Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

abacomike

Costgo down here finally went down to $1.99.9 for RUG and $2.41.9 for PUG.  We have very heavy taxes on gas down here - which is why I was surprised by the $1.99.9 a gallon at Costco.  I don't remember them ever getting that low in recent years.

stever

abacomike said:

Of all the airports I hated to fly into, it was San Diego (Lindberg). Additionally, having only one runway made flying in there rough. If you flew in over the city, it was always a steep drop from the hills/mts. into the airport.

I have fun memories of that airport - not from flying in but from my BIL's wedding. They got married in their rooftop apartment on the flightpath after sundown. The jets would roar overhead every few minutes and their landing lights would shine right through the apartment. It was very Star Warzy. Reminded me of all the catfish houses on the Tennessee River when the barges floating by would light up the dining room.

sda

abacomike said:

Costgo down here finally went down to $1.99.9 for RUG and $2.41.9 for PUG.  We have very heavy taxes on gas down here - which is why I was surprised by the $1.99.9 a gallon at Costco.  I don't remember them ever getting that low in recent years.

RUG is $1.69.9 at QT about 2 miles from my house. It is even cheaper the further into SC that you go. With Indian Land being at the NC-SC stateline, a lot of Charlotte residents travel across the stateline to SC to get cheaper gas--about .25-.30/gal cheaper. That keeps our gas prices a little higher due to that demand.

I have found that the Charlotte Douglas airport to be quite nice and have not heard of many complaints. It is newer, modern, clean and offers a lot of restaurants, shops and quick access to rental cars, taxis and is only about a 20 minute drive to Charlotte.

berri

Anyone see the CBS news about weak seatbacks in rear end collisions allegedly causing more child deaths than Takata airbags? Apparently, the adult upfront collapses onto the child in the backseat. It also claimed a GM engineer admitted to the issue and said it was very inexpensive to fix, but it hasn't happened, D3 or import brands. Detroit's response was the usual "it meets all federal standards". While the gov has either overlooked it or been diverted from airbags, I have to ask why the auto industry doesn't just step up and fix issues like this on their own? If true, this is very unsettling, especially because strengthening the seatbacks isn't supposed to be that expensive. Just do it and add 10 bucks to the vehicle price. I doubt many consumers would complain on an issue like this.

abacomike

stever said:

Of all the airports I hated to fly into, it was San Diego (Lindberg). Additionally, having only one runway made flying in there rough. If you flew in over the city, it was always a steep drop from the hills/mts. into the airport.

I have fun memories of that airport - not from flying in but from my BIL's wedding. They got married in their rooftop apartment on the flightpath after sundown. The jets would roar overhead every few minutes and their landing lights would shine right through the apartment. It was very Star Warzy. Reminded me of all the catfish houses on the Tennessee River when the barges floating by would light up the dining room.

Back in 1985, a fellow middle school principal and I took an American Airlines DC10 out of Ohare headed for San Diego. It was the last non-stop out of Chicago's Ohare so we took off at 8:00 PM.  We had to be in LaJolla the next morning in order to present a concept we had developed to other school administrators (250+).

Normally it's about a 3+ hour flight but we were encountering heavy headwinds and severe turbulence which forced the pilot to slow down as the turbulence was widespread and he was unable to circumnavigate sufficiently to avoid it.  After 4+ hours in the air we started our decent into San Diego.  There was quite a bit of fog east of the airport over the Pacific coastline.  Unfortunately, they would not allow us to land to the west due to noise restrictions over the city (normally we would land to the west on that flight but we were 2-hours late).  So we started our approach out over south Orange County and encountered fog almost immediately.  

He turned south about 6-7 miles out over the Pacific and then turned east for his final approach (or what we thought would be his final approach).  He was waved off as he was coming in too high and we had to go around again but only after a steeply banked turn to the south to avoid the city.

By the time we finally landed it was after 11:00 PM.  We got our rental car and arrived at our hotel right about midnight.  We were exhausted.  We had reserved a two-bedroom suite which the conference paid for.  We didn't get to sleep until nearly 2:00 AM and had to be at the conference at 8:00 AM.  Needless to say, it was one of the worst 2-day business trips I had ever experienced.

Coming into Lindbergh field once is bad enough - but twice over the Pacific coastline is more than bad enough.  What scared the day lights out of me (not to mention the stress this had on my colon - if you get my drift), was that sharp turn to the south as we flew over the airport.

Not one of my better flying experiences, to be sure!!!  

berri

You'd be surprised by the maneuverability of even wide bodies!

PF_Flyer

I kinda like swooping down over people's pools in San Diego

imidazol97

PF_Flyer said:

I kinda like swooping down over people's pools in San Diego

I enjoyed seeing golfers trying to make swings while the DC-8 made a low long approach over the golf course near the runway in Port Columbus long ago. Must be like playing tournament with the MetLife blimp overhead buzzing all the time. I was distracted by the truckers on I-70 blowing their horns to distract golfers on one course I played.

graphicguy

I don't think there were any fees at CVG that were particularly out of the ordinary. Truth told, before CVG was a Delta hub, it was one of the cheapest airports to fly out of. Delta makes it a hub, raises fares, blocks other airlines from coming in (with the help of the airport board) and things go pretty crazy.

Delta pulls out. And, since the airport board locked out all of Delta's competitors, DVG is a ghost town compared to what it once was. Now, they're begging airlines to come in. The other airlines remember all to well being snubbed when they were asking for gates.

Cadillac stalled again last night, twice. Had it towed to the dealer. They said they think it has something to do with the vapor valve (?). Anyway, they have to order it. I told them to take another shot at the CUE system while they're at it and to listen to the NEW popping noises coming from the steering.

stever

My sister visited in 1986 and we saw Top Gun one afternoon just after it came out. After the flick I drove over to Elmendorf AFB - I knew the drill for getting through the gate, and security was lots laxer then anyway. Our timing was great - I drove to one end of the runway and parked and we got blasted by a group of F-15s doing touch and goes.

Growing up in the 60s, we'd hit Memphis for the big city lights, and would often stop by the airport on the way home to watch the jets take off and land.

These days I'd rather drive.

Regular is down to $1.79 here.

abacomike

graphicguy said:

I don't think there were any fees at CVG that were particularly out of the ordinary. Truth told, before CVG was a Delta hub, it was one of the cheapest airports to fly out of. Delta makes it a hub, raises fares, blocks other airlines from coming in (with the help of the airport board) and things go pretty crazy. Delta pulls out. And, since the airport board locked out all of Delta's competitors, DVG is a ghost town compared to what it once was. Now, they're begging airlines to come in. The other airlines remember all to well being snubbed when they were asking for gates. Cadillac stalled again last night, twice. Had it towed to the dealer. They said they think it has something to do with the vapor valve (?). Anyway, they have to order it. I told them to take another shot at the CUE system while they're at it and to listen to the NEW popping noises coming from the steering.

That car needs to be towed (not driven, God forbid) to an old, abandoned airplane hanger at some deserted Air Force or Naval Base out in the White Sands Proving Grounds area of New Mexico.  Once it has been locked and hermetically sealed inside the hanger, authorize the North Koreans and/or the Iranians to drop their most advanced weaponry on the target at ground zero.  Require the Defense Department to video record the entire bomb run and its aftermath.  

Make sure sure the Defense Department sends DVD copies of the multi-explosions to graphicguy, Cadillac Motor Division, GM, and the two dealerships GG has been dealing with.  Then, graphicguy would be required to post the video on YouTube with his own personal comments about how he felt the moment of the explosion.  

fezo

Been quite a while. I have to catch up. Latest things from here are 1. After at least a year and a half of physical therapy that wasn't getting far they do an MRI on my left shoulder - complete tear of the rotator cuff. I see the surgeon tomorrow and schedule surgery and then will probably be in a sling for a month or so. Right now I can still lay my guitar with it - it raising the arm any higher or elsewhere within limits. I don'y know in the complete rest period.

2. Last Thursday was a gorgeous day and I decide to take the Miata up to Sussex County - the northwest corner of NJ and real God's country. Stopped at a far and got things like real eggs from unstacked, uncooped chicken and other such things. My day has just gone from that part and on Rt. 24 traffic suddenly stops dead. Brakes are not the highlight of the Miata. Hit the guy in front of me, doing almost nothing to his 99 Infiniti but I need a new hood, front bumper cover and one headlight assembly. This is likely to turn into an argument as to whether it's totaled but I intend to fight it out.

With my daughter's car I ended up making a little money. I don't expect to do more than break even here and the car will be laid up for the winter by the time it's fixed. If it were really totaled which I don't think it it is wouldn't be the end of the world. I'd have rented it for the summer for $1,000 or so and gotten that bug taken care of. We'll see.

abacomike

stever said:

My sister visited in 1986 and we saw Top Gun one afternoon just after it came out. After the flick I drove over to Elmendorf AFB - I knew the drill for getting through the gate, and security was lots laxer then anyway. Our timing was great - I drove to one end of the runway and parked and we got blasted by a group of F-15s doing touch and goes. Growing up in the 60s, we'd hit Memphis for the big city lights, and would often stop by the airport on the way home to watch the jets take off and land. These days I'd rather drive. Regular is down to $1.79 here.

When I lived near San Diego in the Poway-Carmel Mountain Ranch area, I lived on the side of one of those high hills northeast of Miramar.  I used to take out my binoculars and watch the take-offs and landings at the Base - awesome sight.  They filmed part of "Top Gun" right there - but it doesn't have many buildings on the base - but lots of hangars and runways, that's for sure!  

driver100

graphicguy said:

Cadillac stalled again last night, twice. Had it towed to the dealer. They said they think it has something to do with the vapor valve (?). Anyway, they have to order it. I told them to take another shot at the CUE system while they're at it and to listen to the NEW popping noises coming from the steering.

If you find too much more wrong with it they won't want it back for a trade.

The car will probably get wholesaled out (if they do this trade) and some poor guy is going to get stuck with it....it's like musical chairs but with a car.

PF_Flyer

They always get worried when I hang out at the airport with my airband scanner, or if I park on the road under the landing approach. I really love just watching aircraft. When I was a kid, we used to go to Idlewild (now JFK) and spend the better part of the day on the observation deck watching the activity. We'd also go into the futuristic TWA terminal just because!

Mr_Shiftright

They tore that down didn't they?

imidazol97

The car at the far middle right looks alike a 56 Mercury with a 1956 DeSoto next to it.
This looks like one of the pictures in the mystery car topic or obscure cars topic where
people try to identify the vehicles in pictures.

stickguy

GG, it is amazing the car is still doing that, and Caddy fought so hard.

Just ask to take your "new" one while they finish up the paperwork!

stickguy

that terminal looks like the rear view of a 59 impala.

PF_Flyer

Ooo.. another car rich movie is on! It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

explorerx4

@graphicguy,
That vapor valve (purge valve) kind of makes sense. My Fusion had that go bad and it ran rough and stalled a couple of times on my way to the dealer. It had to warm up a bit before the symptoms became evident.
They diagnosed it in a few minutes, but it took 2 weeks to get the part.

In the late 80's, we went to China Lake for a wedding and I saw a pilot getting out of an F-86 while my friend was taking us around the base.

isellhondas

You guys remeinded me about how much I don't miss my corporate days with constant flights.

I once hed to sleep on a conveyor belt at Stapleton when a snow storm hit. All hotel rooms were booked.

San Diego is the airport pilots dislike the most. It's a tricky landing and the newer parking structure made this much worse. Juneau was nasty. I once got stuck there for four days when heavy fog made it impossible to fly.

Then there was the near crash one hot day leaving Reno.

I could go on and on.

At least the company paid for three club rooms for me. United, Alaska and Delta.

I like flying Alaska the best but Delta's club rooms included free booze. I don't know if they still do.

snakeweasel

robr2 said:

snakeweasel said:

Are you aware of the fan theory that James Bond is not a person but a code name for the particular agent filling the position. That's how he has been active for so many years.

Except that theory is blown out of the water by a scene in Skyfall.

Never saw Skyfall, explain please.

Spoiler Alert - Bond goes back to his childhood home and they show the family cemetery with the name Bond on the headstones. 

It would seem to dispel that theory, maybe the producers put that in to address that theory. However it is possible that the theory is true and the current Bond just happens to have the same name or comes from a family that had the name Bond.

Michaell

imidazol97 said:

PF_Flyer said:

I kinda like swooping down over people's pools in San Diego

I enjoyed seeing golfers trying to make swings while the DC-8 made a low long approach over the golf course near the runway in Port Columbus long ago. Must be like playing tournament with the MetLife blimp overhead buzzing all the time. I was distracted by the truckers on I-70 blowing their horns to distract golfers on one course I played.

Growing up, I would play golf with my dad, uncle and cousin at the golf course on a Navy air base. Course wasn't more than a couple hundred yards from the main runway. Always fun trying to hit an approach shot when a P-3 Orion or F-14 were taking off.

snakeweasel

Michaell said:

So glad I don't fly for business any more. Lately it's been DEN - LAX when I go see my family. Or, BUR if the price is right.

I hated O'Hare with a passion. Never flew into Midway, so can't compare the two.

It's been a while since I have been to O'Hare and I use Midway a lot, Midway is easier to get around. Plus currently it is a lot easier for me to get to (much closer).

snakeweasel

berri said:

Down the road. ORD may get better if they can get through the politics and go to a more parallel runway pattern like ATL. A big issue at ORD is intersecting runways, which they are trying to eliminate, but the public is protesting changes in noise patterns and that is holding some of that effort up.

My sister lives just west of O'Hare and is affected by the parallel runways. In the past she had a flight path going over the neighborhood about a block north of her, now they have that one and another about a block south of them. So now the noise has doubled, she says its airport noise in stereo.

robr2

Mr_Shiftright said:

They tore that down didn't they?

No, no, no. It's going to be converted into the TWA Flight Center Hotel. 500 rooms will be added on behind it in a low slung building and the terminal will house the lobby, 6-8 restaurants, and meeting space. There will also be a 10,000 sq. ft. observation deck.

snakeweasel

stever said:

abacomike said:

Of all the airports I hated to fly into, it was San Diego (Lindberg). Additionally, having only one runway made flying in there rough. If you flew in over the city, it was always a steep drop from the hills/mts. into the airport.

I have fun memories of that airport - not from flying in but from my BIL's wedding. They got married in their rooftop apartment on the flightpath after sundown. The jets would roar overhead every few minutes and their landing lights would shine right through the apartment. It was very Star Warzy. Reminded me of all the catfish houses on the Tennessee River when the barges floating by would light up the dining room.

I used to live right under a flight path for O'Hare and had that experience, about every 90 seconds or so a plane would come by so low you could almost make out the faces of people looking through the windows. We were about 3.5 miles or less from the end of the runway.

Now I work with a lady who lives next to Midway. There is no buffer between residential homes and the airport, there are homes literally within 100 yards of the end of runways. Several years ago there was a plane that ran out of runway before it could stop and skidded of the runway. That planes nose ended up in this ladies next door neighbors yard.

stickguy

had a walk down memory lane today. For some reason, my wife dug out our photo album that has wedding pictures, honeymoon and the first few years after. Have not seen this probably in 2 decades. So I leafed through, and found a few car pictures I did not know existed.

a couple of our 323 (but I have more of those). The rare ones were the 1985 Civic S and 1979 Celica LB that I had in the late 80s, and not for all that long in either case. The Celica really was a short timer (a few months). I think the Civic lasted about 1 year? Was going through a lot of spare cars in those days!

snakeweasel

PF_Flyer said:

They always get worried when I hang out at the airport with my airband scanner, or if I park on the road under the landing approach. I really love just watching aircraft. When I was a kid, we used to go to Idlewild (now JFK) and spend the better part of the day on the observation deck watching the activity. We'd also go into the futuristic TWA terminal just because!

I used to live near O'Hare and along Irving Park road which runs along the southern boarder of the airport between the airport and a railroad yard so the entire length was pretty much open road with wide shoulders. It used to be that you could see at least a dozen cars along the side of the road watching the planes take off and land.

abacomike

Back in the late 1980's, was in New Orleans at a conference.  I had a flight back to O'Hare at 2:00 PM, but I received a phone call at my hotel from Delta that due to heavy snow in Chicago, they had cancelled my flight.  They said I should go to MSY and check in with Delta for a possible later flight.  They expected the snow to curtail to flurries later in the afternoon.  So, luggage in tow, I took a cab to the airport and checked in at Delta.  They told me the last flight they had to O'Hare had been cancelled.  So they got me on a Northwest flight that was due to leave at 7:00 PM.  I had a few drinks and dinner on Delta's tab and boarded the Boeing 727 on time.  The cockpit crew announced that it was still snowing, but that by the time we reached Chicago, they expected O'Hare to be accepting incoming flights.  That announcement that O'Hare had not yet reopened but we were leaving anyway was not very reassuring to me or the 8 other passengers on the plane.

We took off and the drinks were on the house.  They served a nice meal and it was a fairly smooth flight.  The captain kept us updated throughout the flight about whether O'Hare was open to traffic.  About 2+ hours into the flight, the captain announced we were starting our decent into the Chicago area and that only one runway had been cleared of snow (18" had fallen throughout the day) and we had been cleared to land on 32L (IIRC).  

So, we could feel the decent and I looked out of my window and could not see a thing.  All of a sudden, the plane started to climb and the engines were running at "take off thrust"!  Captain tells us we had been diverted to Milwaukee.  Then, 15 minutes later, the cockpit announced we had been diverted to Rochester.  I said to the passengers near me that going to New York was unexpected.  Of course, about an hour later, the captain announced we were cleared into Rochester, Minnesota.

Up to that point in my life, I had never been in Minnesota - and was not particularly excited about flying into Rochester in February - I had heard stories about how cold it gets up there in the dead of winter.

In any case, we finally land.  The plane stops and I see a truck pulling up to the front exit door with stairway attached.  They had no "gangway" at that time in Rochester's terminal - you had to walk to the gate.  It was around 12;00 AM, flurries, etc.  I stand by the exit door - it opens - I took two steps out the exit door and my lips froze together.  I sneezed and a small snow storm formed around my head.  It wasn't just cold - It was the Arctic Circle - 31 degrees below zero without the windchill.  That was my first and last trip to Minnesota.

Next day they put me on a flight to O'Hare and got home at 3:00 PM with 18-20 inches of snow on the ground.  But at least it was a balmy 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

berri

that terminal looks like the rear view of a 59 impala

I like that analogy

berri

San Diego is the airport pilots dislike the most

There may be one they like even less just a bit up the road, John Wayne (SNA) in Orange County. Almost ridiculous noise abatement rules and procedures.

berri

In the old days when airlines were more likely to go their own way, Northwest was usually the last to shut down due to weather. Heck, their pilots spent a lot of time in places like the Dakota's and Montana, so they knew bad weather!

driver100

snakeweasel said:

robr2 said:

snakeweasel said:

Are you aware of the fan theory that James Bond is not a person but a code name for the particular agent filling the position. That's how he has been active for so many years.

Except that theory is blown out of the water by a scene in Skyfall.

Never saw Skyfall, explain please.

Spoiler Alert - Bond goes back to his childhood home and they show the family cemetery with the name Bond on the headstones. 

It would seem to dispel that theory, maybe the producers put that in to address that theory. However it is possible that the theory is true and the current Bond just happens to have the same name or comes from a family that had the name Bond.

What are the odds of that?

driver100

We had a discussion after tennis today about which American car had a rear window that 1) was on a reverse slant, and 2) the center of the rear window could go up and down?

Another question, what year did this appear for the first time?

Answers tomorrow.........

Mr_Shiftright

I just love the evil genius of the new Airlines Business Model.

First they make flying miserable as possible...crowded, lousy food (if any), baggage charges, shrinking the permissable size of carry-ons, etc.

Then, they offer you a way out of the very Hell they created by selling you back the amenities they took away....more leg room, business class seating, lounge privileges, wi-fi, headsets, food, etc.

Then (wait, it gets better), once they cancel your flight and leave you stranded, there's a hotel right next to the terminal so they can torture you again tomorrow.

It's brilliant, really.

robr2 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

They tore that down didn't they?

No, no, no. It's going to be converted into the TWA Flight Center Hotel. 500 rooms will be added on behind it in a low slung building and the terminal will house the lobby, 6-8 restaurants, and meeting space. There will also be a 10,000 sq. ft. observation deck.

berri

which American car had a rear window that 1) was on a reverse slant, and 2) the center of the rear window could go up and down?


Well the first use on a production car that I recall was the 57 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser, followed in 58 by the Lincoln Continental. But I'll guess that answer is too obvious, and therefore incorrect.

abacomike

driver100 said:

We had a discussion after tennis today about which American car had a rear window that 1) was on a reverse slant, and 2) the center of the rear window could go up and down? Another question, what year did this appear for the first time? Answers tomorrow.........

It was a Mercury - 1963 Monterey - right?

They nickname the rear window "the breezeway".  I remember it vividly.  Our neighbor in New York had one!

jwm40517

My father had a 63 Mercury like that, I believe it was a S-55, may be wrong on that but it was the bucket seat version like my 63 1/2 ford 500-XL Way different slant on the rear window.

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

snakeweasel said:

robr2 said:

snakeweasel said:

Are you aware of the fan theory that James Bond is not a person but a code name for the particular agent filling the position. That's how he has been active for so many years.

Except that theory is blown out of the water by a scene in Skyfall.

Never saw Skyfall, explain please.

Spoiler Alert - Bond goes back to his childhood home and they show the family cemetery with the name Bond on the headstones. 

It would seem to dispel that theory, maybe the producers put that in to address that theory. However it is possible that the theory is true and the current Bond just happens to have the same name or comes from a family that had the name Bond.

What are the odds of that?

What are the odds of Booths brother savings Lincolns son?

The point is that stranger things have happened, and will continue to happen.

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

We had a discussion after tennis today about which American car had a rear window that 1) was on a reverse slant, and 2) the center of the rear window could go up and down?

Another question, what year did this appear for the first time?

Answers tomorrow.........

Mercury Monterey in 1963, however the "breezeway" window first appeared in the '57 Mercury Turnpike but it wasn't slanted backwards.

driver100

Mr_Shiftright said:

I just love the evil genius of the new Airlines Business Model.

First they make flying miserable as possible...crowded, lousy food (if any), baggage charges, shrinking the permissable size of carry-ons, etc.

Then, they offer you a way out of the very Hell they created by selling you back the amenities they took away....more leg room, business class seating, lounge privileges, wi-fi, headsets, food, etc.

Then (wait, it gets better), once they cancel your flight and leave you stranded, there's a hotel right next to the terminal so they can torture you again tomorrow.

It's brilliant, really.

robr2 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

They tore that down didn't they?

No, no, no. It's going to be converted into the TWA Flight Center Hotel. 500 rooms will be added on behind it in a low slung building and the terminal will house the lobby, 6-8 restaurants, and meeting space. There will also be a 10,000 sq. ft. observation deck.

Mr S......My feelings exactly. I hate going anywhere on a plane....I think they try to torture me and make the whole thing as bad as possible. You pay to be treated like cattle!

driver100

berri said:

which American car had a rear window that 1) was on a reverse slant, and 2) the center of the rear window could go up and down?


Well the first use on a production car that I recall was the 57 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser, followed in 58 by the Lincoln Continental. But I'll guess that answer is too obvious, and therefore incorrect.

You got it, although snake may be a little more officially correct. I recalled that it was a 65 Merc since my father owned one at the time. We liked that window, didn't fog up, didn't have to clear off the snow, and it made for a nice breeze with the window down.

I would say it did first appear on the 57 Merc Turnpike Cruiser:


Then it came back more sloped on the 63 to 68 Mercury:


Mike, those are the one's I thought of too. Snake says the 57 wasn't sloped enough to count, which is possible. Out of 6 guys who like cars only two in our group remembered those cars.

karhill1

Ah auto insurance.

I had and have insurance with GEICO. A couple of months ago, I received notice of my premium for two vehicles, BMW and Acura both new, of about $2,100 a year. I have been with this company for a decade. Up until this year, I had a daughter on my policy, now 23, but she left this year. So I was expecting a nice rate decrease, which did not happen.

I decided to take a look at rates from some other companies. I settled on a new policy with The Hartford for about $1,400 a year. A nice savings and the coverage was better, lower deductible.

I called GEICO to cancel the upcoming $2,100 policy. I was immediately turned over to a GEICO expert for my state. After a short period, the "expert" came back with a policy comparable to The Hartford at about $990 a year.

I had a similar experience with COMCAST. In June my monthly rate jumped $150. Of course I called COMCAST and was told my "special offer" period had ended. I was, of course, immediately offered a new rate which was less than my previous rate but had more premium channels.

One of my favorite gripes is XM radio and their "you need to call us to cancel" policy. They always tried to charge me full price until I call and tell them I wanted to cancel. Then they offer a six month plan for $25. But they always say I need to call to cancel or they will continue after six months for the full price. This time, I simply cancelled. I do not want to have to call them every six months.

I find it curious why these companies spend so much money trying to get customers yet invariably try to stick it to the customers they already have.

graphicguy

isellhondas said:

I like flying Alaska the best but Delta's club rooms included free booze. I don't know if they still do.

Delta still has free booze. It used to be free for anything. Now, it's just beer and some wines. They do have some pretty good snacks, though.

graphicguy

karhill...I make it a habit of shopping car insruance and TV (Cable vs Sat) every couple of years for the very reason you state....premium creep. It's been so long since I've had an accident I don't recall the circumstances. So, I'm pure profit for them. Yet, they want to flog me even more.

Cable and Sat? Those companies will fight tooth and nail to keep you in the fold. I like that.

So, my wife has been talking about spending a month in China before the end of the year. She lived there for a bit when she was teaching English to Chinese students wanting to learn it. She made friends there, but hasn't been back in over a decade.

I'm not real fond of the idea, and although might be interesting for a week visit, I'm not game for a month visit. But, she's over 21 and can handle it.

That means, I have some free time, sans wife. A quick browse of some vacation options, found out that some of the cruise ships are offereing singles cabins.

So, looks like I'm cruising in December solo on what looks to be a large ship, Anthem of the Seas. Really looking forward to it.

graphicguy

While I was at the dealership yesterday to pick up my loaner car, they had this sitting in the showroom. The pictures really don't do it justice.....

http://www.jeffwylerfairfieldgm.com/VehicleDetails/new-2016-Cadillac-ATS_V_Coupe-ATS_V_Coupe-Fairfield-OH/2642876893

houdini1

driver100 said:

We had a discussion after tennis today about which American car had a rear window that 1) was on a reverse slant, and 2) the center of the rear window could go up and down?

Another question, what year did this appear for the first time?

Answers tomorrow.........

We had a Mercury that had that feature. I think it was a '59. Beautiful car.

jpp75

Michaell said:

So glad I don't fly for business any more. Lately it's been DEN - LAX when I go see my family. Or, BUR if the price is right.

I hated O'Hare with a passion. Never flew into Midway, so can't compare the two.

When I lived in Chicago I always tried to fly out of Midway. O'Hare is a nightmare.