Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

oldfarmer50

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?

Not an expert in anything but I am always willing to offer my opinion.

Truck cap--will ad to value when truck in new. Won't ad anything when truck is old. Will never ad what it cost.

AC---won't ad to the value of the house but a bad one will detract from the value.

Remember, free advice is worth every penny you paid.

oldfarmer50

suydam said:

"
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.

Men are so ego centric aren't they?

snakeweasel

andres3 said:

I don't think so. As you pointed out, other studies have found the curve to be valid even with more modern recent samples being taken. No one has disproved the curve to date for roads that do not have turns (such as Interstate Highways). Just because Solomon didn't use Freeways for their data doesn't mean the curve still doesn't apply. Show me where a freeway study was done that disproves the curve. Turns doesn't hold any water; and even taking slowing/turning vehicles into account; it only reduced accidents by about 40%; hardly 100%.

No one has disproven the curve to date for roads that don't have turns? I just cited one that does and all you did was ridicule it. You simply refuse to acknowledge anything that doesn't support your need to speed.

There have been multiple studies that show no correlation between difference between going slower than average speed and rate of accidents.

berri

looks like you dodged a surgery event!

snakeweasel

andres3 said:

I'm not a tire expert, but I know a little bit on the subject.

I've heard getting a puncture repaired; regardless of the method used generally lowers your speed rating one notch. I've never heard a tires age or wear affects the speed rating unless you are past the 7 year expiration or the wear bars. I'd imagine the speed rating is the minimum rating that tire can safely achieve at 7 years old at the wear bars; usually those things are pretty conservative.

My understanding is that there are several things that can happen to a tire that can hamper the tires ability to withstand high speeds. Such things would be hitting bumps and pot holes, high speed turns that make the tires squeal, hard stops and starts, running the tire with to low air pressure and the like. Now while these things in and of themselves won't do anything to the tire a few years of them would start to take its toll. I would say that if you experience a lot of these I would keep the speed down after you reach the mid point in the tread life.

andres3 said:

Also, I would think the gearing would have a lot to do with amount of engine wear at 95 MPH. Even so, I just can't see the negative consequences of 95 being much different than 65 these days with modern automobiles. Maybe someone should do a study, but I have a feeling a typical Honda engine might do 300,000 at 95 MPH instead of 305,000 miles at 65 MPH. Again, I think other factors weigh much more heavily, such as type of oil used, frequency of oil changes, ambient temperatures, and amount of start/stops among other things.

I would think that all things being equal wear and tear on an engine would be more influenced by the number of times a piston traveled the length of the cylinder and at what force. Remember that a car doing 95 MPH is going just over 46% faster than a car going 65 MPH now physics would tell us that to do that the engine has to work at a rate that increases greater than the increase of speed to overcome the greater wind resistance at the higher speeds. This is why you get worse gas mileage at 95 MPH than at 65 MPH. Because of this your engine would do more work going 100 miles at 95 MPH than it would going 100 miles at 65 MPH.

snakeweasel

Mr_Shiftright said:

If you are going 125 mph in a vehicle and you hit so much as a fist-sized rock in the road, you are in deep doo-doo.

I wouldn't say "speed kills" but I would say "speed has a better chance of killing you".

And that's what I have been saying all along, thank you.

murphydog

Karmann Ghia update -

My father passed away last October, a little over a year after a bone marrow transplant. One project left behind is the restoration of his 73 Ghia convertible. He was working with a young guy who was setting up shop on his own, and he is truly a gifted mechanic...but a lousy business man. We approached him in June about finishing and determining what what needed.

To help my step mom, I paid off the note, and ordered a full carpet kit and new wiring harness. Otherwise everything needed was there. Tom promised the car September 1st.

Well around September 3rd I get a text that he can't finish it, but has a guy who can. I am hugely disappointed - but also ready to move on as at this point I just want the car put back together.

Tonight I visited the "other guy" and am relived to say the least. He has a real shop, several projects and "guys" who can work. Figured 2 weeks to get all the assembly done.

I can't wait to see and drive the car once it is all put back together. Mechanically it will be very sound. The pad/chassis has been completely gone through, with all rust removed and or replace. New 1776 motor, rebuilt transmission, new brakes, and an air ride suspension. new seats, and carpet and of course an all new wiring harness. Once it is running I will take it to a top shop to have the leak around the rear window fixed.

Hopefully will have a picture to post in a few weeks.

verdugo

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!

Edmunds Member Hangout

fezo

"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."

I thought the emphasis was on old.....

Hope everybody is getting better. GG - been up to date on the Caddy - how about the eye? Has that calmed down? Healing better? Seeing better?

I hope you Florida folk remember that it's likely I'll get my clearance to swim in December. Being of the school of thought that believe salt water cures everything that ails you - particularly total immersion in it - I will be quite eager to get myself in. So, if not invited I'll end up in the area anyway. I'm betting on mid-late January. My wife, saint that she is, says stay a month if you want. I hate cold. I could take her up on that even if it means living in a hovel for a bit,

driver - I've been impressed - even Sarah Palin would be impressed with how you speak American. I was actually surprised when centre came up. None of that bothers me. I consider myself fluent in Canadian English.

I did give up on that cat in Woodstock, ON. Driver, if you want to meet that guy halfway and then travel with a cat for a bit I'd find an early spot in the US to take possession. Do not take that seriously. She's a genuinely cute calico but not meant to be mine.

Ty - keep up the PT. It's the official topic activity here.

driver100

snakeweasel said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

If you are going 125 mph in a vehicle and you hit so much as a fist-sized rock in the road, you are in deep doo-doo.

I wouldn't say "speed kills" but I would say "speed has a better chance of killing you".

And that's what I have been saying all along, thank you.

Talking about speed and curves. How about the new Jaguar F-Pace doing the largest loop ever! Makes me want to go out and buy one, you never know when you may want to do a loop.

https://youtu.be/y64JhPtpicA

graphicguy

robr2 said:

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

Oooooohhh....I like that one.

graphicguy

oldfarmer50 said:

suydam said:

"
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.

Men are so ego centric aren't they?

Bwah.....ha....ha.....ha...!!!!!!!

driver100

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."

I thought the emphasis was on old.....

lol.....I wasn't crazy about the dead bird thing but an owl is good, I'll go with that, especially a wise one!

Hope everybody is getting better. GG - been up to date on the Caddy - how about the eye? Has that calmed down? Healing better? Seeing better?

GG, if you are listening just how is the eye, and did you ever hear back from whomever (how is that for proper American) is trying to reach you.

So, if not invited I'll end up in the area anyway. I'm betting on mid-late January. My wife, saint that she is, says stay a month if you want. I hate cold. I could take her up on that even if it means living in a hovel for a bit,

Mike has an extra room

I consider myself fluent in Canadian English.

Guess you can add that to your resume...you can speak two languages.

Driver, if you want to meet that guy halfway and then travel with a cat for a bit I'd find an early spot in the US to take possession. Do not take that seriously. She's a genuinely cute calico but not meant to be mine

I forgot about the cat. Gigi would probably love having the cat for company. I don't want to get stopped at the border because of a cat.....it needs paperwork to get into the US.

driver100

graphicguy said:

robr2 said:

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

Roadside Cafe
Oooooohhh....I like that one.

Roadside Café is a good one. Lots of guys here don't drink coffee, so maybe the Roadside Bar.

btw...I'm not sure if this is a Windows 10 thing or not but when I wrote café it came up with the accent over the e by itself. Yesterday I spelt alliteration with an I for the first letter and it automatically corrected my spelling. Sometimes I write thanks with an x instead of a ks at the end, so I am going to test that right now.....thanx.
Ha, it left it but has a red wiggly line under it, guess it is acceptable.

graphicguy

BTW....was watching my beloved Bengals play on TV Sunday. Got all comfy....Stella Artois in a frosted mug, snacks all spread on the table in front of me. About 30 minutes in, I notice what seems to be a bug on the screen....probably two inches long, an inch wide, but it's not moving, and it's white. I get a paper towel and get up to send it to its bug afterlife and find, it's not a bug at all. But, it's a weird panel deformity (not dead pixels, either) and is embedded into the plasma panel. Turn the TV off...it's still there, in the panel. Turn it back on...no change. Annoying, but it didn't get worse, so I finished watching the game.

After the game, I go rifling through the drawer that holds all electronic manuals, receipts, etc. Found the manual and the receipt. Apparently, I did something I almost never do when I bought the TV a couple of years ago. I bought a "Square Trade" warranty for it. So, unlike me, but my heart did a little jump for joy as it looked like a costly repair was on the horizon.

I called the number for Square Trade. Give the nice lady my name, TV model. She has it on file and says it's covered. I explain to her what I noticed. She said she'd send an email showing all the pertinent information on what to do that included my serial number, TV model number, price I paid, etc. She said to take pictures of the "white spot" on the TV in both close up, and further away showing the entire TV and the issue in question so she could send it to the repair company. She said she'd dispatch a local service technician as soon as Tuesday.

Well yesterday, she gives me a call and states that their internal repair team looked at the pictures and said the panel is going out (65" Panasonic Plasma) and that it's irreparable. No need for a technician to come out.

They said to go to the retailer of my choice and pick out a TV of equal value and they'd take care of the rest. Understand, this isn't a small purchase. It's a $2,200+ TV. At the time, this was probably the best TV on the market (aside from those gargantuan, exotic TVs). It was a 65" plasma. They don't even make anything remotely close, anymore.

Now THAT's a company I'll do business with time and time again. If I remember correctly, they were also quite a bit cheaper than those service plans offered by the retailers.

Highly recommend Square Trade extended warranties.

driver100

Glad it wasn't your eye GG.....at first that's where I thought this was going.

That was a great warranty plan. An equivalent TV today is probably a lot less than $2200. Would you get a plaza one again? It seems they are becoming extinct.

Too bad Cadillac didn't have a Square Trade warranty.

imidazol97

graphicguy said:

in, I notice what seems to be a bug on the screen....probably two inches long, an inch wide, but it's not moving, and it's white.
Highly recommend Square Trade extended warranties.

I was worried an eye story was coming. Glad it was the TV and the warranty
covers it. So they say buy any TV, doesn't have to be the same brand?

I think I've heard Square Trade being advertised for their cell phone
warranties on Rush Limbaugh's program. Much cheaper then the cell
companies' warranty.

carnaught

I've had the same great experience with Squaretrade, but with a less costly item. It was replaced without issues. Months later I realized the item was still insured even though it was replaced. I was eligible for a prorated refund of that policy which is what I subsequently got.

So.....GG, after your television is replaced see if the remainder of the old policy is refundable.

graphicguy

imid...to my knowledge, I can buy ANY TV, as long as it's the same price as my current TV. No brand was stipulated. Mine was the last Panasonic Plasmas built. Most ot their plasma TVs were based on technology Pioneer used when they were making some of the best TVs on the market nad sold off to Panasonic.

Panasonic went away from building TVs for a while. They are back in the biz but are now making 4K LED TVs. I don't know of any retailer around here that sells them, though.

I know Samsung is still pretty much in the top wrung of building some of the bst TVs currently. But, LG builds a nice set as does Sony. I haven't seen any recent Vizio sets (except in passing walking through Costco). Sharp just announced they're getting out of the TV biz.

I'm waiting for further instructions on what paperwork I need from Square Trade to take to the retailer.

Cadillac update....some of you called this, but got a call from Cadillac Customer Resolution Dept yesterday. Apparently, they were monitoring my car while it was in the dealer service dept. They wanted to know if everything was operating correctly. I told them an emphatic NO! I also explained the type of garbage the dealers were trying to pull....not showing the total amount of time the car was actually in for repair.

The Customer Resolution lady asked if I would consider a new CTS instead of a buyback. As I explained to her, I certainly didn't feel that Cadillac nor their dealers were trustworthy after I went through what they've put me through. And, that I considered my treatment as bordering fraud in the way they've handled my numerous issues.

I AGAIN requested a full refund and buyback. She was supposed to get back to me either last night, or today. With what, I'm not certain.

abacomike

graphicguy said:

imid...to my knowledge, I can buy ANY TV, as long as it's the same price as my current TV. No brand was stipulated. Mine was the last Panasonic Plasmas built. Most ot their plasma TVs were based on technology Pioneer used when they were making some of the best TVs on the market nad sold off to Panasonic. Panasonic went away from building TVs for a while. They are back in the biz but are now making 4K LED TVs. I don't know of any retailer around here that sells them, though. I know Samsung is still pretty much in the top wrung of building some of the bst TVs currently. But, LG builds a nice set as does Sony. I haven't seen any recent Vizio sets (except in passing walking through Costco). Sharp just announced they're getting out of the TV biz. I'm waiting for further instructions on what paperwork I need from Square Trade to take to the retailer. Cadillac update....some of you called this, but got a call from Cadillac Customer Resolution Dept yesterday. Apparently, they were monitoring my car while it was in the dealer service dept. They wanted to know if everything was operating correctly. I told them an emphatic NO! I also explained the type of garbage the dealers were trying to pull....not showing the total amount of time the car was actually in for repair. The Customer Resolution lady asked if I would consider a new CTS instead of a buyback. As I explained to her, I certainly didn't feel that Cadillac nor their dealers were trustworthy after I went through what they've put me through. And, that I considered my treatment as bordering fraud in the way they've handled my numerous issues. I AGAIN requested a full refund and buyback. She was supposed to get back to me either last night, or today. With what, I'm not certain.

I was right - they offered you a new car.  Now that gives them an edge in any arbitration.  They offered you an opportunity.  However, I agree that months and months of aggravation from them is worth more than just replacing the car.  But if they offered you a 2016 model nicely equipped, that would satisfy me - but that's me, not you.  You have to be satisfied.

driver100

graphicguy said:

The Customer Resolution lady asked if I would consider a new CTS instead of a buyback. As I explained to her, I certainly didn't feel that Cadillac nor their dealers were trustworthy after I went through what they've put me through. And, that I considered my treatment as bordering fraud in the way they've handled my numerous issues.

I AGAIN requested a full refund and buyback. She was supposed to get back to me either last night, or today. With what, I'm not certain.

GG, normally the offer of a 2016 CTS would probably have been acceptable early on. It would have made for a very nice car, you would probably have been happy. But, too much water has passed under that bridge and now you don't trust them and rightly so. Chances are a new one will be fine, but, what if you have some issues...you will be frustrated having to go through this again.

Funny though, they are finally trying to do something....thank goodness for the Lemon Law people.

henryn

abacomike said:

I was right - they offered you a new car.  Now that gives them an edge in any arbitration.  They offered you an opportunity.  However, I agree that months and months of aggravation from them is worth more than just replacing the car.  But if they offered you a 2016 model nicely equipped, that would satisfy me - but that's me, not you.  You have to be satisfied.

I would agree with Mike, probably best to take the new car and get over this. Yes, it is not the preferred outcome, but this could drag out for months longer. You take the new car, drive it down the street and trade it in on a Mercedes or whatever, and this ordeal is OVER. Finis. Finished.

graphicguy

They haven't offered me anything. They only asked if a new car swap might be interesting. Now, being the skeptic that I am, my guess is they would want something out of pocket from me. Unacceptable. Further, I'm guessing they would NOT offer a 2016, but probably one of the many 2014 leftovers that still seem to be hanging around on the lots, or maybe a dealer loaner vehicle.

Still, I can say I would never be happy with any of the local dealers given my terrible experiences with them.

abacomike

graphicguy said:

They haven't offered me anything. They only asked if a new car swap might be interesting. Now, being the skeptic that I am, my guess is they would want something out of pocket from me. Unacceptable. Further, I'm guessing they would NOT offer a 2016, but probably one of the many 2014 leftovers that still seem to be hanging around on the lots, or maybe a dealer loaner vehicle. Still, I can say I would never be happy with any of the local dealers given my terrible experiences with them.

GG, you have to do what you think is right.  You are the one they have to satisfy, not us!  We all have our own perspectives, but we did not physically or emotionally go through what you've been through!  

Whatever your decision, it is the right one for you - we are just here to try to offer suggestions - that's all.

graphicguy

abacomike said:

graphicguy said:

They haven't offered me anything. They only asked if a new car swap might be interesting. Now, being the skeptic that I am, my guess is they would want something out of pocket from me. Unacceptable. Further, I'm guessing they would NOT offer a 2016, but probably one of the many 2014 leftovers that still seem to be hanging around on the lots, or maybe a dealer loaner vehicle.

Still, I can say I would never be happy with any of the local dealers given my terrible experiences with them.

GG, you have to do what you think is right.  You are the one they have to satisfy, not us!  We all have our own perspectives, but we did not physically or emotionally go through what you've been through!  

Whatever your decision, it is the right one for you - we are just here to try to offer suggestions - that's all.

Mike...you're right. I'm obviously quite put off by Cadillac. They've treated me like I was stupid. They've done everything in their power to minimize, deny, rebuff, dismiss me and the issues with the CTS.

I've always felt the true worth of any company, is the way they treat their customers when their products or services don't deliver and are riddled with problems. Frankly, I've never been treated worse, by any company, with regards to any product, as I have been treated by Cadillac and their dealers.

At first blush, I'd be willing to say maybe a single Cadillac employee, a single Cadillac dealer service person, perhaps is bad at what they do. That's not the case here. This is endemic to Cadillac. They must train their people to act this way (deny, minimize, delay, circumvent, etc). It's happened with more than more than one dealer, and with more than one Cadillac, over a long period of time. They have absolutely no concept of customer service, nor do they care how bad they look when putting out a faulty product.

I've given them chance, after chance, after chance, after chance to make things right. They choose not to.

I should have known better. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I mentioned that I would not give Cadillac yet another chance to disappoint me.

Karen_S

Re: topic rename - Thanks for the suggestions! We are mulling them over and will decide soon.

I see houdini1 and cdnpinhead suggested titles with "Geezer", which made me think of my neighbor and the team name his golf buddies use for tournaments. The FOGs. Which is Fat Old Guys, but he tells me the "Fat" is the polite term, they privately use another word.

fezo

Yeah, but many of us are arguing old...

I think the old Roadside Cafe would be great. It was Ask Sir Fezo without questions and with more proper control (which is to say it was monitored better; there were times when I was monitoring Ask Sir Fezo and trying when two guys would get into it to sweet talk them down. Very good time, though.

No one who came in past the nineties would get how I became a Sir. Some guy in another topic knighted me.

suydam

So you're not looking for new posters? Anything with Old, Geezers, Members, etc. suggests an old guys' clubhouse with the equivalent of No Girls (read Outsiders)Allowed.
Cars and Conversations invites people of all ages and genders to join in.
Which is it?

driver100

graphicguy said:

abacomike said:

graphicguy said:

They haven't offered me anything. They only asked if a new car swap might be interesting. Now, being the skeptic that I am, my guess is they would want something out of pocket from me. Unacceptable. Further, I'm guessing they would NOT offer a 2016, but probably one of the many 2014 leftovers that still seem to be hanging around on the lots, or maybe a dealer loaner vehicle.

Still, I can say I would never be happy with any of the local dealers given my terrible experiences with them.

GG, you have to do what you think is right.  You are the one they have to satisfy, not us!  We all have our own perspectives, but we did not physically or emotionally go through what you've been through!  

Whatever your decision, it is the right one for you - we are just here to try to offer suggestions - that's all.

I've given them chance, after chance, after chance, after chance to make things right. They choose not to.

I should have known better. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I mentioned that I would not give Cadillac yet another chance to disappoint me.

GG, I was thinking, they have to be pretty desperate to even offer you a 2016. You paid a very low price for your 2014, and the 2016 is worth a lot more. Financially, they would probably be better off just buying the car back, maybe charging you for mileage which wouldn't be much since it has been in the garage most of the time, I think most of the mileage is taking it in to their service department.

I think they sense embarrassment with the Lemon Law people and possibly the federal government and maybe the safety people as well as insurance companies...they are supposed to be under a magnifying glass and they have promised to clean up their act - and this clearly shows they have done nothing to fix the system nice Mary has promised.

I don't want to gang up on Cadillac, but facts are facts. No matter how good their cars are, this whole thing is just wrong.

driver100

fezo said:

Yeah, but many of us are arguing old...

I think the old Roadside Cafe would be great. It was Ask Sir Fezo without questions and with more proper control (which is to say it was monitored better; there were times when I was monitoring Ask Sir Fezo and trying when two guys would get into it to sweet talk them down. Very good time, though.

No one who came in past the nineties would get how I became a Sir. Some guy in another topic knighted me.

How about "Sir Fezo's Roadside Café" or just to be a bit different make it "Cafeteria".

qbrozen

GG - after reading many professional reviews online, we went with a Vizio from BJs. It has been excellent thus far. It is not 4k because I really don't like the way those look when I've watched them in the store. I don't exactly remember what model, but I think it might be a 55" E-series.

isellhondas

venture said:

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.

I still don't understand just how one can " break" a hood strut simply by muscling up the hood?

And for as little time as a person spends under the hood, why you would find this a worthy improvement?

But...that's me!

isellhondas

oldfarmer50 said:

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?

Not an expert in anything but I am always willing to offer my opinion.

Truck cap--will ad to value when truck in new. Won't ad anything when truck is old. Will never ad what it cost.

AC---won't ad to the value of the house but a bad one will detract from the value.

Remember, free advice is worth every penny you paid.

I agree on the lack of value a truck cap will add to the truck when it get's older. Some people don't even want them and speaking from experience thay are near impossible to even give away.

Funny, I never heard them called "Truck Caps" before!

In California, we called them "Shells"

Here in Washington people call them "Canopys"

In Montana, they call them "Toppers"

Anything else?

imidazol97

isellhondas said:

And for as little time as a person spends under the hood, why you would find this a worthy improvement?

I'm still stuck on being surprised that a recent Fusion does not have struts but instead uses a rod to hold the hood up. My 08 Cobalt , 03 leSabre, and '14 Malibu all have struts.

I can understand Henryn wanting to put struts on if they're available aftermarket, but sounds like it's a lot of trouble at the dealer.

stever

isellhondas said:

Funny, I never heard them called "Truck Caps" before!

In California, we called them "Shells"

Here in Washington people call them "Canopys"

In Montana, they call them "Toppers"

Anything else?

Boxes, tonneaus and lids.

Oh, and SUVs.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

How about "Sir Fezo's Roadside Café" or just to be a bit different make it "Cafeteria".

I don't think putting an individual's name on a topic would be good. The name
should invite people in and indicate what someone will find who ventures into the
discussion.

My vote would have to go to Cars and Conversation. It's better than
the Cars and Coffee: "coffee" might offend tea drinkers. LOL


I've just been fascinated by the Fuel Coffee shop along the
river in Cincy that attracts lots of high performance cars and some
high class classics on Saturday mornings. https://www.facebook.com/FuelCoffeeCincy/photos/a.435867718371.233745.56829973371/10152332438543372/?type=1&theater

ab348

imidazol97 said:

I don't think putting an individual's name on a topic would be good. The name
should invite people in and indicate what someone will find who ventures into the
discussion.

My vote would have to go to Cars and Conversation. It's better than
the Cars and Coffee: "coffee" might offend tea drinkers. LOL

I agree with both of these points.

Michaell

ab348 said:

imidazol97 said:

I don't think putting an individual's name on a topic would be good. The name
should invite people in and indicate what someone will find who ventures into the
discussion.

My vote would have to go to Cars and Conversation. It's better than
the Cars and Coffee: "coffee" might offend tea drinkers. LOL

I agree with both of these points.

As do I - Cars and Conversation covers a lot of ground.

ab348

imidazol97 said:

I'm still stuck on being surprised that a recent Fusion does not have struts but instead uses a rod to hold the hood up. My 08 Cobalt , 03 leSabre, and '14 Malibu all have struts.

Ford has gotten away with that for decades now. I remember the first time I saw a hood prop rod it was on some little Euro import in the 1960s and I thought it was laughable. Then Ford came out with the Maverick and it had one. Soon most of Ford's smaller vehicles all had them. It just seems really cheap and penny-pinching on a $40,000 vehicle. Makes me wonder what other corners they cut.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

How about "Sir Fezo's Roadside Café" or just to be a bit different make it "Cafeteria".

I don't think putting an individual's name on a topic would be good. The name
should invite people in and indicate what someone will find who ventures into the
discussion.

My vote would have to go to Cars and Conversation. It's better than
the Cars and Coffee: "coffee" might offend tea drinkers. LOL


I've just been fascinated by the Fuel Coffee shop along the
river in Cincy that attracts lots of high performance cars and some
high class classics on Saturday mornings. https://www.facebook.com/FuelCoffeeCincy/photos/a.435867718371.233745.56829973371/10152332438543372/?type=1&theater

Fuel Coffee?????? What do they put in that stuff....ethanol?
And, what's with the flames coming out of that coffee cup?
Looks like an ad for a Taco Bell burrito.
I do like that little BMW parked outside.

stever

Fuel Coffee?????? What do they put in that stuff....ethanol?
And, what's with the flames coming out of that coffee cup?

Ethanol would be decaf.

The flames would be the caffeine.

Karen_S

Decision made. Title changed. Carry on!

graphicguy

Karen_CM said:

Decision made. Title changed. Carry on!

Cool....first post in newly titled playground!

henryn

ab348 said:

imidazol97 said:

I'm still stuck on being surprised that a recent Fusion does not have struts but instead uses a rod to hold the hood up. My 08 Cobalt , 03 leSabre, and '14 Malibu all have struts.

Ford has gotten away with that for decades now. I remember the first time I saw a hood prop rod it was on some little Euro import in the 1960s and I thought it was laughable. Then Ford came out with the Maverick and it had one. Soon most of Ford's smaller vehicles all had them. It just seems really cheap and penny-pinching on a $40,000 vehicle. Makes me wonder what other corners they cut.

I might be wrong (often am), but I think this had as much to do with weight savings as it did with cost savings. Either way, I have never cared for it.

And, I too am curious how the mechanics at the Ford dealer are "breaking" your add-on hood support struts. The best guess I can come up with: they are not actually breaking the struts, but the mount points instead?

qbrozen

Wait... what topic was this before? haha. I really don't pay much attention. Just click the bolded link in my faves.

Is this where I talk about our ongoing move? My garage is NOT getting any better. What a nightmare! And only 10 days till closing! YIKES!

We picked the movers and put down a deposit. $4k and we pack ourselves. That hurts. He was taken aback by the garage and shed. Said they need 6 guys over 2 days to make 2 trips. Day 1 for the stuff in the house into two 26-foot trucks, then Day 2 for the garage, patio, shed stuff. Again, 2 full trucks with 6 guys.

fezo

That was quick - and a perfectly fine title.

I was not lobbying for Sir Fezo. That was a very different time, Fun but done.

I would think those caps on trucks would end up being like swimming pools with houses. People either must have them or don't want them at all and don't want to pay extra for one.

[Deleted User]

qbrozen said:

Wait... what topic was this before? haha. I really don't pay much attention. Just click the bolded link in my faves.

Is this where I talk about our ongoing move? My garage is NOT getting any better. What a nightmare! And only 10 days till closing! YIKES!

We picked the movers and put down a deposit. $4k and we pack ourselves. That hurts. He was taken aback by the garage and shed. Said they need 6 guys over 2 days to make 2 trips. Day 1 for the stuff in the house into two 26-foot trucks, then Day 2 for the garage, patio, shed stuff. Again, 2 full trucks with 6 guys.

Wow, that's an impressive garage! Do you have a working garage for metal or wood working? We have a three-car garage, but it's filled with two cars and two waverunners on a trailer, so moving ithe contents isn't a big deal. I do have tools, but not nearly enough to be call my garage a "shop."

abacomike

Got a call from my brother this morning.  He wanted to know if I am driving a new car.  I told him that the only possibility would be if I totally fell in love with the upcoming 2017 E Class Sedan which is due to appear in the Spring of 2016.  I only have 6780 miles on my current car.  I actually have an appointment scheduled already for December 1st to bring my car in for its first A Service.  My first oil change (and various other updates and filter changes) in 10 years.  I wonder what it will be like?  Do they write up a service ticket? Do they give out loaners?  I wonder what it will be like!!!  

kyfdx

driver100 said:

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

How about "Sir Fezo's Roadside Café" or just to be a bit different make it "Cafeteria".

I don't think putting an individual's name on a topic would be good. The name
should invite people in and indicate what someone will find who ventures into the
discussion.

My vote would have to go to Cars and Conversation. It's better than
the Cars and Coffee: "coffee" might offend tea drinkers. LOL


I've just been fascinated by the Fuel Coffee shop along the
river in Cincy that attracts lots of high performance cars and some
high class classics on Saturday mornings. https://www.facebook.com/FuelCoffeeCincy/photos/a.435867718371.233745.56829973371/10152332438543372/?type=1&theater

Fuel Coffee?????? What do they put in that stuff....ethanol?
And, what's with the flames coming out of that coffee cup?
Looks like an ad for a Taco Bell burrito.
I do like that little BMW parked outside.

That is the owner's BMW 2002.

It's called Fuel, because that used to be a gas station, before it was a coffee shop.

Last time I was there, a Lambo Aventador showed up ($400K+). You can see just about anything there, but it's not a big cruise-in for muscle cars. The interesting stuff is mostly old imports, but plenty of new Porsches, etc... and the Subie guys are always there.

cdnpinhead

abacomike said:

I only have 6780 miles on my current car.

How does that compare to your last few vehicles? Seems to me you've held on to this one longer, but I could be mistaken.