Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

abacomike

@laurasdada said:
I did the CT to FL (Boca, a long way from the border!) drive once in <24 hours, spring break with three buddies sharing the driving. In Dad's Renault LeCar, manual. Only three of us could drive a stick, the fourth learned on the fly! Sorry, Dad...

I drove from Los Angeles to Scranton, PA in 2-1/2 days back in 1999 - a stop 90 miles west of Denver and my 2nd stop in Joliet, IL. I arrived in Scranton at 3:00 PM the 3rd day. Did most of my driving at night when traffic was light - interstates all the way. Could never do that again. Was in a hurry to take on new job as head of school.

driver100

Thanks for the reviews of the Vinfast VF 8.....what a boondoggle.
I sent the reviews to my friend who was really excited about being one of the first to order a new Vinfast, $250 down. All he said was he wasn't doing the battery leasing deal, he got back his deposit immediately, and Thanks for the info.
I think you guys saved him a lot of grief.

driver100

I took the E400 in for yearly servicing, just an oil change and check the fluid levels this time. Also new wipers, after 6 years....it is probably time.
I sat in about 10 different cars in the showroom, C Class, S, SUVs, EVs, and every interior was monochrome black. Really, I'd rather have my car than have a black interior, it does nothing to make the car look good inside. The red stitching on some helps...but, not enough.

tjc78

I don’t hate black interiors as much as I used to, but as a rule I generally like lighter colors too.

ab348

My hatred of black interiors continues unabated. Different color stitching solves nothing.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

I took the E400 in for yearly servicing, just an oil change and check the fluid levels this time. Also new wipers, after 6 years....it is probably time.
I sat in about 10 different cars in the showroom, C Class, S, SUVs, EVs, and every interior was monochrome black. Really, I'd rather have my car than have a black interior, it does nothing to make the car look good inside. The red stitching on some helps...but, not enough.

Those Mercedes wipers must not last. My wipers on the Malibu are the originals. 9 years.
I inspected them carefully before we left on our 5-state tour in April to see if I needed to put on new ones, but they were fine.

imidazol97

Actually I'd be surprised if the total days the wipers and tires on the Chev Malibu have been exposed to direct sun is over 30 days after the car sat on the dealer lot when new. It's always been in the garage, out of the damaging sun's rays.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

I took the E400 in for yearly servicing, just an oil change and check the fluid levels this time. Also new wipers, after 6 years....it is probably time.
I sat in about 10 different cars in the showroom, C Class, S, SUVs, EVs, and every interior was monochrome black. Really, I'd rather have my car than have a black interior, it does nothing to make the car look good inside. The red stitching on some helps...but, not enough.

Those Mercedes wipers must not last. My wipers on the Malibu are the originals. 9 years.
I inspected them carefully before we left on our 5-state tour in April to see if I needed to put on new ones, but they were fine.

I don't think there was anything wrong with the old wipers. I figured, I didn't need much maintenance done, and the car is going into year 7, that maybe it would be a good time to get them. The car is only used for half the year, it is in the garage when parked, but if the rubber on tires deteorates after 6 or so years I figure that probably wipers could deteriorate too.
Decided to give my car a nice treat

fintail

driver100 said:

I took the E400 in for yearly servicing, just an oil change and check the fluid levels this time. Also new wipers, after 6 years....it is probably time.
I sat in about 10 different cars in the showroom, C Class, S, SUVs, EVs, and every interior was monochrome black. Really, I'd rather have my car than have a black interior, it does nothing to make the car look good inside. The red stitching on some helps...but, not enough.

Black seems to be the default inoffensive choice for German cars - and it seems most buyers don't care. Either dealers are corporate are setting it, but it doesn't seem to hurt sales, so here we are.

The brown interior in my car is one of the things that drew me to it. I've only had one MB with a black interior.

andres3

My Audi interiors include gray, Magma Red/Black combination in S4, full Red in the TTS, and beige in the short lived A4 experience. Have avoided full black so far.

carnaught

Red is my favorite interior color followed by brown and beiges then gray. No black interiors for a while now is fine with me.

laurasdada

Prefer not black (with the Audi, I could have had any color as long as it was Henry Ford's choice...), brown/baseball glove/chocolate etc. my first choice. But, the M having the Oyster leather is a plus when topless in the sun.

And, one of my greatest joys is simply setting a mechanical hand brake. Hooray for analog!

driver100

Something else I noticed when sitting in cars and SUVs in the showroom. I really prefer a car over an SUV....and I know I am in the minority these days. The SUVs did nothing for me, they seem too practical, or I'd say more of a work horse than a fun car for driving.
Being higher up has the advantage of a better view and possibly safer, but the lower seat position and lower center of gravity are sportier feeling, and that big huge cave behind the rear seat seems like a big open cave. SUVs feel like working vehicles, and not for pleasure vehicles.

ab348

I can understand the appeal of a CUV/SUV for the higher seating position, easier ingress and egress, and cargo capacity. I’ve driven some that were reasonably zippy and which didn’t feel like they were going to roll in a corner. There are acceptable ones and there are ones I really didn’t like. I haven’t found one yet that stirs any deep desire though.

jmonroe1

@ab348 said:
I can understand the appeal of a CUV/SUV for the higher seating position, easier ingress and egress, and cargo capacity. I’ve driven some that were reasonably zippy and which didn’t feel like they were going to roll in a corner. There are acceptable ones and there are ones I really didn’t like. I haven’t found one yet that stirs any deep desire though.

————————————————
Chalk me up as another who likes a car. Maybe being old coots is the reason we like cars. I have no plans of buying anything but cars.

If I have to haul something, Son #1 has a real pickup and Son #2 has an SUV. Seems like I have most hauling needs covered. Give me credit for thinking ahead years ago and having sons.

jmonroe

stickguy

I don't have easy access to any sort of truck. so it is whatever we have in the garage I have to make do with.

a CUV for a family car is just a lot more functional. I bought a new mower recently, came in a large box. I just folded down the back seats and shoved it in. a couple of weeks ago we brought home 2 6x3' garden boxes. jammed them in too. Neither was getting into a sedan.

the higher seating position comes in handy too, especially with all the big trucks these days. And worse, cars seem to be getting lower and lower now.

driving wise, something like the RDX pretty much drives like a taller TLX. comfortable, handles well, pretty quick.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

Something else I noticed when sitting in cars and SUVs in the showroom. I really prefer a car over an SUV....and I know I am in the minority these days. The SUVs did nothing for me, they seem too practical, or I'd say more of a work horse than a fun car for driving.
Being higher up has the advantage of a better view and possibly safer, but the lower seat position and lower center of gravity are sportier feeling, and that big huge cave behind the rear seat seems like a big open cave. SUVs feel like working vehicles, and not for pleasure vehicles.

I feel the same way. If I’m going to drive a truck I’d rather have a bed or a cargo bay in back of me.

qbrozen

I like some CUVs. Nothing too large. Small enough to be sporty while providing easy ingress/egress and just high enough to clear curbs. The Stelvio was damned near perfect in every way. If only it was reliable.

stickguy

garden got finished today. all planted. Now just have to wait for the harvest of fresh veggies. assuming the rabbits don't get it first. we are putting up a panel fence which I put in "dry fit" so tomorrow morning need to go adjust it and clip the pieces together.

next project, my own fault for off handedly mentioning yesterday that the prior owners should have put a ceiling fan in the family room. Turns out the wife was thinking it would be nice to have, so now I will be getting the ladder out to pull the box plate off the ceiling to check for live wires. Looks like they designed the room to have one. or at least some sort of light fixture, since there is a round plate dead center in the ceiling (lighting is 4 recessed cans around the perimeter). probably explains the couple of light switches that we still haven't figured out what they control! Assuming there are wires in there, will get out my tester pen, and start flipping switches to see if any of them make the wires live.

I am fine putting the fan up to the existing fixture and wires, but zero chance I am running new ones for this.

stickguy

thought I was going to get more experience in my new secondary career (small engine carb maintenance). My son texted this morning that he pulled out his mower (same brand/engine as mine) and as expected, it would not start (was a problem last year too). he asked for the link to the carb kit, and I started planning what tools and equipment to bring down to his house tomorrow. But luckily after dumping in some fuel system cleaner and more pulls, it finally fired up.

I think if it hadn't he was giving up and going to buy a battery unit too. definitely the way to go to avoid hassling every spring with the engine and having to deal with getting gas for it.

stickguy

got a surprise in the mail last week. 2 checks showed up out of the blue (one addressed to me, the other to my wife). Turned out to be money from an airbag settlement. $97.50 or so each. I must have returned one of the solicitations for that and forgot all about it. Not sure what I am getting money for since I never paid anything, but not giving it back!

roadburner

laurasdada said:

Little disappointed by the BMW Ultimate Driving Experience. It was fun, but three ~30 second laps in the autocross course... No one confused me with one of the instructors, but I didn't hit any cones and only one course marshall... kidding. Did get a reusable BMW water bottle, but years ago Jag did a much better job with the swag. I'm all about the swag, 'bout the swag...
Really a marketing event for the driving school in CA and SC; not that there's anything wrong with that.

But, I was able to drive an i4 M50 on the streets, holy torque Batman! And, my first experience with true regen braking, it would take a bit to master the art of the one pedal. I liked it a lot, comfy, sharp handling (well, in a very limited sample drive) and VROOM (ok, not so much VROOM as WHIRRR!)!

Of course, in the audience was a guy who asked about the range, 227-271 miles. "A tesla 3 can go 330 miles!" he noted smugly... the instructor wouldn't be sucked in to "range wars" and quickly moved on to the drive instructions.

Mr. Smug's name badge read, Zelon Musk... kidding again. It's what I do.

Oh, and the 100 miles of driving the topless M240, I'm loving it!

My son and I did M Day at Kentucky Speedway a few years ago- autocross, drag racing, and lapping the oval; the only downer was the oval, some wimpy bedwetters in the group wouldn't drive over 115.

roadburner

I was glad to finally own another car with a red interior.

venture

roadburner said:

I was glad to finally own another car with a red interior.

Me too.

ab348

stickguy said:

next project, my own fault for off handedly mentioning yesterday that the prior owners should have put a ceiling fan in the family room. Turns out the wife was thinking it would be nice to have, so now I will be getting the ladder out to pull the box plate off the ceiling to check for live wires. Looks like they designed the room to have one. or at least some sort of light fixture, since there is a round plate dead center in the ceiling (lighting is 4 recessed cans around the perimeter). probably explains the couple of light switches that we still haven't figured out what they control! Assuming there are wires in there, will get out my tester pen, and start flipping switches to see if any of them make the wires live.

I am fine putting the fan up to the existing fixture and wires, but zero chance I am running new ones for this.

Here you go, save yourself lots of time and money, no need for a special box or structure for a ceiling fan, just use this!:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bell-and-Howell-Socket-Fan-Ceiling-Fan-with-Light-5000K-LED-1000-Lumens/558814284

I have to admit I laughed when I first saw the ad on TV for this.

stickguy

my wife would kill me if I tried that. Though it would actually be just as much work, since I would have to install the socket!

andres3

venture said:

roadburner said:

I was glad to finally own another car with a red interior.

Me too.

I like that they made the armrest match the interior red, I prefer more parts and components match the "bold" interior color than just the seats. The worse is with light/beige interior cars. Does it really cost that much for them to make a few plastic trim pieces a different color?

ab348

stickguy said:

my wife would kill me if I tried that. Though it would actually be just as much work, since I would have to install the socket!

Seriously though, I believe (courtesy of This Old House) that you need to beef up the structure to install a ceiling fan if there has not been one there before. I remember seeing a metal bar that gets fitted between the ceiling joists. And don't you need a specific box with provision to accept the part of the fan that locks into it that keeps the assembly from spinning around?

jmonroe1

@stickguy said:
my wife would kill me if I tried that. Though it would actually be just as much work, since I would have to install the socket!

————————————————
I would say mounting a cumbersome fan/light combo is a lot more difficult to do than just screwing in that gizmo (and besides, screwing is more fun).

I have gotten more experience installing fan/light combos than I ever wanted. We’ve installed them in every bedroom of every flip house we’ve done. I personally don’t like them but when we started the flipping thing the real estate woman who showed my son the first house before we decided to buy it told him to be sure to install fan/lights in all bedrooms because they are a big selling feature. They don’t cost all that much so we do it and we always go through the work of installing a separate switch to control the fan so you don’t have to pull a chain. Kinda like, “since we’re in there”.

I’m going to show my son that screw in job just to get his reaction but I doubt he’ll care to let me have the fun of screwing them in.

jmonroe

driver100

ab348 said:

stickguy said:

next project, my own fault for off handedly mentioning yesterday that the prior owners should have put a ceiling fan in the family room. Turns out the wife was thinking it would be nice to have, so now I will be getting the ladder out to pull the box plate off the ceiling to check for live wires. Looks like they designed the room to have one. or at least some sort of light fixture, since there is a round plate dead center in the ceiling (lighting is 4 recessed cans around the perimeter). probably explains the couple of light switches that we still haven't figured out what they control! Assuming there are wires in there, will get out my tester pen, and start flipping switches to see if any of them make the wires live.

I am fine putting the fan up to the existing fixture and wires, but zero chance I am running new ones for this.

Here you go, save yourself lots of time and money, no need for a special box or structure for a ceiling fan, just use this!:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bell-and-Howell-Socket-Fan-Ceiling-Fan-with-Light-5000K-LED-1000-Lumens/558814284

I have to admit I laughed when I first saw the ad on TV for this.

The video sounds like a Saturday Night Live skit:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bell-and-Howell-Socket-Fan-Ceiling-Fan-with-Light-5000K-LED-1000-Lumens/558814284

It reminded me of the ads for a drink and food tray that you can wear around your waist...perfect for outdoor barbecues. I guess there are people who will buy anything!

Michaell

jmonroe1 said:

@stickguy said:

my wife would kill me if I tried that. Though it would actually be just as much work, since I would have to install the socket!

————————————————

I would say mounting a cumbersome fan/light combo is a lot more difficult to do than just screwing in that gizmo (and besides, screwing is more fun).

I have gotten more experience installing fan/light combos than I ever wanted. We’ve installed them in every bedroom of every flip house we’ve done. I personally don’t like them but when we started the flipping thing the real estate woman who showed my son the first house before we decided to buy it told him to be sure to install fan/lights in all bedrooms because they are a big selling feature. They don’t cost all that much so we do it and we always go through the work of installing a separate switch to control the fan so you don’t have to pull a chain. Kinda like, “since we’re in there”.

I’m going to show my son that screw in job just to get his reaction but I doubt he’ll care to let me have the fun of screwing them in.

jmonroe

Every bedroom in the house we are now living in was pre-wired for a ceiling fan, with two switches on the wall - one for the light, and the other for the fan.

We didn't like the style of the fans that were installed when we moved in, so we got my step-son to replace them all.

jmonroe1

@ab348 said:
Seriously though, I believe (courtesy of This Old House) that you need to beef up the structure to install a ceiling fan if there has not been one there before. I remember seeing a metal bar that gets fitted between the ceiling joists. And don't you need a specific box with provision to accept the part of the fan that locks into it that keeps the assembly from spinning around?

————————————————
Yes, you do need a box that is capable of supporting a fan. That bar/box that you mention is a very good way to mount a fan/light combo but if you have access to the box (like from the attic) so that you can get another screw or two into the old style box support that was used years ago that works too. But when you don’t have access from above, that adjustable bar/box is great when you only have access from the room itself.

As for spinning, all motors are mounted to the ceiling box but the motor doesn’t spin. It’s fixed in place by the fixture mounting screws for the combo. Those are NOT the same screws that hold the box to the house framing. Only the motor shaft spins the fan blades.

jmonroe

driver100

MrsD100 hates ceiling fans. We have them but never use the ones in the bedrooms. She had the ones in the LR, and Lanai removed, and replaced with 25000 hour LED lights.

Well the one in the lanai had a ceiling fan but the light bulb burned out. I took off the glass globe, put in a new light bulb, screwed in the glass globe, moved away, and the globe fell and broke into a million pieces. Went to Home Depot to get a new globe but they didn't have the right size...and then she saw the lights and wanted them......that made her happy which was a good thing for me I turned lemons into lemonade, I am a genius at times!

jmonroe1

@driver100 said:
MrsD100 hates ceiling fans. We have them but never use the ones in the bedrooms. She had the ones in the LR, and Lanai removed, and replaced with 25000 hour LED lights.

Well the one in the lanai had a ceiling fan but the light bulb burned out. I took off the glass globe, put in a new light bulb, screwed in the glass globe, moved away, and the globe fell and broke into a million pieces. Went to Home Depot to get a new globe but they didn't have the right size...and then she saw the lights and wanted them......that made her happy which was a good thing for me I turned lemons into lemonade, I am a genius at times!

————————————————
And at other times I guess it was the dope in you that didn’t mount the glass globe properly.

jmonroe

driver100

jmonroe1 said:

@driver100 said:

MrsD100 hates ceiling fans. We have them but never use the ones in the bedrooms. She had the ones in the LR, and Lanai removed, and replaced with 25000 hour LED lights.

Well the one in the lanai had a ceiling fan but the light bulb burned out. I took off the glass globe, put in a new light bulb, screwed in the glass globe, moved away, and the globe fell and broke into a million pieces. Went to Home Depot to get a new globe but they didn't have the right size...and then she saw the lights and wanted them......that made her happy which was a good thing for me I turned lemons into lemonade, I am a genius at times!

————————————————

And at other times I guess it was the dope in you that didn’t mount the glass globe properly.

jmonroe

It's all in how you see it....she prefers the LED light to the globe and a fan blocking the view and the sunshine.......so my lack of DIY ability and genius paid off.

ab348

driver100 said:

It's all in how you see it....she prefers the LED light to the globe and a fan blocking the view and the sunshine.......so my lack of DIY ability and genius paid off.

As the saying goes, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes...

stickguy

I assume whatever is up there is suitable for a fan. Not going to have a light attached to it, just the fan. I have not gotten around to climbing up there to look yet. No access at all to change it since the ceiling is finished around it (and it is not open above it).

laurasdada

NJ family came up for the weekend in a rented Pacifica. Went to Mother's Day lunch today in it, I was a second row passenger. Impressed, a ton of room, even with all three rows in use everyone had good space (truth in advertising, the 3 ladies in the 3rd row were all <5' tall) and decent luggage space behind row 3.
Nice ride over some so-so blacktop, quiet. AC worked well. Acceleration seemed leisurely from the second row.

stickguy

that sounds like a minivan. still the most well rounded vehicle to have.

stickguy

shame it has rust, but this is incredible. perfect spec and model.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3qW7aRWA/1995-bmw-m5-touring

stickguy

My ceiling box. Never saw one like this before. Seems rock solid so not worried about hooking a fan to it.

I did check the wires conveniently included and as I thought, our phantom light switch controls power to them. Not sure what white wire is though.

qbrozen

That is wiring for 220. Either the white is hot, along with the red, or they used the wrong wire and just didn't hook the white up (which is wrong because, if leaving one dead, it should be the red since the correct 3-wire wouldn't have had red).

stickguy

no clue why there would be 220 up there. the red and black have wire nuts on the end. the white is just a wire with no casing stripped. the white wire I think was also a lot skinnier.

might be my sensor but it showed the red and black as live when the switch was on. was not expecting that. I'll just hook one up, throw the switich, and see what happens!

ab348

I doubt that is 220V. Looks like they used 3-conductor wire as one would for a stairwell light controlled by 2 separate switches. The red wire is the giveaway.

The good news is that you already have the proper fan electrical box there.

https://alliedmoulded.com/product/4-dia-round-fan-support-box-for-use-with-nonmetallic-sheathed-cable-9375-fr/

stickguy

good news. so basically just hook red to red, black to black, connect the ground and screw it in?

ab348

Maybe open up the wall switch to see how those wires are used there. 3-way wiring always confuses me.

stickguy

it does not appear to be 3 way since there are no wires going out of the box. Possible they ran the extra wire to allow for separate light and fan switches at the box. I did that years ago when I put in a fan to replace a ceiling light. We fished an additional wire to the switch box and put a double switch in so the fan was controlled independently of the light (with a dimmer style speed control on the fan wire).

qbrozen

@stickguy said:
it does not appear to be 3 way since there are no wires going out of the box. Possible they ran the extra wire to allow for separate light and fan switches at the box. I did that years ago when I put in a fan to replace a ceiling light. We fished an additional wire to the switch box and put a double switch in so the fan was controlled independently of the light (with a dimmer style speed control on the fan wire).

That was my first thought but you said only 1 switch. People do odd things. Probably just the wire they had lying around so that’s what they used. You said the black read as hot? What were you grounding to when you found that out? And did both go out when you had the switch off?

tjc78

Here is what I believe you have.

Either the black or red will be constant hot. The other will be controlled by the switch.

Reason for this is the fan would be controlled by the pull chains and the light would be on the switch.

So… grab your volt meter, test them both with the switch off and see what you get. Cap off the constant hot and use the one the switch controls for the fan since you won’t have a light.

stickguy

tjc78 said:

Here is what I believe you have.

Either the black or red will be constant hot. The other will be controlled by the switch.

Reason for this is the fan would be controlled by the pull chains and the light would be on the switch.

So… grab your volt meter, test them both with the switch off and see what you get. Cap off the constant hot and use the one the switch controls for the fan since you won’t have a light.

you lost me. I just have the normal red/black (pos neg, right?) to attach to the wires on the fan. unless the white wire is there in case I want to install separate power for the light and the fan. otherwise the switch will control power to both of them, and the chains (or remote) would run them.

with the switch off, my "live wire" pen stayed quite. With the switch on, both wires set it off but I might have just been too close to the power wire. In any case, the switch controls all the power which is fine, since we are not putting a light kit on it. Might get fancy and replace the light switch with a fan control (push to turn on, then has a dial for the different speeds).