Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

driver100

ab348 said:

stickguy said:

backing into a tight spot (like skinny garage door) can be easier, since you have the mirrors to see how close you are on each side. A lot of cars (especially today) are bulky enough up front without great visibility that it can be hard to tell exactly how close your mirrors are to being whacked. Super easy backing in.

All true until you look to one side to ensure the wing mirror on that side has enough clearance to the chintzy 8' garage door frame and snap off the mirror on the opposite side where you aren't looking because it was too close to the frame.

At home I back into our two door garage (I just use one side, and MrsD100 backs in through her door). Our driveway is straight for about 10 yards and then curves to almost a 45 degree angle. It would be easy to go in forward, but it would be difficult to back out around a curve. The mirrors aren't a problem if you keep checking, you can line them up with the frame and see that you will clear the frame........pretty easy really. That part would be fairly easy to do in the C250 as it doesn't require a backup camera to do it.

One guy I know drove in frontwards. He hung a little red ball on a string from the garage roof.....it was for his wife. When the ball touched the windshield, she was supposed to stop.
I don't think MrsD100 would appreciate that!

jmonroe1

snakeweasel said:

explorerx4 said:

I saw there was some YT video, didn't watch it, that recommended investing in collector car instead of the stock market.

I wouldn't get a collector car as an investment as a collector anything is a bad investment.

————————————————
How can you call yourself a car guy and still maintain credibly?

jmonroe

fintail

snakeweasel said:

At the American Legion post with the guys watching the Mecum auctions and the bids are simply insane. There were several muscle cars from the late 60's early 70's going for $ 250K more.

I'll guess boomer/xoomer C-suiters blowing their "inflation" profit-derived bonus checks via a few too many drinks.

kyfdx

henryn said:

snakeweasel said:

explorerx4 said:

I saw there was some YT video, didn't watch it, that recommended investing in collector car instead of the stock market.

I wouldn't get a collector car as an investment as a collector anything is a bad investment.

I have read that rare stamps and coins can be an excellent investment and hedge against inflation. I've never tried it, I think you would need to be a very enthused hobbyist to have the detailed knowledge necessary to invest wisely.

It's the transaction process that kills the investability of collectibles. Always a middleman trying to take a big chunk on both ends.

fintail

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

stickguy said:

backing into a tight spot (like skinny garage door) can be easier, since you have the mirrors to see how close you are on each side. A lot of cars (especially today) are bulky enough up front without great visibility that it can be hard to tell exactly how close your mirrors are to being whacked. Super easy backing in.

All true until you look to one side to ensure the wing mirror on that side has enough clearance to the chintzy 8' garage door frame and snap off the mirror on the opposite side where you aren't looking because it was too close to the frame.

At home I back into our two door garage (I just use one side, and MrsD100 backs in through her door). Our driveway is straight for about 10 yards and then curves to almost a 45 degree angle. It would be easy to go in forward, but it would be difficult to back out around a curve. The mirrors aren't a problem if you keep checking, you can line them up with the frame and see that you will clear the frame........pretty easy really. That part would be fairly easy to do in the C250 as it doesn't require a backup camera to do it.

One guy I know drove in frontwards. He hung a little red ball on a string from the garage roof.....it was for his wife. When the ball touched the windshield, she was supposed to stop.
I don't think MrsD100 would appreciate that!

My grandpa did the tennis ball thing when he docked his massive fuselage Chrysler in their normal sized (60s house, so not small) 2 car garage. It must have been a tight squeeze - I remember looking in the garage when it was emptied out, and it was hard to imagine. I suspect the rear of a car sticking out of a garage was a common sight in the late 60s and 70s.

driver100

....and sometimes I see some newer houses and the garages are so narrow it looks like the driver can get into his car, and then he'd have to back out for a passenger to get in.

oldfarmer50

snakeweasel said:

explorerx4 said:

I saw there was some YT video, didn't watch it, that recommended investing in collector car instead of the stock market.

I wouldn't get a collector car as an investment as a collector anything is a bad investment.

I have a hooptie car collection and recently it has appreciated to the point where, if I sold it now, I’d be a hundredaire.

tjc78

Anyone else’s wife go a little crazy with the organizing stuff?

ab348

I have to think the potential market for '60s/'70s musclecars is going to shrink a lot over the next decade or so as those who grew up in that era age out. I think we are seeing a bubble right now and I expect it will burst, like all bubbles.

28firefighter

@tjc78 said:
Anyone else’s wife go a little crazy with the organizing stuff?

Yes. Except in my house it’s both of us.

tjc78

I tend to agree with that. There is going to be a surge on 80s/90s iron at the same time demand drops for the 60s/70s stuff.

Problem is the 80s/90s stuff doesn’t have nearly the aftermarket support the older stuff does. I think there will also be a market for all kinds of techs that can repair all the various computer modules from those cars.

tjc78

@28firefighter said:

@tjc78 said:
Anyone else’s wife go a little crazy with the organizing stuff?

Yes. Except in my house it’s both of us.

To be fair… it’s a little of me too. She didn’t buy enough bins to do the entire side and I went and bought more.

stickguy

I am definitely not showing my wife that picture of your pantry. Our last house had a large walk in one and this house just has a closet sized one (single door). She still doesn't accept the room I set up in the basement as her walk in 2nd pantry. It does have the spare fridge, and I put some of our wood Ikea shelves up, and built a nice pantry cabinet with doors (a put it together yourself kit).

she also likes buying boxes and stuff like that, but the real answer is, even after a partial purge before moving, she still has way too much stuff.

stickguy

tjc78 said:

I tend to agree with that. There is going to be a surge on 80s/90s iron at the same time demand drops for the 60s/70s stuff.

Problem is the 80s/90s stuff doesn’t have nearly the aftermarket support the older stuff does. I think there will also be a market for all kinds of techs that can repair all the various computer modules from those cars.

I've seen enough videos on youtube (guys like the car wizard) talking about how hard it is to repair some of the later cars from that time period, with all the computers, etc. that can't be replaced.

explorerx4

I should have added that I was not advocating buying a car as an investment.
Regarding that car that sold for 1.3, it did come out of a well known collection with some provenance with names like Allison and Landy associated with it.

ab348

Forget about investing in ‘60s/‘70s musclecars. I need to start investing in storage basket manufacturers.

tjc78

@ab348 said:
Forget about investing in ‘60s/‘70s musclecars. I need to start investing in storage basket manufacturers.

It’s a hot category in retail for the last 5 years or so. Back in 2018/2019 my previous company sold all we could buy of wicker baskets, plastic and soft storage bins. Based on the amount of footage Target has for them the demand is still strong.

snakeweasel

backing into a tight spot (like skinny garage door) can be easier, since you have the mirrors to see how close you are on each side. A lot of cars (especially today) are bulky enough up front without great visibility that it can be hard to tell exactly how close your mirrors are to being whacked. Super easy backing in.

All true until you look to one side to ensure the wing mirror on that side has enough clearance to the chintzy 8' garage door frame and snap off the mirror on the opposite side where you aren't looking because it was too close to the frame.

At home I back into our two door garage (I just use one side, and MrsD100 backs in through her door). Our driveway is straight for about 10 yards and then curves to almost a 45 degree angle. It would be easy to go in forward, but it would be difficult to back out around a curve. The mirrors aren't a problem if you keep checking, you can line them up with the frame and see that you will clear the frame........pretty easy really. That part would be fairly easy to do in the C250 as it doesn't require a backup camera to do it. One guy I know drove in frontwards. He hung a little red ball on a string from the garage roof.....it was for his wife. When the ball touched the windshield, she was supposed to stop. I don't think MrsD100 would appreciate that!

With the BMW when I park in the garage I turn on the parking sensors and when they are on I can turn on the backup camera even though I am not in reverse. When I see the driveway pavement end and the garage floor appear in the backup camera I know I am far enough in the garage.

On the Sonata I am on my own, but I am pretty good at judging that.

henryn

ab348 said:

Forget about investing in ‘60s/‘70s musclecars. I need to start investing in storage basket manufacturers.

I would suspect they're all in China, so questionable investment at best.

snakeweasel

@jmonroe1 said:
————————————————
How can you call yourself a car guy and still maintain credibly?

jmonroe

Easy, buy getting a car because I like it not to keep in in a garage never taking it out on the hope that it increases in value.

A true car guy buys a car to drive it.

snakeweasel

@kyfdx said:
It's the transaction process that kills the investability of collectibles. Always a middleman trying to take a big chunk on both ends.

Here is my take on it. Once something becomes popular to collect the people that need to get it will drive up proces. Once they get what they want they stop trying to complete their collections prices drop.

As an example I present Bennie Baby's when they became hot. Prices shot up for the early releases so people can have a complete set. once those people who had to have one of everyone got them prices dropped.

snakeweasel

@driver100 said:
....and sometimes I see some newer houses and the garages are so narrow it looks like the driver can get into his car, and then he'd have to back out for a passenger to get in.

In our garage we have enough stored on one side of the garage (right side) thst when parking a car pn that side we do have to have the car out of the garage for the passenger to get on or out. But not on the other side.

snakeweasel

@tjc78 said:
Anyone else’s wife go a little crazy with the organizing stuff?

Change the wire for wood and you have my basement.

stickguy

my wife doesn't try to get in the car (passenger side) in the garage. does it in the driveway. Though in her car there is enough space to the right (wall side, that car is parked on the right side of the garage) to do it she just doesn't want to worry about it.

my truck, the passenger side opens to the middle and they are really close together so not safe. even getting in the driver's door of hers is tight. need to be careful not to ding the truck.

since there is not a lot of front to back space to work with, I just test fitted where they need to be, then make a mark on the wall so I know when my head is even with that, I am clear of the door.

snakeweasel

Unless it's raining or snowing I let my wife out while the car is outside the garage and I won't move the car until she gets inside the house. I just don't want to have an unfortunate accident.

tjc78

@snakeweasel said:

@tjc78 said:
Anyone else’s wife go a little crazy with the organizing stuff?

Change the wire for wood and you have my basement.

There is a trend to cover up the wire with wood. I’m resisting the temptation.

jwm40517

I would have been happy to win the Mega lottery this week, but the one winner has probably lost the most due to rising interest rates. Their cash option of about $725 M is only about 54% of the $1.35Billion. Back in 2020 when interest rates were low the cash option was about 80% of the jackpot. The current pot at cheap rates would have been over a billion for the cash option.

snakeweasel

tjc78 said:

@snakeweasel said:

@tjc78 said:

Anyone else’s wife go a little crazy with the organizing stuff?

Change the wire for wood and you have my basement.

There is a trend to cover up the wire with wood. I’m resisting the temptation.

We didn't cover wire with wood we made all the shelving and the supports out of wood, no wiring was used.

imidazol97

@driver100
Does the Mercedes dealer have the ability to add on the rear view
as a Mercedes authorized modification?

I can't see trading that car with low miles and known record of
high quality maintenance especially as a 6-month car.

jmonroe1

jwm40517 said:

I would have been happy to win the Mega lottery this week, but the one winner has probably lost the most due to rising interest rates. Their cash option of about $725 M is only about 54% of the $1.35Billion. Back in 2020 when interest rates were low the cash option was about 80% of the jackpot. The current pot at cheap rates would have been over a billion for the cash option.

————————————————
Yep, that really bugs me but I try to look at it on the positive side. Now I don’t have to rent as many safe deposit boxes.

jmonroe

stickguy

tjc78 said:

@snakeweasel said:

@tjc78 said:

Anyone else’s wife go a little crazy with the organizing stuff?

Change the wire for wood and you have my basement.

There is a trend to cover up the wire with wood. I’m resisting the temptation.

we redid our master closet when we bought this house and went with all wood. the wife was adament that she did not want wire shelves. Not sure why, but fine by me. it does look a lot nicer, and did not really cost more compared to what we would have done instead.

she really hates it in the pantry since small stuff does not always stand up well. but I am resisting the work effort and cost to redo that!

stickguy

I am not going to shed too many tears for that mega winner. I would not (and I am betting very few winners) would know what the heck to do with that much money. I actually think it is possible to win too big of a jackpot. A nice 20 million win, nobody ever really hears (or cares) about that, so can just take a nice $1mill/year for 20 years, and not have to worry about it!

ab348

@stickguy said:
she really hates it in the pantry since small stuff does not always stand up well. but I am resisting the work effort and cost to redo that!

Some thin pieces of plexiglass cut to fit each shelf fix that problem and look unobtrusive.

stickguy

we bought some stuff on a roll once but it was too thin. Getting plexiglass cut like that might cost more than just replacing them with wood!

ab348

The stuff I was thinking of has a peel-away paper on both sides. You draw your pattern on that and use a fine-tooth blade on a jigsaw to cut it.

jmonroe1

stickguy said:

tjc78 said:

@snakeweasel said:

@tjc78 said:

Anyone else’s wife go a little crazy with the organizing stuff?

Change the wire for wood and you have my basement.

There is a trend to cover up the wire with wood. I’m resisting the temptation.

we redid our master closet when we bought this house and went with all wood. the wife was adament that she did not want wire shelves. Not sure why, but fine by me. it does look a lot nicer, and did not really cost more compared to what we would have done instead.

she really hates it in the pantry since small stuff does not always stand up well. but I am resisting the work effort and cost to redo that!
————————————————
Buy a piece of 1/8 inch tempered hard board (Masonite) and put it on a shelf or two for the small items that won’t stand upright on their own. You can even paint it white to match the wire shelves if you don’t like the dark brown color of the hard board. That’s infinitely cheaper than replacing the wire shelving.

jmonroe

stickguy

I am going with the "ignore the problem and it will go away" plan. so far, working great!

tjc78

What people do is cut a piece of 1/2” plywood and then brad nail a 1x2 to the front. Paint it whatever color and you’re done. They just sit on top.

explorerx4

Calling Dr Rick

driver100

imidazol97 said:

@driver100
Does the Mercedes dealer have the ability to add on the rear view
as a Mercedes authorized modification?

I can't see trading that car with low miles and known record of
high quality maintenance especially as a 6-month car.

Mercedes won't do it. Legitimate garages that sell the cameras won't attempt it. Something about the wiring...in a Mercedes.
My only hope would be if I had a phone with data...I could mount a camera on the rear and view it on my phone. Not very expensive, except for the data plan which I wouldn't use except for the camera.
But, I have a $3 a month plan without data.
I agree, it is really a 5 months of a year car, I don't back up that often, and when I do I can manage it. MrsD100 says it is good for me to keep that skill.
It would be really nice if they could put a camera on the rear, and have a unit that sits on the instrument panel that could pick up the signal from the camera....and not have to plug it in or have wires running through the car.
I'd prefer a backup camera, but I can live without it.

stickguy

there are options that will not touch the cars wiring at all. You just end up with a separate monitor (basically like using your phone) that looks like an old school Garmin navi unit. the wire would just get tucked under the carpet edge or behind the trim.

after an exhaustive 30 seconds of research, this is representative of it. The camera mounts on the license plate frame, and a wire runs through the car up to the dash where you can stick the monitor (or on the windshield). I think it should work with a standard cell phone suction cup or magnetic mount.

power either comes from the 12v (cigarette) lighter up front, or you can connect it to the reverse lights (pretty common thing to do) and that powers the whole system. if connected to the reverse lights, will come on when you put it in reverse. If in the 12v outlet, you turn it on when you need it (so can do it any time).

https://smile.amazon.com/LeeKooLuu-Backup-Monitor-Minivan-Waterproof/dp/B06XKPQ6YZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=334EF8OZUN7X&keywords=wireless+backup+camera+for+car&qid=1673841006&sprefix=wireless+backup,aps,212&sr=8-3

If you can spend a few $ extra, this one has zero wires. claimed 3 minute DIY installation. if you can screw on a license plate, you can install this. Looks like you have to turn it on when needed though since not wired into the reverse lights.

https://smile.amazon.com/Solar-Wireless-Installation-Foxpark-Channels/dp/B09Y5MVFN4/ref=sr_1_4?crid=334EF8OZUN7X&keywords=wireless+backup+camera+for+car&qid=1673841666&sprefix=wireless+backup,aps,212&sr=8-4&ufe=app_do:amzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

I am not going to shed too many tears for that mega winner. I would not (and I am betting very few winners) would know what the heck to do with that much money. I actually think it is possible to win too big of a jackpot. A nice 20 million win, nobody ever really hears (or cares) about that, so can just take a nice $1mill/year for 20 years, and not have to worry about it!

I wouldn’t know what to do with it either but I’d have fun trying to figure it out. Certainly it would alter your life in ways you could never imagine. One would be personal security. I’ve heard stories of people aggressively trying to get a piece of the winnings up to the kidnapping of winner’s relatives for ransom.

The one thing agreed upon by the transport van brain trust was that you should immediately form a LLC so that you wouldn’t be publicly identified. Other considerations ranged from handing out cash on street corners to hiring hit men to settle old scores.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

there are options that will not touch the cars wiring at all. You just end up with a separate monitor (basically like using your phone) that looks like an old school Garmin navi unit. the wire would just get tucked under the carpet edge or behind the trim.

after an exhaustive 30 seconds of research, this is representative of it. The camera mounts on the license plate frame, and a wire runs through the car up to the dash where you can stick the monitor (or on the windshield). I think it should work with a standard cell phone suction cup or magnetic mount.

power either comes from the 12v (cigarette) lighter up front, or you can connect it to the reverse lights (pretty common thing to do) and that powers the whole system. if connected to the reverse lights, will come on when you put it in reverse. If in the 12v outlet, you turn it on when you need it (so can do it any time).

https://smile.amazon.com/LeeKooLuu-Backup-Monitor-Minivan-Waterproof/dp/B06XKPQ6YZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=334EF8OZUN7X&keywords=wireless+backup+camera+for+car&qid=1673841006&sprefix=wireless+backup,aps,212&sr=8-3

If you can spend a few $ extra, this one has zero wires. claimed 3 minute DIY installation. if you can screw on a license plate, you can install this. Looks like you have to turn it on when needed though since not wired into the reverse lights.

https://smile.amazon.com/Solar-Wireless-Installation-Foxpark-Channels/dp/B09Y5MVFN4/ref=sr_1_4?crid=334EF8OZUN7X&keywords=wireless+backup+camera+for+car&qid=1673841666&sprefix=wireless+backup,aps,212&sr=8-4&ufe=app_do:amzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0

There are backup camera systems I see advertised that display on your mirror. They seem cheap enough.

driver100

stickguy said:

there are options that will not touch the cars wiring at all. You just end up with a separate monitor (basically like using your phone) that looks like an old school Garmin navi unit. the wire would just get tucked under the carpet edge or behind the trim.

after an exhaustive 30 seconds of research, this is representative of it. The camera mounts on the license plate frame, and a wire runs through the car up to the dash where you can stick the monitor (or on the windshield). I think it should work with a standard cell phone suction cup or magnetic mount.

power either comes from the 12v (cigarette) lighter up front, or you can connect it to the reverse lights (pretty common thing to do) and that powers the whole system. if connected to the reverse lights, will come on when you put it in reverse. If in the 12v outlet, you turn it on when you need it (so can do it any time).

https://smile.amazon.com/LeeKooLuu-Backup-Monitor-Minivan-Waterproof/dp/B06XKPQ6YZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=334EF8OZUN7X&keywords=wireless+backup+camera+for+car&qid=1673841006&sprefix=wireless+backup,aps,212&sr=8-3

If you can spend a few $ extra, this one has zero wires. claimed 3 minute DIY installation. if you can screw on a license plate, you can install this. Looks like you have to turn it on when needed though since not wired into the reverse lights.

https://smile.amazon.com/Solar-Wireless-Installation-Foxpark-Channels/dp/B09Y5MVFN4/ref=sr_1_4?crid=334EF8OZUN7X&keywords=wireless+backup+camera+for+car&qid=1673841666&sprefix=wireless+backup,aps,212&sr=8-4&ufe=app_do:amzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0

That wireless one might work stick. The last time I looked was 3 years ago and they didn't have that. I don't think anything wired in will work on a Mercedes.
I have to run to tennis but I will check that out for sure.

@oldfarmer50 I believe the ones attached to the mirror still have to be wired into the cars electrical system. No one will attempt that on an MB.

snakeweasel

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

I am not going to shed too many tears for that mega winner. I would not (and I am betting very few winners) would know what the heck to do with that much money. I actually think it is possible to win too big of a jackpot. A nice 20 million win, nobody ever really hears (or cares) about that, so can just take a nice $1mill/year for 20 years, and not have to worry about it!

I wouldn’t know what to do with it either but I’d have fun trying to figure it out. Certainly it would alter your life in ways you could never imagine. One would be personal security. I’ve heard stories of people aggressively trying to get a piece of the winnings up to the kidnapping of winner’s relatives for ransom.

The one thing agreed upon by the transport van brain trust was that you should immediately form a LLC so that you wouldn’t be publicly identified. Other considerations ranged from handing out cash on street corners to hiring hit men to settle old scores.

You know with that much money I would be happy to find some real good lawyer to set up a blind trust so no one would find out who won and just split the pot with him or her.

kyfdx

There was a lawyer in Ohio that specialized in trusts for lottery winners. But, eventually, he was indicted for scamming them.

I like to manage my own money, but I think I'd take the 29 year payout on a lottery that big. You could learn a lot, the first couple years, with just $50M to deal with. Otherwise, I'd probably do something stupid, like buying the Reds.

snakeweasel

kyfdx said:

There was a lawyer in Ohio that specialized in trusts for lottery winners. But, eventually, he was indicted for scamming them.

I like to manage my own money, but I think I'd take the 29 year payout on a lottery that big. You could learn a lot, the first couple years, with just $50M to deal with. Otherwise, I'd probably do something stupid, like buying the Reds.

I think you might have to win more to buy the Reds. While they are one of the cheapest teams around they are still worth over a billion dollars.

kyfdx

I only need to be the managing partner. The current guy only owns 15%. 🙂

jwm40517

The one advantage to the 29 year payout is that if you blow all the money in the first year you get to start over the next year. After a few years you may figure out how to stop blowing it all.

fintail

imidazol97 said:

@driver100
Does the Mercedes dealer have the ability to add on the rear view
as a Mercedes authorized modification?

I can't see trading that car with low miles and known record of
high quality maintenance especially as a 6-month car.

There are specialty shops that can "code" in a camera or other factory option (navigation, folding mirrors, different gauges, etc) into the car's computer so it recognizes the hardware (so the camera broadcasts through the ICE screen). Problem is finding a shop who can do it, and maybe just as much, paying for the part and labor. Parts for a 10 year old car often cost as much as a new one.