Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

[Deleted User]

stever said:

It's coming up on two months for my sister-in-law and it sounds like she got over the hump after the scar tissue rolling about ten days ago. When the knee hurts she goes and walks it off.

Sounds like manuals are toast. Greatest anti-theft device you can buy in the US today.

Oh, you just broke my heart. Porsche was one of the last holdouts for serious performance cars and manual transmissions. During those rare moments when I face reality I realize that in addition to better automatic transmissions, ultimately self-driving features and electric drive trains will kill the manual for good. Automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, and electric propulsion just don't mix well with manuals. So sad.

bwia

Free gas

Yes, free as in FREE. Thanks to my Stop & Shop card I walked away with a tank full of gas free of charge. And what a sweet deal it was.

Gas price was  $2.19 a gallon and the Stop & Shop card was $2.20 off a gallon. At that rate I wish I were driving an Escalade or one of them thirsty  SUV'S.

abacomike

tyguy said:

I live about 35 miles north Miami.  When you drive from Orlando to Miami using Florida's Turnpike all the way down, you pass my Condominium community on your right.  I live 4 blocks from the Turnpike entrance/exit on Coconut Creek Parkway.

It sounds like you are progressing nicely with your partial knee replacement.  As I shared with you just prior to your  procedure, the physical therapy is the most painful part of your recovery.  Keep plugging away, tyguy.  You are mending nicely from what i can gather from your posts.

I am still at the hospital.  I do not expect to be here by Wedmesday, but who knows.  

Wow, I didn't realize we'd be passing so close. Well, no pressure whatsoever, but if you're up to an early meal that day I'd love to treat you to a lunch. I believe we arrive at the dock parking around 1:00ish for a 5:00 PM departure. If it's of interest, again, no pressure at all, then we could coordinate as we get closer to the date. Take care, Mike, and I hope tonight is the last hospital night.

Would love to get together for a brunch.  If you have to be at the Port of Miami by about 1:00 PM, you would need to leave for the port at around 11:50 AM To be sure of arriving there on time.  They have a great NY Deli at the Casino in Coconut Creek.  

Perhaps driver might want to meet up down here as well.

By the way, driver, I have a huge Master Bedroom suite which I unused and you are invited to spend a few days with here as my guest.  We could kill 2 birds with with one stone that way.

Think it over,

oldfarmer50

stever said:

It's coming up on two months for my sister-in-law and it sounds like she got over the hump after the scar tissue rolling about ten days ago. When the knee hurts she goes and walks it off.

Sounds like manuals are toast. Greatest anti-theft device you can buy in the US today.

Wow, only 10% of 911s have manual? 99% of the Mustangs I looked at had stick. I think I have the only auto.

When you think of it, since it's only old farts who can afford a 911 these days, that figure does make sense.

abacomike

oldfarmer50 said:

It's coming up on two months for my sister-in-law and it sounds like she got over the hump after the scar tissue rolling about ten days ago. When the knee hurts she goes and walks it off. Sounds like manuals are toast. Greatest anti-theft device you can buy in the US today.

Wow, only 10% of 911s have manual? 99% of the Mustangs I looked at had stick. I think I have the only auto. When you think of it, since it's only old farts who can afford a 911 these days, that figure does make sense.

In my condo community, there are quite a few guys (all right, old men) who drive Corvettes, Porsches, BMW's, etc.  One of the guys in the building next to mine lost his wife 6 weeks ago.  He was driving a Camry prior to his wife's death and last week I saw him driving passed me in a new Porsche.  He stopped and opened his window.  He asked what I thought of his new car - I responded that the bright silver color suited him and his new toupee.  He said, "...yep, I bought it a week after my wife's death.  I always looked forward to driving a Porsche because my wife never would have let me get one."

I guess that if one waits long enough for something, some of your hopes and dreams will come true!  

imidazol97

tyguy said:

But, when I return to 90 degrees from a deep knee flex, the kneecap is misaligning, catching, building pressure, and then suddenly releasing. It's incredibly painful. I don't mind all the other pain with the flexion training, but that pressure build up in the cap is absolutely brutal.

Wow. Good luck with getting that back in shape so the kneecap is working like it should.

driver100

tyguy said:

driver100 said:

We leave from Toronto on Friday November 6th. We time it so we go through Cincinnati on Saturday and through Atlanta on Sunday if all goes well. Those are the two cities you pretty well have to drive through if using I-75. I am looking forward to going, though it has been a good summer up here.

Nice to hear the summer is treating you well.

We're planning to take a Bahamas cruise mid-vacation before returning to Miami and then driving over to Fort Myers. I have another 30 years before retirement but Florida is definitely on the list of potential candidates. We've tossed around the idea of buying a condo when the next recession hits and property values tank (inevitable as part of the inherent economy swings), and then renting it out until retirement when we refurbish it for our own use, fully paid for by renters by the time we take up residence. It's just a brainstorm idea and nothing serious right now.

Ty, hope the knee improves quickly....sounds painful just hearing about it.

Buying a place in Florida when young and working, and renting it out can work out very nicely....I have seen it happen quite a bit.

Your vacation sounds like a good plan...the cruise in the middle should be a nice break.

driver100

abacomike said:

tyguy said:

abacomike said:

I live about 35 miles north Miami.  When you drive from Orlando to Miami using Florida's Turnpike all the way down, you pass my Condominium community on your right.  I live 4 blocks from the Turnpike entrance/exit on Coconut Creek Parkway.

It sounds like you are progressing nicely with your partial knee replacement.  As I shared with you just prior to your  procedure, the physical therapy is the most painful part of your recovery.  Keep plugging away, tyguy.  You are mending nicely from what i can gather from your posts.

I am still at the hospital.  I do not expect to be here by Wedmesday, but who knows.  

Wow, I didn't realize we'd be passing so close. Well, no pressure whatsoever, but if you're up to an early meal that day I'd love to treat you to a lunch. I believe we arrive at the dock parking around 1:00ish for a 5:00 PM departure. If it's of interest, again, no pressure at all, then we could coordinate as we get closer to the date.

Take care, Mike, and I hope tonight is the last hospital night.

Would love to get together for a brunch.  If you have to be at the Port of Miami by about 1:00 PM, you would need to leave for the port at around 11:50 AM To be sure of arriving there on time.  They have a great NY Deli at the Casino in Coconut Creek.  

Perhaps driver might want to meet up down here as well.

By the way, driver, I have a huge Master Bedroom suite which I unused and you are invited to spend a few days with here as my guest.  We could kill 2 birds with with one stone that way.

Think it over,




Depends on the dates!

Not sure how to take the "We could kill 2 birds with with one stone that way." part.

abacomike

@driver100:

Ealier this year, I became ill just before we were scheduled to meet for lunch - so if tyguy can arrange it, perhaps you could drive down here and stay a few days with me as my guest (I have a huge master bedroom that no one uses).  That way, three families of posters can meet for a nice brunch and talk about cars?

driver100

abacomike said:

@driver100:

Ealier this year, I became ill just before we were scheduled to meet for lunch - so if tyguy can arrange it, perhaps you could drive down here and stay a few days with me as my guest (I have a huge master bedroom that no one uses).  That way, three families of posters can meet for a nice brunch and talk about cars?

I think I am being called a dead bird though

It would be nice to work that one out...the logistics will be very tricky. If at all possible I am in.

henryn

Question for the group, I know there are a number of people who hang out here with experience in the field of auto sales. I was going to post over in "trade in values" and ask @qbrozen, but I know he's busy moving.

I am thinking of purchasing a camper shell, Leer or ARE, for my 2013 F150. These seem to run about $1500 to $2200, installed. I was wondering if it would add anything to the resale or trade in value of the truck? My limited experience says that it would not add a dime, but I thought I would ask.

And, while I'm at it -- I'm also thinking of replacing the AC in my house. My electric bills are running quite high for a small house, with good insulation and double pane windows. It looks like it would cost about $5,500 for a complete high efficiency unit. How much of that do you think I might recover in 2 or 3 years, when I retire and sell this house?

abacomike

driver100 said:

@driver100:

Ealier this year, I became ill just before we were scheduled to meet for lunch - so if tyguy can arrange it, perhaps you could drive down here and stay a few days with me as my guest (I have a huge master bedroom that no one uses).  That way, three families of posters can meet for a nice brunch and talk about cars?

I think I am being called a dead bird though It would be nice to work that one out...the logistics will be very tricky. If at all possible I am in.

Dead bird, driver?  I think not!  More like a "wise old owl" with an emphasis on "wise" because your contributions to this forum have been so resourceful over the years.

Yes, it would be a nice activity to look forward to next spring.

stever

I had a friend in the canopy business for a while. They were always buying used shells. Fitment was always an issue but they managed to sell them and had room to store them for the year or three it would take to flip one. Often they'd have to forklift one on the truck and eyeball it to see if it would fit, especially if the pickup wasn't "vanilla".

Anyway, when one would fit, they'd paint to match and install it and sell it for $800 and up. So there's some value in them but not a lot. (This was a decade ago).

A lot of buyers don't want them and some of those sellers had gotten a used truck with one and sold the caps to my friend because they didn't want a shell taking up space in their yard.

abacomike

henryn said:

Question for the group, I know there are a number of people who hang out here with experience in the field of auto sales. I was going to post over in "trade in values" and ask @qbrozen, but I know he's busy moving. I am thinking of purchasing a camper shell, Leer or ARE, for my 2013 F150. These seem to run about $1500 to $2200, installed. I was wondering if it would add anything to the resale or trade in value of the truck? My limited experience says that it would not add a dime, but I thought I would ask. And, while I'm at it -- I'm also thinking of replacing the AC in my house. My electric bills are running quite high for a small house, with good insulation and double pane windows. It looks like it would cost about $5,500 for a complete high efficiency unit. How much of that do you think I might recover in 2 or 3 years, when I retire and sell this house?

It probably will not increase the value, however it might make it more saleable - it might be more desirable and would be easier to sell privately.  On a straight trade in, probably won't have any increased value in terms of cash value.

imidazol97

abacomike said:

I'm also thinking of replacing the AC in my house. My electric bills are running quite high for a small house, with good insulation and double pane windows. It looks like it would cost about $5,500 for a complete high efficiency unit. How much of that do you think I might recover in 2 or 3 years, when I retire and sell this house?

If the AC is more than 15 years old, I'd replace it with the highest efficiency unit without getting into the latest technology of the highest cost model. I.e., get the highest tech from 2-3 years back. The value to a buyer with a documented higher efficiency unit will help the sale plus the fact the unit is newer will help. As to the savings, the folks giving you the bid for various models can estimate how much better the efficiency is than the unit you currently have in place. Also, I note that you say you're looking at a complete replacement and that's what I recommend doing to get the best efficiency. Don't replace just the condenser outside unit. Replace the inside coils and blower motors as well.

oldfarmer50

abacomike said:

oldfarmer50 said:

stever said:

It's coming up on two months for my sister-in-law and it sounds like she got over the hump after the scar tissue rolling about ten days ago. When the knee hurts she goes and walks it off.

Sounds like manuals are toast. Greatest anti-theft device you can buy in the US today.

Wow, only 10% of 911s have manual? 99% of the Mustangs I looked at had stick. I think I have the only auto.

When you think of it, since it's only old farts who can afford a 911 these days, that figure does make sense.

In my condo community, there are quite a few guys (all right, old men) who drive Corvettes, Porsches, BMW's, etc.  One of the guys in the building next to mine lost his wife 6 weeks ago.  He was driving a Camry prior to his wife's death and last week I saw him driving passed me in a new Porsche.  He stopped and opened his window.  He asked what I thought of his new car - I responded that the bright silver color suited him and his new toupee.  He said, "...yep, I bought it a week after my wife's death.  I always looked forward to driving a Porsche because my wife never would have let me get one."

I guess that if one waits long enough for something, some of your hopes and dreams will come true!  



I can see a 20 something honey in the passengers seat of that car real soon. No fool like an old fool.

abacomike

Well, I am finally home.  Just bed rest now and muscle relaxants.  I couldn't wait for the pain to subside enough so I could be discharged.

henryn

imidazol97 said:

If the AC is more than 15 years old, I'd replace it with the highest efficiency unit without getting into the latest technology of the highest cost model. I.e., get the highest tech from 2-3 years back. The value to a buyer with a documented higher efficiency unit will help the sale plus the fact the unit is newer will help. As to the savings, the folks giving you the bid for various models can estimate how much better the efficiency is than the unit you currently have in place. Also, I note that you say you're looking at a complete replacement and that's what I recommend doing to get the best efficiency. Don't replace just the condenser outside unit. Replace the inside coils and blower motors as well.

The house was built in 2005, so the AC unit will be 10 years old. It is a name brand (don’t recall the name right now). I was surprised that it did not have an EER rating on it (I thought federal law required that?) I tried searching for the make and model online after I bought the house in 2011 (HUD foreclosure), but never found anything on it. I asked the guy who serviced it for me, and he said it was a “contractor model”, the cheapest kind of unit. He also told me in order to get “high efficiency” I would have to replace everything, but he quoted $7 to $8k off the top of his head.

I think I could save 5 or 6 hundred a year, giving me a 10 year payoff (based on $5,500 cost). Maybe more than that, but probably not a lot more. And I’m not going to be here another 10 years, probably 2 or 3, maybe 4 or 5 at the outside.

Decisions, decisions.

ON EDIT: Anyone else notice that nested quotes are not working correctly?

andres3

abacomike said:

@andres3:

Automobiles, for the most part, are not manufactured to safely travel at a sustained speed of 95 mph.  Now remember, I said a "sustained speed", not an occasional 95 mph for an extended period of time,

Automobiles like Ferrari, Bugatti, Lambourghini, Astin-Martin, BMW, Mercedes, Corvette, Porsche, etc., manufacture some or all vehicles that can easily be driven at a sustained speed of 95+ mph.

I have tried to envision myself taking the Mercedes E 400 I own up to 100 mph (I believe it can hit 130+ mph).  Even knowing my car can safely travel that speed for a sustained period of time, I have no urge, yen, desire, need , etc., to "JUST DO OT" because I am quite comfortable at 65-70 mph.  If I was in a hurry to get someplace, I could easily fly there.

When is the speed you are traveling enough speed?  Yes, raising the speed limit on Interstates to 75 mph on stretches of roadways away from heavily populated areas would be acceptable to me and I would probably drive at that speed limit.  The problem comes with older people driving in a lane with a posted 75 mph speed limit at 50 mph.  Also, teenagers driving at high speeds with abandonment would frighten me on an Interstate highway,

To summarize, on an Interstate, when is a speed enough speed?  When is slow speed too slow!  My take on this problem is that it is not solvable!  Before we Americans are ready to handle speed limits of 95 mph, automobiles must be "designed and manufactured" for traveling sustained high speeds.  Additionally, the roads that are expected to handle a 95 mph Speed limit would have to be redesigned and well constructed with few, if any curves and surfaces that can provide for safe high-speed driving.  I pretty happy with 70-80 mph speed limits, but not higher speed limits.

You are comfortable going 65-70 MPH, and no one here wants to take that right away from you. You can safely go that speed in the right lane even when speed limits are raised to 90 or 95 MPH. The key is lane discipline, improved driver's education (to include people knowing their own vehicle's capabilities better - perhaps making the car's owner's manual required reading material to register a vehicle), and then finally lane enforcement (which is non-existent in my observation of the CHP).

People that drive faster are not doing it for the thrill (majority) or necessarily because they are running late. They simply want to get from A to B faster, and flying is very slow now that the TSA and 9/11 have taken over (talking 300-500 mile trips). I don't see old people driving 50 MPH in 75 zones being a problem; at least not in CA. Even the old people are going 65-70 in their Buick here. Big Rigs generally maintain a good pace at the speed limit as long as traffic doesn't get in the way. A lot of freeways where I live have as much as 6 lanes going in each direction for many miles. That is a lot of lanes to accommodate many different speeds without having too much speed differential from far right to far left; at least in adjacent lanes.

Teenagers are people, and like most people, a higher speed limit won't automatically make them drive 15 over the speed limit like they do when they are under-posted. I, like the National Motorists Association and any reputable traffic engineer, agree that speed limits should be set at the 85th percentile of free flowing traffic. That is the safest method; making the 15% of the population speed demons; rather than most everyone. Most of our Interstates are already designed to accommodate speeds up to 100 MPH if they've been well maintained. Keep in mind, the speed limit should be an upper limit that is safe to drive under ideal conditions (low traffic) with an ideal well maintained car, not the lowest common denominator average travel speed (6,000 lb. SUV fully loaded on bald tires during a rainstorm in heavy traffic).

The key, as in States like Texas and Utah which have safely evolved past 80+ MPH speed limits (with great safety results thus far) is that you don't have to drive the speed limit. Save the limit for the sports cars, make the police actually work for a living by proving a "speeder" was unsafe in some manner by creating a hazard of some sort related to the conditions at the time the infraction was committed, rather than making their job a profit center based on a speed reading without any regard for conditions or hazards.

Eventually we might reach Autobahn status where the occasional sports car zooms safely by on the left at 150+ MPH while maintaining safety records that far surpass anything we've accomplished in the US with low speed limits set under the 85th percentile.

bwia

abacomike said:

Well, I am finally home.  Just bed rest now and muscle relaxants.  I couldn't wait for the pain to subside enough so I could be discharged.

Glad you are home without the bother of nurses waking you up at all hours in the night. Get well soon!

[Deleted User]

Mike and Driver: Getting together with you would be a real treat for me and the family. We'll be driving from Orlando to Miami Monday, March 14. I just called the cruise line for check-in times, and we need to be at the dock between 1:00 and 3:00 for boarding, so we have a bit of flexibility there. Now I have another reason to look forward to the trip

abacomike

tyguy said:

Mike and Driver: Getting together with you would be a real treat for me and the family. We'll be driving from Orlando to Miami Monday, March 14. I just called the cruise line for check-in times, and we need to be at the dock between 1:00 and 3:00 for boarding, so we have a bit of flexibility there. Now I have another reason to look forward to the trip

Sounds great to me.  We'll get the specifics worked out in February.  

When you are driving down from Orlando, so long as you stay on Florida's Turnpike going south toward Miami, There is an exit that is 3 blocks from where I live.  Couldn't be simpler.

stever

Any California lurkers around? (or posters )

A reporter is looking to talk with a family in either the San Francisco or Los Angeles areas that is currently looking to sell one or more of their cars for maximum value. If you fit the description, please send a message to PR@edmunds.com by no later than Friday, September 18, 2015.

Karen_S

Hello Gentlemen! Hope all are doing well and have had a wonderful summer. And abacomike, hope you're healing after your fall!

The reason I'm dropping in is to let you know we are considering renaming this topic as its current title is a bit of a misnomer for the usual discussions here. It is confusing for new folks that may drop in to read others car buying experiences or post their own. So need a vote of what title you would prefer.

Edmunds Member Hangout
Edmunds Car Klatch

If you have other suggestions, please post!

carnaught

Karen, always thought that much of this board overlapped with CCBA board.

Prefer Edmunds Member Hangout thus far, or Off Topic.

abacomike

Karen_CM said:

Hello Gentlemen! Hope all are doing well and have had a wonderful summer. And abacomike, hope you're healing after your fall! The reason I'm dropping in is to let you know we are considering renaming this topic as its current title is a bit of a misnomer for the usual discussions here. It is confusing for new folks that may drop in to read others car buying experiences or post their own. So need a vote of what title you would prefer. Edmunds Member Hangout Edmunds Car Klatch If you have other suggestions, please post!

I'm with carnaught - Edmunds Member Hangout.

driver100

tyguy said:

Mike and Driver: Getting together with you would be a real treat for me and the family. We'll be driving from Orlando to Miami Monday, March 14. I just called the cruise line for check-in times, and we need to be at the dock between 1:00 and 3:00 for boarding, so we have a bit of flexibility there. Now I have another reason to look forward to the trip

I'd love to do it. I will try my very best...a little tricky for me to arrange, but if at all possible we will be there! It is on my new 2016 calendar that I bought yesterday.

imidazol97

Karen_CM said:

The reason I'm dropping in is to let you know we are considering renaming this topic as its current title is a bit of a misnomer for the usual discussions here. It is confusing for new folks that may drop in to read others car buying experiences or post their own. So need a vote of what title you would prefer.

Edmunds Member Hangout
Edmunds Car Klatch

If you have other suggestions, please post!

More suggestions:

Edmunds Off Topic Area
Edmunds General Discussion Lounge
Edmunds Off Topic Hangout
Edmunds Off Topic Lounge
or
Edmunds Cars & Coffee


I suggest the last one because Fuel Coffee and Cars & Coffee are casual Saturday
morning get togethers in Cincy and now Dayton of car fanatics and not-so-fanatic folks.
I believe most people would realize it meant "casual" discussion but with the hope
that "cars" remains the focus between off topic drifts.

"Hangout" reminds me of Microsoft's Hangout App that's on my Android--a negative. LOL

ab348

I'm not crazy about any title that says "off topic" because that implies politics, religion, etc. For the most part we talk about cars here, and each others lives.

driver100

Karen_CM said:

Hello Gentlemen! Hope all are doing well and have had a wonderful summer. And abacomike, hope you're healing after your fall!

The reason I'm dropping in is to let you know we are considering renaming this topic as its current title is a bit of a misnomer for the usual discussions here. It is confusing for new folks that may drop in to read others car buying experiences or post their own. So need a vote of what title you would prefer.

Edmunds Member Hangout
Edmunds Car Klatch

If you have other suggestions, please post!

Always nice to hear from you Karen.

How about;
Edmunds Members Chew the Fat!
(I always wondered about that saying...I guess it is from the old West when you would chew some gristle for a few hours - with the guys)

I think Edmunds Members Hangout is pretty good. My only concern is the car topic kind of gives us a purpose in life, whereas hangout might lead us to talk more about non-car things, like dishwashers, laundry detergent, toasters, and even, dare I say it....politics!

Just thinking out loud...or in print. Maybe more like,
Edmunds Members: Thoughts About Cars and Other Topics - Join In

abacomike

ab348 said:

I'm not crazy about any title that says "off topic" because that implies politics, religion, etc. For the most part we talk about cars here, and each others lives.

I agree, ab!

graphicguy

I vote for "GG's Whiney Beach".

graphicguy

Karen_CM said:

Hello Gentlemen! Hope all are doing well and have had a wonderful summer. And abacomike, hope you're healing after your fall!

The reason I'm dropping in is to let you know we are considering renaming this topic as its current title is a bit of a misnomer for the usual discussions here. It is confusing for new folks that may drop in to read others car buying experiences or post their own. So need a vote of what title you would prefer.

Edmunds Member Hangout
Edmunds Car Klatch

If you have other suggestions, please post!

Karen...just realized it, but when I saw the "Gentlemen" address, it became clear that we don't have a female presence in here since you and Kirstie ducked out. Drop by more often. This place could use some feminine influence. It's beginning to smell like a locker room in here.

imidazol97

ab348 said:

I'm not crazy about any title that says "off topic" because that implies politics, religion, etc. For the most part we talk about cars here, and each others lives.

I agree that use of "off topic" may drive the discussion threads to go
away from cars more than we already do. Furthermore, using the phrase
"off topic" almost sounds like we're talking about something dark,
not allowed, evil, untoward. That may just be my reaction to that
term.

I am amused as I sip my coffee out of an Edmunds mug that even
finding a new name has become a discussion thread! Ain't it great! LOL

In addition I appreciate that Karen is asking to hear our opinions
about a new name. Many places would have put up an announcement
that a new name is XXXXXXXX without input from the little people. LOL

Fuel Coffee (Cars & Coffee) pictures
link from Cincinnati photographer:
https://facebook.com/kaiverspeekphotography/photos/ms.c.eJw9kMmNA1AIQzuKWD~;Qf2OT4DHHJ2~_IUPHsrmwrC~;sEuC3GR5pco0~_y8p~;H1u9FDviZnwQr2eF~;4BHZvnd~_9L~_k7r~;8N0bGnhW5Vu8hN7hP375knyKvdQx~;kBU68ybLwn5Ff53u2~_9zDJ33fmn18zeYezZg~_n33dNjnBua9jj07~;UFnPrCf1~;fg578d~;zD~_IxSsZOw19yJXv38l7ivuR8FvfxGddGc~-.bps.a.410358855827244.1073741842.380010045528792/410359232493873/?type=1&theater

stever

Input From the Little People - ya know, @imidazol97, that just doesn't quite have the right ring to it.

imidazol97

stever said:

Input From the Little People - ya know, @imidazol97, that just doesn't quite have the right ring to it.

Now I get it.

houdini1

Geezer Garage.

venture

It was time to get my car inspected. Since my regular dealer broke the hood struts on my car - even after I told them they were on there, I decided to try the Ford dealer the next town over. This dealer just rebuilt their entire building and it's very close to the ones Mike and Driver talk about. No spas though.

They have fresh brewed, single cup, coffee available and snacks at no cost. There are also a few vending machines for other items. I didn't really pay much attention to it all except how nice it was.

I had an appointment for 9 this morning which was great because I had a dental appointment at 10:30. I told the service writer that I had a 10 am dental appointment and asked if they were on schedule. She said they were. A state inspection and emissions test only takes about 20 minutes.

When 9:50 rolled around I walked from the lounge to the service area and saw my car on a lift and the tech. doing something under the engine area. I asked the service person what he was doing. She went in and asked him and said he was doing the recall for the bolts in the steering box. I about flipped my lid. They didn't tell me they were going to do that and I specifically told the girl I had a 10 am appointment. (I didn't say 10:30 to give myself some leeway).

They couldn't stop because some of the bolts were out of the steering box.

Fortunately the dentist was understanding and still took me even though I didn't get there until almost 10:50.

Don't they listen when you talk to them? I'm running out of Ford dealers.

Oh yes, this dealer broke my hood struts again. I didn't tell them about them because they had no reason to open the hood.

ab348

I don't understand the part about the hood struts always breaking. What's up with that?

explorerx4

I like Imidazol97's idea of Edmunds Car & Coffee or maybe Cars & Conversation.

imidazol97

Edmunds Cars & Conversation sounds good. It keeps the word
"Cars" in the topic name to help keep it car centered.

venture

ab348 said:

I don't understand the part about the hood struts always breaking. What's up with that?

They come with just a prop. I added the struts. With the struts you just pop the latch inside, move the safety latch to the left, and the hood opens by itself. Then you don't have the hood prop in the way either.

I understand the mechanic muscling the hood open. That's the way all Fusions are. But I told them in advance about the struts and how to open the hood - except for todays fiasco.

I guess I should just remove the struts altogether and save the agony - and money replacing them.

cdnpinhead

Edmunds Long-Term Geezers Gather

carnaught

explorerx4 said:

I like Imidazol97's idea of Edmunds Car & Coffee or maybe Cars & Conversation.

Both good, or Cars, Coffee and Conversation (the 3 C's).

suydam

"
Karen...just realized it, but when I saw the "Gentlemen" address, it became clear that we don't have a female presence in here since you and Kirstie ducked out. Drop by more often. This place could use some feminine influence. It's beginning to smell like a locker room in here."

Only cuz you guys assume everyone who posts is male.
Personally I like Cars and Conversation.

driver100

explorerx4 said:

I like Imidazol97's idea of Edmunds Car & Coffee or maybe Cars & Conversation.

Howzabout CARS, COFFEE and CONVERSATION,

It even has alliteration!

explorerx4

@driver100,
That's sounds good to me.

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

I'm with you 110%....how is that for poor grammar.

Not sure about the grammar but the math needs a little improvement.

robr2

Why don't we go back a few years and bring back the Roadside Cafe we once had.

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

Well, when it rains it pours.  I was just admitted to the hospital - fell off a step stool trying to replace a fluorescent light bulb in the kitchen.  Herniated a disk in my lower back.  They are giving me pain meds IV.  I just don't seem to be able to catch a break in this life of mine.  What can I say?   

Sorry to hear that, I hope you have a speedy recovery.