Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

stickguy

For at least 3 months.

roadburner

@abacomike said:
My brother just took delivery of his 2024 Mercedes GLE 53 AMG. He said he really loves it. Gray with black plush leather. It’s really loaded up with everything. I just hope he enjoys this one - it has the ventilated seats and Distronic automated cruise which he really wanted (his 2023 didn’t have those options). It also has the acoustic package.

He should live it up enjoying this one!!!🤪😜👍

I like the inline six found in the AMG E53 and GLE 53. The level 2 autonomy of the Distronic system works very well.

driver100

Just thought you might like to see my Alexa sound system. Voice control, easy to use, nice clear digital sound, inexpensive, takes up little room, also can be used to get information, no fuss, no muss.........

(by the way....I know your asking, why a large clock? If I have to book a tennis court at 7 a.m. I have to do it right at 7 a.m. or someone else who is faster may get the court)

jmonroe1

@driver100 said:
Just thought you might like to see my Alexa sound system. Voice control, easy to use, nice clear digital sound, inexpensive, takes up little room, also can be used to get information, no fuss, no muss.........

(by the way....I know you’re asking, why a large clock? If I have to book a tennis court at 7 a.m. I have to do it right at 7 a.m. or someone else who is faster may get the court)

————————————————
If you had gotten the upgraded Alexa model it could have done that for you. Next time don’t get the wannabe model.

Edit: I just noticed that V-Tech phone you have. It looks like the one we have that is ancient.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

@abacomike said:
My brother just took delivery of his 2024 Mercedes GLE 53 AMG. He said he really loves it. Gray with black plush leather. It’s really loaded up with everything. I just hope he enjoys this one - it has the ventilated seats and Distronic automated cruise which he really wanted (his 2023 didn’t have those options). It also has the acoustic package.

He should live it up enjoying this one!!!🤪😜👍

————————————————
Are you trying to say that his old Benz AMG did not have Adaptive Speed Control and ventilated seats? My ‘15 Genny has both. Even Mrs. j’s ‘18 Legacy Limited has Adaptive Speed Control (no ventilated seats, though).

jmonroe

roadburner

driver100 said:

Just thought you might like to see my Alexa sound system. Voice control, easy to use, nice clear digital sound, inexpensive, takes up little room, also can be used to get information, no fuss, no muss.........

(by the way....I know your asking, why a large clock? If I have to book a tennis court at 7 a.m. I have to do it right at 7 a.m. or someone else who is faster may get the court)

"nice clear digital sound" I find it amazing that a 4" speaker can provide reference level volume and ruler-flat 20Hz-20kHz frequency response- but if you say so...

driver100

jmonroe1 said:

@driver100 said:

Just thought you might like to see my Alexa sound system. Voice control, easy to use, nice clear digital sound, inexpensive, takes up little room, also can be used to get information, no fuss, no muss.........

(by the way....I know you’re asking, why a large clock? If I have to book a tennis court at 7 a.m. I have to do it right at 7 a.m. or someone else who is faster may get the court)

————————————————

If you had gotten the upgraded Alexa model it could have done that for you. Next time don’t get the wannabe model.

Edit: I just noticed that V-Tech phone you have. It looks like the one we have that is ancient.

jmonroe

If it ain't broke why buy a newer one I always say?

Michaell

driver100 said:

jmonroe1 said:

@driver100 said:

Just thought you might like to see my Alexa sound system. Voice control, easy to use, nice clear digital sound, inexpensive, takes up little room, also can be used to get information, no fuss, no muss.........

(by the way....I know you’re asking, why a large clock? If I have to book a tennis court at 7 a.m. I have to do it right at 7 a.m. or someone else who is faster may get the court)

————————————————

If you had gotten the upgraded Alexa model it could have done that for you. Next time don’t get the wannabe model.

Edit: I just noticed that V-Tech phone you have. It looks like the one we have that is ancient.

jmonroe

If it ain't broke why buy a newer one I always say?

Says the guy who traded in a perfectly good Passat....

driver100

jmonroe1 said:

@driver100 said:

Just thought you might like to see my Alexa sound system. Voice control, easy to use, nice clear digital sound, inexpensive, takes up little room, also can be used to get information, no fuss, no muss.........

(by the way....I know you’re asking, why a large clock? If I have to book a tennis court at 7 a.m. I have to do it right at 7 a.m. or someone else who is faster may get the court)

————————————————

If you had gotten the upgraded Alexa model it could have done that for you. Next time don’t get the wannabe model.

Edit: I just noticed that V-Tech phone you have. It looks like the one we have that is ancient.

jmonroe

If it ain't broke why fi

Michaell said:

driver100 said:

jmonroe1 said:

@driver100 said:

Just thought you might like to see my Alexa sound system. Voice control, easy to use, nice clear digital sound, inexpensive, takes up little room, also can be used to get information, no fuss, no muss.........

(by the way....I know you’re asking, why a large clock? If I have to book a tennis court at 7 a.m. I have to do it right at 7 a.m. or someone else who is faster may get the court)

————————————————

If you had gotten the upgraded Alexa model it could have done that for you. Next time don’t get the wannabe model.

Edit: I just noticed that V-Tech phone you have. It looks like the one we have that is ancient.

jmonroe

If it ain't broke why buy a newer one I always say?

Says the guy who traded in a perfectly good Passat....

lol, but there was a good reason for trading in the Passat. Briefly, the Passat was basically a 2nd car for MrsD100 to use for getting to her activities. In 2017 we tried flying to Florida and we preferred flying each year, but we needed a more powerful primary car to use in Florida.....ever try to enter I-75 when you can only do 0 to 60 in 8.5 seconds? Passing power also sucked. The MB C250 does 0 to 60 in 7 seconds, and has good passing power. IT WAS A NECESSITY!

driver100

roadburner said:

driver100 said:

Just thought you might like to see my Alexa sound system. Voice control, easy to use, nice clear digital sound, inexpensive, takes up little room, also can be used to get information, no fuss, no muss.........

(by the way....I know your asking, why a large clock? If I have to book a tennis court at 7 a.m. I have to do it right at 7 a.m. or someone else who is faster may get the court)

"nice clear digital sound" I find it amazing that a 4" speaker can provide reference level volume and ruler-flat 20Hz-20kHz frequency response- but if you say so...

Just put your ear up against the speaker and you will think you are in a concert hall.
BTW, it obeys....it tells me the time, temperature, and plays whatever music I tell it to.
It's the only thing that actually listens to me these days.

ab348

Speaking of cordless phones, since I got rid of my landline I find it a pain to go retrieve my iPhone from wherever it is when I am at home in various rooms. I see there are cordless phones that claim to connect to a cellular unit via bluetooth and which can be scattered around areas within range of the cellphone to ring and let you place calls. Anyone have firsthand experience with any of these magical devices to provide a recommendation or a warning to avoid?

Michaell

driver100 said:

jmonroe1 said:

@driver100 said:

Just thought you might like to see my Alexa sound system. Voice control, easy to use, nice clear digital sound, inexpensive, takes up little room, also can be used to get information, no fuss, no muss.........

(by the way....I know you’re asking, why a large clock? If I have to book a tennis court at 7 a.m. I have to do it right at 7 a.m. or someone else who is faster may get the court)

————————————————

If you had gotten the upgraded Alexa model it could have done that for you. Next time don’t get the wannabe model.

Edit: I just noticed that V-Tech phone you have. It looks like the one we have that is ancient.

jmonroe

If it ain't broke why fi

Michaell said:

driver100 said:

jmonroe1 said:

@driver100 said:

Just thought you might like to see my Alexa sound system. Voice control, easy to use, nice clear digital sound, inexpensive, takes up little room, also can be used to get information, no fuss, no muss.........

(by the way....I know you’re asking, why a large clock? If I have to book a tennis court at 7 a.m. I have to do it right at 7 a.m. or someone else who is faster may get the court)

————————————————

If you had gotten the upgraded Alexa model it could have done that for you. Next time don’t get the wannabe model.

Edit: I just noticed that V-Tech phone you have. It looks like the one we have that is ancient.

jmonroe

If it ain't broke why buy a newer one I always say?

Says the guy who traded in a perfectly good Passat....

lol, but there was a good reason for trading in the Passat. Briefly, the Passat was basically a 2nd car for MrsD100 to use for getting to her activities. In 2017 we tried flying to Florida and we preferred flying each year, but we needed a more powerful primary car to use in Florida.....ever try to enter I-75 when you can only do 0 to 60 in 8.5 seconds? Passing power also sucked. The MB C250 does 0 to 60 in 7 seconds, and has good passing power. IT WAS A NECESSITY!

How soon they forget?

I know you're old enough to remember when 150HP was considered a lot for a car, and you still had to accelerate to merge onto the highway. I did it with a 1966 VW Beetle, in Los Angeles traffic, and I didn't die.

But, there are those here who have swapped cars for less.

stickguy

If you can’t safely drive with a Passat, you must be one of those many old Floridians that should have their driving privileges revoked since you are a danger on the roads!

jmonroe1

driver100 said:

roadburner said:

driver100 said:

Just thought you might like to see my Alexa sound system. Voice control, easy to use, nice clear digital sound, inexpensive, takes up little room, also can be used to get information, no fuss, no muss.........

(by the way....I know your asking, why a large clock? If I have to book a tennis court at 7 a.m. I have to do it right at 7 a.m. or someone else who is faster may get the court)

"nice clear digital sound" I find it amazing that a 4" speaker can provide reference level volume and ruler-flat 20Hz-20kHz frequency response- but if you say so...

Just put your ear up against the speaker and you will think you are in a concert hall.
BTW, it obeys....it tells me the time, temperature, and plays whatever music I tell it to.
It's the only thing that actually listens to me these days.

————————————————
So, what you’re saying is, in addition to Alexa not providing good sound quality across the room, she ain’t too smart, either.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

stickguy said:

If you can’t safely drive with a Passat, you must be one of those many old Floridians that should have their driving privileges revoked since you are a danger on the roads!

————————————————
Rat him out by sending the Florida DMV an email. They’ll able to track him down from his visits here at Edmunds.

jmonroe

roadburner

@stickguy said:
If you can’t safely drive with a Passat, you must be one of those many old Floridians that should have their driving privileges revoked since you are a danger on the roads!

My Club Sport, Clubman, and Wrangler all take over 8 seconds to hit 60 mph. I’ve NEVER had a problem with any of them merging into traffic at interstate speeds. The only reason that I want more power is for entertainment value- such as at HPDEs, the drag strip and the Stoplight Grand Prix.

Michaell

roadburner said:

@stickguy said:

If you can’t safely drive with a Passat, you must be one of those many old Floridians that should have their driving privileges revoked since you are a danger on the roads!

My Club Sport, Clubman, and Wrangler all take over 8 seconds to hit 60 mph. I’ve NEVER had a problem with any of them merging into traffic at interstate speeds. The only reason that I want more power is for entertainment value- such as at HPDEs, the drag strip and the Stoplight Grand Prix.

Exactly! And, all three of those cars provide their own form of enjoyment instead of straight line speed.

andres3

roadburner said:

@stickguy said:

If you can’t safely drive with a Passat, you must be one of those many old Floridians that should have their driving privileges revoked since you are a danger on the roads!

My Club Sport, Clubman, and Wrangler all take over 8 seconds to hit 60 mph. I’ve NEVER had a problem with any of them merging into traffic at interstate speeds. The only reason that I want more power is for entertainment value- such as at HPDEs, the drag strip and the Stoplight Grand Prix.

Playing devil's advocate a bit, acceleration can be used extremely effectively to get you out of a "situation" with "other" bad drivers. It can be a safety feature, such as when being chased by a terrorist too.

stickguy

A Delorean outran a van full of terrorists with machine guns, and that only had 127 HP.

driver100

andres3 said:

roadburner said:

@stickguy said:

If you can’t safely drive with a Passat, you must be one of those many old Floridians that should have their driving privileges revoked since you are a danger on the roads!

My Club Sport, Clubman, and Wrangler all take over 8 seconds to hit 60 mph. I’ve NEVER had a problem with any of them merging into traffic at interstate speeds. The only reason that I want more power is for entertainment value- such as at HPDEs, the drag strip and the Stoplight Grand Prix.

Playing devil's advocate a bit, acceleration can be used extremely effectively to get you out of a "situation" with "other" bad drivers. It can be a safety feature, such as when being chased by a terrorist too.

Exactly why I want the extra hp. I can get onto a highway with a gutless Passat, but it is much easier with a turbo and more horses. Why do people want more powerful engines, not to race, but to get out of situations, to pass easier, to gain on a truck that is on your back bumper....it gives you more options. It is part of defensive driving if used wisely.

Maybe some of you can't handle the extra power. I want it and use it at home too, but in Florida it is suicide to drive a car that is gutless, if you are going on a highway like I-75. Even DeSantis was in a 4 car pile up in his government car....on I-75.

graphicguy

tjc78 said:

graphicguy said:

tjc78 said:

Shoot! I would have loved to see that!

You should be able to at least copy the link text directly. I just did it over in CCBA this morning.

Not sure if you saw but I picked up this Adcom stack a few months ago.

ADCOM....love it. That 555 series is legendary. I'm still working the Denon X6700H in 7.2 mode with Klipsch RF config and HSU+ Power Sound Audio Subs.

Had to YouTube the 2 channel rig...

https://youtu.be/DSgFfw0jEVg

Love it GG! Good looking rig. I am sure you are very pleased with the sound!

Thanks.

You know how it goes.....tweak a little of this and a little of that......always trying to get just a little better top end, low end, imaging....and it goes on and on and on.

Looked at some Magnepan speakers in Dayton yesterday. They sounded terrible. But, the owner was trying to drive them with a Costco Yamaha AVR special. Those speakers take current....lots of current. My tubes won't do it. Your ADCOMS would make easy work of them, though. I told him if he wants to fire sale them, I'd take them. I'd have to revamp everything. But, when done right, they are some really nice electrostatic speakers.

roadburner

If you need a car that does 0-60 in under 8 seconds in order to drive “safely” I’d argue that the problem is not with the car.

Michaell

roadburner said:

If you need a car that does 0-60 in under 8 seconds in order to drive “safely” I’d argue that the problem is not with the car.

The location?

driver100

roadburner said:

If you need a car that does 0-60 in under 8 seconds in order to drive “safely” I’d argue that the problem is not with the car.

If you can't handle a car that does 0 to 60 in under 8 seconds, I agree you should drive something with less horses!

Was it Sterling Moss, great racing car driver....terrible driver on the road.

roadburner

I'm impressed; based on your many prior comments on things automotive I would have bet the farm that you would have thought that "Sterling[sic] Moss" was something you find in a forest.

driver100

Michaell said:

roadburner said:

If you need a car that does 0-60 in under 8 seconds in order to drive “safely” I’d argue that the problem is not with the car.

The location?

Like I said, the Passat was OK in the city, but not great on a highway like I-75.

It sounds like some people think, that better drivers, like to have less powerful cars......really!

Another reason I like the extra horses....on an on-ramp it is easier for me to get on without disrupting highway traffic, but it also allows the cars behind me to enter easier. Ever been behind a slow car trying to enter a highway?

stickguy

The super slow mergers are not doing it because their car is underpowered.

roadburner

stickguy said:

The super slow mergers are not doing it because their car is underpowered.

Exactly.

driver100

Slow mergers.....just watch 2 1/2 minutes to get the idea - and they ain't driving Porsches;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OIDJkkKw5s
I guess your hypothesis is, the slower driver makes for a better driver. I'm not saying a fast driver is better, I am saying when horse power is used wisely it makes for safer more enjoyable driving.

jmonroe1

andres3 said:

roadburner said:

@stickguy said:

If you can’t safely drive with a Passat, you must be one of those many old Floridians that should have their driving privileges revoked since you are a danger on the roads!

My Club Sport, Clubman, and Wrangler all take over 8 seconds to hit 60 mph. I’ve NEVER had a problem with any of them merging into traffic at interstate speeds. The only reason that I want more power is for entertainment value- such as at HPDEs, the drag strip and the Stoplight Grand Prix.

Playing devil's advocate a bit, acceleration can be used extremely effectively to get you out of a "situation" with "other" bad drivers. It can be a safety feature, such as when being chased by a terrorist too.
————————————————
Now let me play devils advocate.

There have been many tests done over the years to obtain HP ratings of cars, but to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever said what size the horses were.

jmonroe

stickguy

mostly I saw that the guy making the video has some anger issues, probably a road rager, and made some very dangerous and completely illegal driving actions. So probably not the guy to be complaining about other drivers.

Oh, and zero cases even close to being related to the other car running out of power.

oldfarmer50

Indulging my rust phobia today I found a way to spray fluid film into the rockers of my son’s Fusion. Strangely, there is no sill plate that can be pried up to gain access, only a single plastic plug on the bottom of the rear door frame. Since that’s where I’ve seen old Fusions start to rust out Ford must have anticipated the need.

I also decided to check the Kia to see if there was any undercarriage rust starting after 4 years. I crawled under and found the bottom of the car to be pretty pristine. Pretty good seeing as that’s my primary winter car. Maybe Kia actually put some thought into salt proofing their cars.

roadburner

@stickguy said:
mostly I saw that the guy making the video has some anger issues, probably a road rager, and made some very dangerous and completely illegal driving actions. So probably not the guy to be complaining about other drivers.

Oh, and zero cases even close to being related to the other car running out of power.

Bottom line: Competent drivers don’t need a lot of horsepower in order to drive safely.

tjc78

@graphicguy said:
Thanks.

You know how it goes.....tweak a little of this and a little of that......always trying to get just a little better top end, low end, imaging....and it goes on and on and on.

Looked at some Magnepan speakers in Dayton yesterday. They sounded terrible. But, the owner was trying to drive them with a Costco Yamaha AVR special. Those speakers take current....lots of current. My tubes won't do it. Your ADCOMS would make easy work of them, though. I told him if he wants to fire sale them, I'd take them. I'd have to revamp everything. But, when done right, they are some really nice electrostatic speakers.

Nothing mass market today will drive them properly. You need something like an old school Marantz or Pioneer to really make them shine. Like you said my Adcom would do it along with a Denon POA-2200 or 2400 if you wanted something a little more modern.

My next AV upgrade is in the theater room. I love (LOVE) the audio and processing from my now aging RX-V1 but the lack of HDMi and the newest formats has me thinking it’s time. I will most likely go top line Yamaha again or a few notches down and continue to use all the RX-V1’s amps (at least for the front 3).

That’s a winter time project. At the same time, I’m going in wall for all the rear speakers. Running the wiring will be a major PITA but worth it in the end. If I can’t snake the wires I’ll hire an electrician for that part (or do it cutting a few holes and patch the walls up… last resort)

driver100

roadburner said:

@stickguy said:

mostly I saw that the guy making the video has some anger issues, probably a road rager, and made some very dangerous and completely illegal driving actions. So probably not the guy to be complaining about other drivers.

Oh, and zero cases even close to being related to the other car running out of power.

Bottom line: Competent drivers don’t need a lot of horsepower in order to drive safely.

I'll agree with that, but a competent driver can use extra horsepower wisely so that he can drive in a more efficient and safer way....if he knows what he is doing.

driver100

stickguy said:

mostly I saw that the guy making the video has some anger issues, probably a road rager, and made some very dangerous and completely illegal driving actions. So probably not the guy to be complaining about other drivers.

Oh, and zero cases even close to being related to the other car running out of power.

You see road rage and anger issues, I see a guy who doesn't like to be behind incompetent drivers that don't know how to get onto a highway safely, and if they are slow they make it unsafe for those behind them too.

stickguy

repeated honking at people not doing anything illegal or even wrong, cutting people off and swerving across the cross hatch lines (definitely illegal), dangerous lane changes.

he was worse than the people he was screaming at.

venture

Something seems wrong here.

tjc78

@venture said:
Something seems wrong here.

Ugh. Needs pinstripe whitewalls.

tjc78

Like this.

roadburner

And an "Ask Me About My Grandchildren!" bumper sticker.😁

driver100

stickguy said:

repeated honking at people not doing anything illegal or even wrong, cutting people off and swerving across the cross hatch lines (definitely illegal), dangerous lane changes.

he was worse than the people he was screaming at.

You're missing the point. His driving wasn't what I am referring to. His driving is terrible, but his terrible driving was caused by the pokey drivers ahead of him. Ones that can't get from an on ramp onto the highway properly with speed. That's called deflecting. You aren't addressing the pokey driver or the driver who can't get up to highway speed to make a proper merge, you are deflecting and talking about the guy making the video.

fintail

Reminds me of driving in the Seattle area. So many slow mergers, to the point of a local comedy TV show mocking it. I still remember a dork in a Kia Spectra or something getting upset when I was motioning him to get it moving when trying to get on to 405 - I was in the fintail. When a ~60 year old MB is pressuring you get your finger out of your nose and/or relax that 11-and-1 death grip on the wheel and get it up to the flow of traffic, you're doing it wrong.

195 to EB 90 merge in Spokane is also notoriously bad. I had to do it yesterday, and the older lady in the Murano or whatever it was in front of me actually braked when getting on to 90 - in light traffic. Such people need to be relegated to surface streets if the fast mean highway is too much to handle.

driver100 said:

Slow mergers.....just watch 2 1/2 minutes to get the idea - and they ain't driving Porsches;
I guess your hypothesis is, the slower driver makes for a better driver. I'm not saying a fast driver is better, I am saying when horse power is used wisely it makes for safer more enjoyable driving.

tjc78

@roadburner said:
And an "Ask Me About My Grandchildren!" bumper sticker.😁

Hey they had an LT1 man!! 😎😎

driver100

If better drivers drive cars with less horsepower, this guy must be exceptional;

How would you like to merge onto I-75 in one of those.....or be behind him when he tries

[Deleted User]

stickguy said:

A Delorean outran a van full of terrorists with machine guns, and that only had 127 HP.

In fairness, didn't that VW van have less than 100 HP?

stickguy

@dad23 said:
In fairness, didn't that VW van have less than 100 HP?

Yes but it’s hard to outrun an Uzi

imidazol97

roadburner said:

@stickguy said:

mostly I saw that the guy making the video has some anger issues, probably a road rager, and made some very dangerous and completely illegal driving actions. So probably not the guy to be complaining about other drivers.

Oh, and zero cases even close to being related to the other car running out of power.

Bottom line: Competent drivers don’t need a lot of horsepower in order to drive safely.

My little GM Cruze only has 138 hp and I merge into traffic easily. I use the loud pedal and I use the rear view mirror to see what's coming in the lane behind me. I accelerate in advance of getting to the end of the merge ramp. And I'm not even into the turbo helping up the horsepower in most instances: I'm using
the lower gears to keep the engine output higher and accelerate.

My only problem is, possibly like the Passat, my Cruze seems to learn the driving style I have most of the time, which is that I don't use the loud pedal much. So when I do need it, the car isn't expecting me to demand more higher engine speed and more output.

So I get notchy reactions from the transmission gear that the computer has the car in and the engine and turbo having to wake up. Car always seems to want to be in 4 and 5th gears as early as it can.

I know. I know. It's a GM.

stickguy

Not just GM. every brand does that. Though often putting it in sport mode helps.

Or of course can eliminate the problem entirely by driving a manual, and always be in whatever gear you want to be in.

tjc78

@stickguy said:
Not just GM. every brand does that. Though often putting it in sport mode helps.

Or of course can eliminate the problem entirely by driving a manual, and always be in whatever gear you want to be in.

Or just drive it like you stole it 90% of the time.