him. I'm different. I can never be convinced that leasing a car makes sense so even if it did make sense I probably wouldn't do it.

stever

I disagree with @driver100 - Tim Hortons has better coffee than Dunkins. Although I haven't been to Timmys since they changed hands (yet again).

Went to an open house today up for sale by someone who installs solar panels in the area. Had a separate parking spot for an EV, complete with a dedicated panel.

driver100

abacomike said:

ab348 said:

I think you fellows are being too hard on Driver. The culture of Tim's up here in Canada is strong and well-entrenched. For years they only accepted cash as payment - no debit cards, no credit cards. When the Tims card was introduced it was their first foray into non-cash payments and was embraced up here, because sometimes you don't have a pocketful of change (remember our smallest bill is the $5 bill since we use coins for $1 and $2) or don't want to break a $20 or a $50 for a $2 purchase. So it caught on and was very popular. Lots of people still use them.

If the coffee shop driver frequents only accepts Tims cards or cash, then I agree that the Tims card is appropriate for the purpose of convenience.  But if they accept credit or debit cards, the Tims card becomes a prepaid number coffee cups.

Guys, we are talking about $20 being tied up - maximum at any one time. The day I worry about the interest I am losing on $20 is the day I will pack it in.

If I am in a car accident and die Tim's will get my $20 and my wife will have to get by without that $20....well I guess she'll get the card so won't be out.

Kids might lose some inheritance money.

Life is to be enjoyed, pay the way you want to pay and what makes sense to you. I don't want a pocket full of change in my pocket when I am running around a tennis court. AS ab pointed out, we have $1 and $2 coins, no more paper money, and who keeps a bunch of ones on them? (BTW...no more pennies here)

In my younger days a friend wanted me to stock up on toilet paper...he got about 100 rolls for about $50, saved maybe 30%. I said Terry, with my luck I'll buy all that toilet paper...have my money tied up for months when I could have used that money to go out for a nice dinner....and then I'll get hit by a truck and lose out on a nice dinner......but, I'll have a basement full of toilet paper.

driver100

houdini1 said:

abacomike said:

ab348 said:

I think you fellows are being too hard on Driver. The culture of Tim's up here in Canada is strong and well-entrenched. For years they only accepted cash as payment - no debit cards, no credit cards. When the Tims card was introduced it was their first foray into non-cash payments and was embraced up here, because sometimes you don't have a pocketful of change (remember our smallest bill is the $5 bill since we use coins for $1 and $2) or don't want to break a $20 or a $50 for a $2 purchase. So it caught on and was very popular. Lots of people still use them.

If the coffee shop driver frequents only accepts Tims cards or cash, then I agree that the Tims card is appropriate for the purpose of convenience.  But if they accept credit or debit cards, the Tims card becomes a prepaid number coffee cups.

What is shocking to me is that you can get a cup of coffee in Canada for 2 bucks ! Judging by their car prices I figured at least $5.

A small Tims coffee is about $1.35 and with tax comes to $1.50.
Canadian dollar is worth about $1.30 U.S. So, if you bought a coffee here using U.S. Dollars it would cost you $1.15.

Still better in the U.S. On the way to Florida in Georgia we get 2 seniors coffees at McDonalds for $1.04! I use cash for that!

driver100

Since driver's ways work for him more power to him. I'm different. I can never be convinced that leasing a car makes sense so even if it did make sense I probably wouldn't do it.

Donuts are our main industry...lol, cute song.

One quick example of how a lease can be a good thing;
Grandson graduates as accountant.
Gets good job, starting at $40 to $50k a year.
Doesn't have downpayment for a new car. Doesn't want to buy $0 down, 84 months payments.
He can lease a car for 36 months, about $300 a month, will have an option to buy it when he saves up some money.
May or may not be the cheapest way, but it is probably the easiest way to get a reliable car and not get under water.

driver100

stever said:

I disagree with @driver100 - Tim Hortons has better coffee than Dunkins. Although I haven't been to Timmys since they changed hands (yet again).

Went to an open house today up for sale by someone who installs solar panels in the area. Had a separate parking spot for an EV, complete with a dedicated panel.

Burger King now owns Tim Hortons....bought it from Wendy's. The coffee is exactly the same - there would be a rebellion if they changed it.

Are you considering getting solar panels?

I like the idea...I just think there will be huge improvements over the next few years.

I bought a new HP 23 inch all in one (the tower is incorporated into the screen) computer. I went to install Windows 10 on my laptop and realized it had XP and was 9 years old. Whenever I buy this kind of thing I always wonder how long it will be before it is out of date. Solar panels are a big investment, and the technology could change rapidly.....that is my main concern.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

Still better in the U.S. On the way to Florida in Georgia we get 2 seniors coffees at McDonalds for $1.04!

How do the two coffee brands compare?

stickguy

driver100 said:

Since driver's ways work for him more power to him. I'm different. I can never be convinced that leasing a car makes sense so even if it did make sense I probably wouldn't do it.

Donuts are our main industry...lol, cute song.

One quick example of how a lease can be a good thing;
Grandson graduates as accountant.
Gets good job, starting at $40 to $50k a year.
Doesn't have downpayment for a new car. Doesn't want to buy $0 down, 84 months payments.
He can lease a car for 36 months, about $300 a month, will have an option to buy it when he saves up some money.
May or may not be the cheapest way, but it is probably the easiest way to get a reliable car and not get under water.



Driver, exactly why my son got his Jetta lease when he graduated and started working. Plus he was moving out on his own, in another state. Good income, little savings. His next car, he plans to buy.

graphicguy

Heard from the Cadillac dealer on the status of my CTS this a.m. on my voice mail. They said they were going to "need it for a while". Not sure what they meant by that, but it didn't sound good.

stickguy

Should help your buy back case, if the judge asks where it is, and the answer is "dead at the dealer".

At least you have a nice reliable (hopefully) car now while the sort things out.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

Still better in the U.S. On the way to Florida in Georgia we get 2 seniors coffees at McDonalds for $1.04!

How do the two coffee brands compare?

Pretty close! McDonalds has excellent coffee. I think Tims coffee is more consistant wherever you go across the country and they are in some places in the US. They write on the carafe when they make it and it is supposed to be changed every 20 minutes.......I get the feeling at some McDonalds it depends on the staff how often it is made. A good freshly made coffee at McDonalds is a 10 out of 10 for me.

driver100

stickguy said:

driver100 said:

Since driver's ways work for him more power to him. I'm different. I can never be convinced that leasing a car makes sense so even if it did make sense I probably wouldn't do it.

Donuts are our main industry...lol, cute song.

One quick example of how a lease can be a good thing;
Grandson graduates as accountant.
Gets good job, starting at $40 to $50k a year.
Doesn't have downpayment for a new car. Doesn't want to buy $0 down, 84 months payments.
He can lease a car for 36 months, about $300 a month, will have an option to buy it when he saves up some money.
May or may not be the cheapest way, but it is probably the easiest way to get a reliable car and not get under water.



Driver, exactly why my son got his Jetta lease when he graduated and started working. Plus he was moving out on his own, in another state. Good income, little savings. His next car, he plans to buy.

Perfect solution!

When I started my book business I had a Cavalier....couldn't carry many books in it. Leased a Jeep and it was perfect for hauling books around. I didn't want to dip into retirement savings for my business....leasing allowed me to pay as I go.

driver100

graphicguy said:

Heard from the Cadillac dealer on the status of my CTS this a.m. on my voice mail. They said they were going to "need it for a while". Not sure what they meant by that, but it didn't sound good.

Hope you keep that message on your phone or record it for the inquiry. The service manager probably got a bulletin from GM head office......you better get this guys car fixed or else.........

stever

driver100 said:

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

Still better in the U.S. On the way to Florida in Georgia we get 2 seniors coffees at McDonalds for $1.04!

How do the two coffee brands compare?

Pretty close! McDonalds has excellent coffee. I think Tims coffee is more consistant wherever you go across the country and they are in some places in the US. They write on the carafe when they make it and it is supposed to be changed every 20 minutes.......I get the feeling at some McDonalds it depends on the staff how often it is made. A good freshly made coffee at McDonalds is a 10 out of 10 for me.

I agree - McD's coffee is much better than it was in the old days. The price of a senior cup varies though, from the typical .50 cents up to a buck. Still think Timmy's is a little bit better.

We're tracking our power usage closely. Our estimated Aug. bill was less than the estimates the solar companies mades but not by a whole lot. There's lot of unknowns right now with credits expiring, utilities laying on grid fees and the new energy proposals that may get upended. Probably will do the car thing first.

ab348

stever said:

driver100 said:

imidazol97 said:

How do the two coffee brands compare?

Pretty close! McDonalds has excellent coffee. I think Tims coffee is more consistant wherever you go across the country and they are in some places in the US. They write on the carafe when they make it and it is supposed to be changed every 20 minutes.......I get the feeling at some McDonalds it depends on the staff how often it is made. A good freshly made coffee at McDonalds is a 10 out of 10 for me.

I agree - McD's coffee is much better than it was in the old days. The price of a senior cup varies though, from the typical .50 cents up to a buck. Still think Timmy's is a little bit better.

We're tracking our power usage closely. Our estimated Aug. bill was less than the estimates the solar companies mades but not by a whole lot. There's lot of unknowns right now with credits expiring, utilities laying on grid fees and the new energy proposals that may get upended. Probably will do the car thing first.

I much prefer McDonalds coffee to Tims. Tims has always given me a headache and I didn't like the flavor profile of their regular blend. They recently introduced a dark roast that I find drinkable, but still prefer McDs.
In fact the only time I go to McDs is for breakfast, where they have several things I quite like on their menu.

Speaking of electricity things, I got a quote on Friday for one of those mini-split heat pumps for the house. It was quite a bit stiffer than I expected. The problem (which I knew going in) is that the house would need an electrical service upgrade first. That came in at $3400 for a 200amp service upgrade. The heat pump came in at $3300 installed. With sales taxes and inspection fees the total bill is just under $8k. Ouch.

I am trying to keep the two items separate in my head, as I know the electrical upgrade is probably necessary anyway should I ever want to add on or sell. Still, it is a big nut to swallow.

abacomike

Driver, you are right regarding $20 on a Tims card.  You have once again "out-rationalized" everyone on this forum.  Well done!

abacomike

Over the past few months, I have been getting an inordinate amount of spam from Reverse Mortgage, Cable TV and Internet Connection, Lose Weight and still eat, etc. I keep opting out by sending them unsubscribe messages using the connection they provide, but nothing changes. I send this stuff to "spam", but then they just change a number or letter in the sending email and I continue getting bombarded. Doesn't the U.S. Gov't require them to remove my email address from everything they advertise?

qbrozen

Mike: http://www.spamprimer.com/spammers-wont-unsubscribe-you/

bwia

@stever have you pulled the trigger on the Encore yet? Before you do perhaps you should take a look at the new 2016 Hyundai Tucson. On Saturday I had the opportunity to get a close look at Eco trim level. Nice car inside and out but I am waiting to see Limited with leather and tech gizmos. What do you think?

graphicguy

abacomike....it's unfortunate, but when you click on the "unsubscribe" link, that just tells the spammer that your email account is active and you're looking at it. There is an entire industry based around paying people to get catch your eye. Those spam emails you sometimes get stating you can make $xxx in your spare time from the comfort of your home? That's one of them....gather as many active email addresses as you can to get a response, so the sender makes money off the "clicks" generated.

If you take one of those spam emails you got and right click on the sender you'll be shown their actual email address. 99% of the time it's an individual sending it, not the company that the email touts.

To my knowledge, there is no law being broken by sending them. Even if there were, it would probably be about as effective as the Fed's "DO NOT CALL LIST". It doesn't work and nobody polices that list.

Best thing to do, don't open the email. Just check mark it as spam in your email box. Either set your email box to empty spam every week or so, or empty it yourself. That way, you don't have to be bothered by even seeing it.

bwia

graphicguy said:

Heard from the Cadillac dealer on the status of my CTS this a.m. on my voice mail. They said they were going to "need it for a while". Not sure what they meant by that, but it didn't sound good.

Keep your fingers crossed, a resolution will soon come.

By the way, you had mentioned there was no torque steer in your XTS loaner. That is by design. The XTS uses the hyper-strut suspension developed for the upper trim levels of the Buick LaCrosse. In theory it is suppose to eliminate torque steer---and it works as designed, at least for me anyway.

stever

No trigger pulling here @bwia - we'll probably wait until the van dies in the middle of the freeway, knowing us.

The '15 Tucson looked "trucky" to me and I mostly vetoed it without a drive. And my wife hasn't even seen it. Got nice ground clearance, kind of a high liftover height in the back hatch. Should make for a good seat height for my wife though.

Trucky in the sense that I think we want a wagon or hatch and some of these mini-SUVs really are SUVish. The Honda/Mazda dealer also has the Hyundai franchise so it should be easy enough to check out.

Back to the Encore, my niece just dumped a GMC Acadia and they are threatening to disown us if we go GM, lol. They had tons of trouble. My wife's girlfriend is threatening to disown her is she winds up in a Buick, just because she doesn't want to think about getting old, and lots of people still associate Buicks with retirement.

Mr_Shiftright

Here's a story on a HACKED TESLA, but in this case (unlike the Jeep) they were actually plugged into the car. .

robr2 said:

snakeweasel said:

driver100 said:

That headlight/computer glitch is frustrating. I heard on the radio Chrysler has known for sometime now that someone could hack into the computers in their cars......and they can control the brakes etc. And, this after a heavy fine for not following up on recall notices.

That is one thing I can never understand, how can you hack into a cars computer unless you are physically attached to the car? That is unless you have a car that has some sort of internet connection (like 4G service) or you can connect to it by wifi, but other than that you would have to plug your computer into the car to hack it.

The Chryslers that are being hacked into are the ones connected to the internet via UConnect which if FMC's interactivity/telematics system. Others out there that may be susceptible to hacking include:

GM - OnStar
MB - MBrace
Audi - Audi Connect
BMW - Car Hotspot LTE (EU only)

dino001

graphicguy said:

Heard from the Cadillac dealer on the status of my CTS this a.m. on my voice mail. They said they were going to "need it for a while". Not sure what they meant by that, but it didn't sound good.

Actually, it sounds excellent. For first time somebody acknowledges there is a problem and they don't need a code to acknowledge it. I somehow had a feeling that had you been willing to sacrifice half a day before (by calling them immediately after the stalls without hard attempts of restarting the vehicle), you may have had received much better response. Of course, the risk was, the car starts after it is towed, so you are sent back to the streets with a defective POS unit. However, there would be an incident(s) on the record.

Perhaps now you may have now some leg for your lemon claim - or if not, perhaps they will finally fix it. Either way it's actually potentially a better outcome than before. Although, the other CUE/iPhone "works as designed" clash incident tells me that even if they do, you still get the car not working as promised in the original purchase.

dino001

graphicguy said:

If you take one of those spam emails you got and right click on the sender you'll be shown their actual email address. 99% of the time it's an individual sending it, not the company that the email touts.

It's worse than that. Those "individuals" are usually zombie emails, either hijacked, or phoney. I have received several emails from my "sister" (i.e. the email header says it was my sister sending it, but the email address is not hers) with a link to click on. Fortunately, I know she wouldn't send me anything in English, so i remove it immediately. Once you know the trick, you don't get caught. Those spammers scan social media sites for names and connections and then assume one and send the spam/malicious software links to another. This is a very dangerous stuff. Never believe that that the email sent to you by Joe Smith, your relative/friend is from him, until you verify the sender's address. Even that may be insufficient. I essentially don't open "cool links" from anybody, until I established they actually sent those.

But yes, never "opt out" of spam. You can only opt out of legitimate websites, those will take you off their list. Spammers see this as a confirmation to send you even more. Generally patiently ignoring their junk and setting up a decent filter either with your ISP, or anti-spam software, is the only way. Only a couple of junk emails per week come through now. I periodically go into the quarantine pages to see if anything legitimate was filtered and check it out.

driver100

abacomike said:

Driver, you are right regarding $20 on a Tims card.  You have once again "out-rationalized" everyone on this forum.  Well done!

Thanks for the acknowledgement. There is no right and wrong method....just what suits the person, and I like to make my life as uncomplicated as possible.

If we were talking about a pay day loan company that gives you $100 for week for a payment of $20 which works out to over 500% interest per annum I would say that would not be the best way to get a loan for $100.

Interest lost on $20 is negligible, and is probably 0 because the bill would be in my wallet anyway. It is better if Tim's can get some use out of it.

suydam

Re the Encore: of course problems with one GM car don't mean the entire line is problematic. Buicks in particular have always been fairly reliable cars. Encores have been out for 3 years now and have a very good track record. But you can't do anything with people who have a set fixation about Buick. I've never owned one before myself but I changed my mind once I got one as a rental and saw how nice it was. didnt the Tucson grow in length for '16? So it would be a larger vehicle than the Encore.

mako1a

I was getting calls about lowering my interest on my CC which I have never paid anyway as I zero the balance every month. After the 4th or 5th call I decided to play along. I hit 1 to talk to a rep. He said Mr R, what is your CC number. I said 1. 1? Yes 1 I was the first person in the USA to get a CC. He chuckled, then I chuckled then we both began to laugh at the thought of the first CC number being 1. It ended with me saying "see ya around" and him saying "fun talking with you". Bye. No more calls. How bout that.

stever

suydam said:

Re the Encore: of course problems with one GM car don't mean the entire line is problematic. Buicks in particular have always been fairly reliable cars. Encores have been out for 3 years now and have a very good track record. But you can't do anything with people who have a set fixation about Buick. I've never owned one before myself but I changed my mind once I got one as a rental and saw how nice it was. didnt the Tucson grow in length for '16? So it would be a larger vehicle than the Encore.

I grew up with Buicks, but I'm kind of brand indifferent. Read too many posts over the years - all cars have problems and every brand has owners with 200,000 trouble free miles (they just don't post near as often as the people with problems do).

Tucson bigger? That's not better - that's one reason we didn't consider moving there, much less Phoenix.

Ditto the Tucson SUV, lol.

fezo

The cars we had when I was a kid - the ones that worked - tended to be Buicks. I have a soft spot in my heart for them. there's part of me that would sneak one in at one point. Of course you can only sneak so many. The Miata was a major sneak.

driver - when doing the grand travels you must pass a Wawa. You need to try their coffee.

houdini1

stever said:

driver100 said:

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

Still better in the U.S. On the way to Florida in Georgia we get 2 seniors coffees at McDonalds for $1.04!

How do the two coffee brands compare?

Pretty close! McDonalds has excellent coffee. I think Tims coffee is more consistant wherever you go across the country and they are in some places in the US. They write on the carafe when they make it and it is supposed to be changed every 20 minutes.......I get the feeling at some McDonalds it depends on the staff how often it is made. A good freshly made coffee at McDonalds is a 10 out of 10 for me.

I agree - McD's coffee is much better than it was in the old days. The price of a senior cup varies though, from the typical .50 cents up to a buck. Still think Timmy's is a little bit better.

We're tracking our power usage closely. Our estimated Aug. bill was less than the estimates the solar companies mades but not by a whole lot. There's lot of unknowns right now with credits expiring, utilities laying on grid fees and the new energy proposals that may get upended. Probably will do the car thing first.

Our electric bill that we just received was $287. It has been hot and humid. Last year for same month was $222. Rates have gone up.

Sandman6472

I owned a '14 Tucson for just over a year and it was flawless...drove very nicely but was just too big for me. I got the SE version as I needed a power seat and would've kept it but due to the size and the better mpg's I'm getting in my Golf. First time I ever dumped a vehicle in such a short period of time, bought 12/1/13 and sold 12/14/14. I had looked at the Encore while shopping and was set to get one but liked the Tucson a bit better at the time.

The Sandman

stickguy

I love wawa. All over by me. My neighbor is even an executive with them.

They make good sandwiches. I hear the coffee is good, but I dont drink it.

They actually recently opened some store in Fla for the transplants.

stever

@houdini1, we paid $235 for the "June" bill, but we had a houseguest for ~6 weeks. Our "July" bill that we just got came in at $205. An off-season bill runs around $62.

@sandman_6472, I did mention your experience in passing to the salesperson when I was shopping the HR-V the first time. That's the last time I've eyeballed one. We'd probably get used to the size pretty fast. Better mpg is always a plus.

Heading out for the VW store soon....

Michaell

I must have some really cheap electricity, then.

My June bill was $183 and the July bill dropped to $149. We have a hot tub connected full time and the A/C has been running. I suspect August will be a bit more.

In the winter, the heated floors consume a bit of electricity, but the house we're moving to doesn't have that feature.

graphicguy

bwia said:

graphicguy said:

Heard from the Cadillac dealer on the status of my CTS this a.m. on my voice mail. They said they were going to "need it for a while". Not sure what they meant by that, but it didn't sound good.

Keep your fingers crossed, a resolution will soon come.

By the way, you had mentioned there was no torque steer in your XTS loaner. That is by design. The XTS uses the hyper-strut suspension developed for the upper trim levels of the Buick LaCrosse. In theory it is suppose to eliminate torque steer---and it works as designed, at least for me anyway.

Not my cup 'o tea, but if someone wanted the "feel" of floating over bumps and being disconnected from the road, the XTS would be the car to get. I don't like it, but there are those out there that do.

CTS Service? Not sure what's going on. I just called and they said they hadn't even taken into the shop yet. It will get interesting when I leave for Utah tomorrow, not returning until Friday night for work, and they call wanting their XTS back mid week.

verdugo

bwia said:

Sounds great until you realize that translate to two free oil changes and tire rotations per year. Cars are so well made today that they require little maintenance extending the ownership experience to over 11 years on average.

We have a 2 year, 10000 miles/year lease on a Ford C-Max Energi hybird (primarily electric, but has gas engine too.)
When we first got it, I checked when I had to do an oil change. It's every 2 years or 20,000 miles.

So I'm going to turn it in without having done a single oil change.

I feel like I'm Mike who has never done an oil change in his cars.

driver100

fezo said:

The cars we had when I was a kid - the ones that worked - tended to be Buicks. I have a soft spot in my heart for them. there's part of me that would sneak one in at one point. Of course you can only sneak so many. The Miata was a major sneak.

driver - when doing the grand travels you must pass a Wawa. You need to try their coffee.

I don't think I have ever seen a Wawa, but, if I remember correctly, they were going to build some around our town in Florida. If I find one I'll give it a try. I see stick thinks they are coming to Florida, so that kind of confirms what I thought.

Then, there is Wawa Ontario, at the tip of Lake Superior, known for the giant Canada Goose:

stickguy

Looks like 3 now, all by Orlando and Kissimmee. Makes sense. Net the Disney tourists.

15 more scheduled by year end, in an assortment of towns. So maybe one near you. The Googles has the answer.

fezo

Yes! I was in Wawa, Ontario, last year! Still have a trip around Lake Superior on my agenda.

My guess is that you travel too far to the west to hit a Wawa. They're thick in Pennsylvania (named for their first location in Wawa, PA; oddly 84 Lumber originated in 84, Pennsylvania; report is, despite the name of the town Intercourse was not where anything was invented), Delaware and South Jersey and are slowly moving to North Jersey. Sooner or later they'll take over the country. By 2030 there will be one on the moon.

dino001

I've recently seen Wawa around, but never been in one. I have my Costco refueling routine well and stick to it. On the road I usually look for majors, mostly Shell and BP - not that their stations are so great, they can be sometimes outright awful, but the fuel is usually predictable. If not available, I look for larger stations, better chance of the convenience stores having decent restrooms.

robr2

Steve - have they changed the Hess' in Jersey to Speedway yet? Here in MA, it seemed to happen overnight.

stever

So, I call the 800 number to connect with the VW dealer and tell the woman I'd like to test a Golf and perhaps a Sportwagen. She clicks around for a few seconds and tells me they have plenty of inventory and when would the best time be? Told her anytime since we're flexible so we set it for 1:15 and to ask for Jim or Dave (not their real names).

We arrive 5 minutes late and no one has ever heard of us. No biggie, "Dave" is paged and finds us a few minutes later as we're walking the lot (nothing in their showroom but cubicles). They have three diesel Sportwagens on the lot and not a single Golf. Sheesh.

Dave is apologetic but you can tell this isn't the first time it's happened. My bad for not looking at the web inventory instead of calling (usually the web inventory is a day or more out of date though). Dave hands us the keys and invites us for a drive so we take an automatic Sportwagen out by outselves. Nice enough but not special enough to interest us further.

houdini1

Michaell said:

I must have some really cheap electricity, then.

My June bill was $183 and the July bill dropped to $149. We have a hot tub connected full time and the A/C has been running. I suspect August will be a bit more.

In the winter, the heated floors consume a bit of electricity, but the house we're moving to doesn't have that feature.

We've got about 3800 sqft of living area that is heated and cooled, so size matters also.

dino001

stever said:

... and tells me they have plenty of inventory and when would the best time be? Told her anytime since we're flexible so we set it for 1:15 and to ask for Jim or Dave (not their real names).

We arrive 5 minutes late and no one has ever heard of us. They have three diesel Sportwagens on the lot and not a single Golf.

Nothing infuriates me more than a blatant lie. I always wonder why some people do lie when it's so easy to check the truth and it will be evident within minutes. What is inside of a head of such person. My problem has always been telling "too much" of a truth (lack of sensitivity), as when asked directly I simply can't bring myself to tell even a "white" lie, so I really struggle with understanding people who would say knowingly something that is incorrect and easy to verify. Yet people, many people, do that all the time.

Is it lack of values, self-control, shame, respect, social acceptance? All of it, perhaps? What is it?

thebean

Taking into account stever's experience at the VW dealer, is it any wonder most people HATE to buy a car?  It's enough to make you keep your current car as long as you can.

oldfarmer50

graphicguy said:

Heard from the Cadillac dealer on the status of my CTS this a.m. on my voice mail. They said they were going to "need it for a while". Not sure what they meant by that, but it didn't sound good.

Probably meant they were giving all the sales staff and lot boys turns doing burn out behind the building.

driver100

dino001 said:

stever said:

... and tells me they have plenty of inventory and when would the best time be? Told her anytime since we're flexible so we set it for 1:15 and to ask for Jim or Dave (not their real names).

We arrive 5 minutes late and no one has ever heard of us. They have three diesel Sportwagens on the lot and not a single Golf.

Nothing infuriates me more than a blatant lie. I always wonder why some people do lie when it's so easy to check the truth and it will be evident within minutes. What is inside of a head of such person. My problem has always been telling "too much" of a truth (lack of sensitivity), as when asked directly I simply can't bring myself to tell even a "white" lie, so I really struggle with understanding people who would say knowingly something that is incorrect and easy to verify. Yet people, many people, do that all the time.

Is it lack of values, self-control, shame, respect, social acceptance? All of it, perhaps? What is it?

Agreed! What a way to start a sales negotiation....with a big lie and not even the right car. I don't understand the concept of lies that much...once you are found out your credibility goes out the window. But, some people just lie and it just keeps coming out of their mouth....and eventually others notice. Quite often their stories change or get derailed, and they get found out.

I think in this case the woman probably looked up the wrong information or the info was out of date...I don't think she would have had a real reason to lie about the car not being there.

fezo

robr2 said:

Steve - have they changed the Hess' in Jersey to Speedway yet? Here in MA, it seemed to happen overnight.

Yep. It's like Hess? Never heard of them...

oldfarmer50

This ever happen to you?

Just got a letter from NYS DMV saying I had 10 days to prove I had insurance on my old Eclipse or they would suspend my license. Are they kidding? Do they not check their own records that show the plate on the Eclipse was transferred to the Mustang?

So who screwed up?

DMV who doesn't know what the other hand is doing?

My insurance who told of insurance being canceled on the old car but not that insurance was started on the new one?

The dealer who didn't inform DMV that they now owned my old car?