Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

stickguy

OF, if I had gone into used car business, would probably have made more money. And had a ton more fun!

as to the clutch, I can't wait to try it out. Doing it now however, might lead to trouble. Have not driven a stick mustang in years, and that was many generations ago.

funny thing is, of the dozens of sticks I have owned (the user name didn't come from nowhere!), by far the worst clutch (in terms of being overly stiff, to the point of killing my leg in traffic) was my 2000 Subaru Legacy wagon. No clue why it was so stiff. The Mazda 626 I had at the same time was like butter. could stop and go all day in that without a bother.

I always loved big trucks. When I moved to Philly in 1986 rented a big Ford from Ryder (an F700?). that was fun. once I could get it started.

tommister2

mako1a said:

I sold my truck last week. Wasn't using it much. Paid $8800 for it 3 years ago. Sold it for $6k. Nice clean truck, but lots of miles (218000).

Congrats! Are you shopping for another truck now?

mako1a

Are you shopping for another truck now? No, but I'm on the inside track of an oldfarmer special. My local mechanic sometimes gets vehicles that don't get paid for and are sold auction style. I spotted a Volvo XC90 2005 a couple months ago and inquired. Owners daughter says she'll let me know when the auction will be (after all the paperwork and notifications are cleared up). Very few people show up and even less with cash so I expect to get it for around $1500-2000 and it will require about $1200 in repairs. Body and interior are great, 4WD,leather. The only thing I don't like is it's black, but hey $3k for a $7or8k vehicle, why be fussy?

driver100

I found this letter in today's Car talk interesting (hope somebody else does too )

Dear Car Talk:

OK, I'm an old geezer. A relic. An antique. And whatever else describes "mature individuals." I still love my Mercury Grand Marquis. But, just like me, they don't make them anymore. I love being able to take everything I own when I go on vacation, including the kitchen sink. I like the rear-wheel drive, big V-8, comfortable ride, getting 26-28 mpg highway, the feel of being safe and protected by lots of steel, and being able to have every accessory available, and still pay less than $40,000 for the ride.

I realize they failed to change the body style for several decades, so the entire line went dormant. But what is available now that will replace my Mercury when I get ready to give up the one I have now? Great column! I get you guys every week in the paper, and look forward to your comments and advice.

ANSWER

Dormant? It went "dinosaurial."

Unfortunately, the Gran Marquis became badly outdated in many ways, and Ford Motor Company didn't see enough future sales to justify the investment in a redesign. Many of your fellow geezers, not to mention all of New York City's taxi drivers, join you in your grief, Charles.

There's nothing exactly like it out there now. But I'll make a few suggestions, and you can shop around and see what you like.

First, since the Grand Marquis bit the dust, I've noticed that a lot of taxi drivers have switched to Toyota Camry Hybrids. It's got the opposite of a large V-8: It has a four-cylinder engine, a battery pack and a supplemental electric motor. But it's got good power (200 hp), it's a full-size car, it's comfortable and safe, and it's got room for a kitchen sink or two. And by the way, it gets about 40 miles to the gallon, in town and on the highway.

If that's not quite big enough, you could step up to the Toyota Avalon, which is a little plusher and a little bigger. It's also available with a 40-mpg hybrid drivetrain

Another option would be a Chrysler 300. That's a rear-wheel-drive, American (actually, part German) sedan that you can still get with a big V-8 (you can get it with all-wheel drive, too, if you want to). It's got that lightweight steering feel that you love in your Grand Marquis, and it's fairly roomy.

The biggest downside is that the visibility is pretty bad. It has tall sides and narrow windows, and, after driving your Grand Marquis, you might feel like you're trying to see out of a bathtub in the 300. But try it and see.

Finally, you might try one of Ford Motor Company's full-size replacements for the Gran Marquis. Perhaps something like the Lincoln MKS, which is based on the Ford Fusion but will positively pamper your geezer butt, Charles.

Let us know what you decide, and how you like it.

NOTE: I would have said about the same, though some of those choices may cost more than $40k. Maybe a Taurus, Impala or Lucerne.

abacomike

driver100 said:

I found this letter in today's Car talk interesting (hope somebody else does too ) Dear Car Talk: OK, I'm an old geezer. A relic. An antique. And whatever else describes "mature individuals." I still love my Mercury Grand Marquis. But, just like me, they don't make them anymore. I love being able to take everything I own when I go on vacation, including the kitchen sink. I like the rear-wheel drive, big V-8, comfortable ride, getting 26-28 mpg highway, the feel of being safe and protected by lots of steel, and being able to have every accessory available, and still pay less than $40,000 for the ride. I realize they failed to change the body style for several decades, so the entire line went dormant. But what is available now that will replace my Mercury when I get ready to give up the one I have now? Great column! I get you guys every week in the paper, and look forward to your comments and advice. ANSWER Dormant? It went "dinosaurial." Unfortunately, the Gran Marquis became badly outdated in many ways, and Ford Motor Company didn't see enough future sales to justify the investment in a redesign. Many of your fellow geezers, not to mention all of New York City's taxi drivers, join you in your grief, Charles. There's nothing exactly like it out there now. But I'll make a few suggestions, and you can shop around and see what you like. First, since the Grand Marquis bit the dust, I've noticed that a lot of taxi drivers have switched to Toyota Camry Hybrids. It's got the opposite of a large V-8: It has a four-cylinder engine, a battery pack and a supplemental electric motor. But it's got good power (200 hp), it's a full-size car, it's comfortable and safe, and it's got room for a kitchen sink or two. And by the way, it gets about 40 miles to the gallon, in town and on the highway. If that's not quite big enough, you could step up to the Toyota Avalon, which is a little plusher and a little bigger. It's also available with a 40-mpg hybrid drivetrain Another option would be a Chrysler 300. That's a rear-wheel-drive, American (actually, part German) sedan that you can still get with a big V-8 (you can get it with all-wheel drive, too, if you want to). It's got that lightweight steering feel that you love in your Grand Marquis, and it's fairly roomy. The biggest downside is that the visibility is pretty bad. It has tall sides and narrow windows, and, after driving your Grand Marquis, you might feel like you're trying to see out of a bathtub in the 300. But try it and see. Finally, you might try one of Ford Motor Company's full-size replacements for the Gran Marquis. Perhaps something like the Lincoln MKS, which is based on the Ford Fusion but will positively pamper your geezer butt, Charles. Let us know what you decide, and how you like it. NOTE: I would have said about the same, though some of those choices may cost more than $40k. Maybe a Taurus, Impala or Lucerne.

This Charles sounds like he could live in my condo community.  There must be a hundred or more Mercury Marquis's still chugging around my area.  

Most at of the older folks buy Toyota Camry's or Hyundai Sonatas or Buick La Crosses to replace their Mercury cruisers when they implode.  I remember that even my Dad owned one in the early 90's (a brougham).  Like riding on a flying carpet.

nyccarguy

RWD - Lots of room - under $40K? Charger

carnaught

abacomike said:

If I was going to buy a Mustang, only the Premium GT V8 would be acceptable - that's why you buy a Mustang - RAW POWER!  Just my opinion.  

Trust me Mike, the GT is better on paper than in practice for someone in the mature age group. The engine is just too loud and intrusive. If the CLS500 was too much for you, so would this, but for slightly different reasons. You would not keep it for long. It's more suitable for the young-uns like NY.

abacomike

carnaught said:

If I was going to buy a Mustang, only the Premium GT V8 would be acceptable - that's why you buy a Mustang - RAW POWER!  Just my opinion.  

Trust me Mike, the GT is better on paper than in practice for someone in the mature age group. The engine is just too loud and intrusive. If the CLS500 was too much for you, so would this, but for slightly different reasons. You would not keep it for long. It's more suitable for the young-uns like NY.

The most important word in my post is "IF" I was going to buy...!  I tried to sit in one a couple of months ago and had problems getting in and out of it.  No way would I buy one for that reason - too chlostrophobic for me.  But I do love a good "ROAR" out of an engine every so often!  

stickguy

If that old geezer likes that GM so much, just keep it. Why get a new one? A lot cheaper to do a basic refresh on the old one. They can go a bazillion miles, and are cheap to fix. And highly unlikely he is driving a ton of miles.

my favorite used car place just had a pretty nice looking one for only $1,000. So what it has a 1/4 million miles on it! Barely broken in. And in the pictures, never would have guessed. But seems to have been sold. I think it was a 1999.

roadburner

snakeweasel said:

When you go to the movies do you buy the extra large drink and extra large popcorn knowing full well that you will only consume half of it and throw away the rest?

Nope- I eat/drink it all and then go back for refills; a ponycar without a V8 is an automotive crime against nature- one almost as bad as a Miata with an automatic. If I do get a ponycar it will take at least 425hp to catch my eye...

roadburner

carnaught said:

Trust me Mike, the GT is better on paper than in practice for someone in the mature age group. The engine is just too loud and intrusive. If the CLS500 was too much for you, so would this, but for slightly different reasons. You would not keep it for long. It's more suitable for the young-uns like NY.

You have got to be joking- right? I'm 58 and I thought the two 2015 Mustang GTs that I drove were much too quiet.

oldfarmer50

carnaught said:

abacomike said:

If I was going to buy a Mustang, only the Premium GT V8 would be acceptable - that's why you buy a Mustang - RAW POWER!  Just my opinion.  

Trust me Mike, the GT is better on paper than in practice for someone in the mature age group. The engine is just too loud and intrusive. If the CLS500 was too much for you, so would this, but for slightly different reasons. You would not keep it for long. It's more suitable for the young-uns like NY.

Interesting comment on the engine noise. I find mine to be too quiet.

oldfarmer50

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

I found this letter in today's Car talk interesting (hope somebody else does too )

Dear Car Talk:

OK, I'm an old geezer. A relic. An antique. And whatever else describes "mature individuals." I still love my Mercury Grand Marquis. But, just like me, they don't make them anymore. I love being able to take everything I own when I go on vacation, including the kitchen sink. I like the rear-wheel drive, big V-8, comfortable ride, getting 26-28 mpg highway, the feel of being safe and protected by lots of steel, and being able to have every accessory available, and still pay less than $40,000 for the ride.

I realize they failed to change the body style for several decades, so the entire line went dormant. But what is available now that will replace my Mercury when I get ready to give up the one I have now? Great column! I get you guys every week in the paper, and look forward to your comments and advice.

ANSWER

Dormant? It went "dinosaurial."

Unfortunately, the Gran Marquis became badly outdated in many ways, and Ford Motor Company didn't see enough future sales to justify the investment in a redesign. Many of your fellow geezers, not to mention all of New York City's taxi drivers, join you in your grief, Charles.

There's nothing exactly like it out there now. But I'll make a few suggestions, and you can shop around and see what you like.

First, since the Grand Marquis bit the dust, I've noticed that a lot of taxi drivers have switched to Toyota Camry Hybrids. It's got the opposite of a large V-8: It has a four-cylinder engine, a battery pack and a supplemental electric motor. But it's got good power (200 hp), it's a full-size car, it's comfortable and safe, and it's got room for a kitchen sink or two. And by the way, it gets about 40 miles to the gallon, in town and on the highway.

If that's not quite big enough, you could step up to the Toyota Avalon, which is a little plusher and a little bigger. It's also available with a 40-mpg hybrid drivetrain

Another option would be a Chrysler 300. That's a rear-wheel-drive, American (actually, part German) sedan that you can still get with a big V-8 (you can get it with all-wheel drive, too, if you want to). It's got that lightweight steering feel that you love in your Grand Marquis, and it's fairly roomy.

The biggest downside is that the visibility is pretty bad. It has tall sides and narrow windows, and, after driving your Grand Marquis, you might feel like you're trying to see out of a bathtub in the 300. But try it and see.

Finally, you might try one of Ford Motor Company's full-size replacements for the Gran Marquis. Perhaps something like the Lincoln MKS, which is based on the Ford Fusion but will positively pamper your geezer butt, Charles.

Let us know what you decide, and how you like it.

NOTE: I would have said about the same, though some of those choices may cost more than $40k. Maybe a Taurus, Impala or Lucerne.

This Charles sounds like he could live in my condo community.  There must be a hundred or more Mercury Marquis's still chugging around my area.  

Most at of the older folks buy Toyota Camry's or Hyundai Sonatas or Buick La Crosses to replace their Mercury cruisers when they implode.  I remember that even my Dad owned one in the early 90's (a brougham).  Like riding on a flying carpet.

In Florida there are tons of low milage GMs on Craigslist. It doesn't matter what year since they were pretty identical for about 20 years. Here's a good example:



http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/5363132770.html

Basically a new car for under $6k.

ab348

With the rare Florida half-vinyl landau roof option to boot!

iluvmysephia1

Our son loves the older fullsize Ford/Lincoln-Mercury sedans like that. He's in his mid-30's and he's as happy as a clam in one of them.

You have got to be joking- right? I'm 58 and I thought the two 2015 Mustang GTs that I drove were much too quiet.


Yeah, loud 2015 Ford Mustang GT exhaust straight-from-the-factory? Cherry bomb muffler type loud? I find that hard to believe.

stickguy

Pass on that GM. It only gets 11.6 MPG!

abacomike

The retired folks who own Mercury Grand Marquis's will have them for the rest of their lives. In my building alone, two residents have one. The first one is a 1998 white with black vinyl roof (he has his vinyl roof refurbished every year to keep it looking like new) and it has 61,000+ miles on it. He uses it to go shopping and to the doctor - that's it. I think he has macular degeneration in one of his eyes so he doesn't drive much at all.

The other resident has a 2001 silver Mercury Grand Marquis with a "coach" vinyl roof (half the top). It is also immaculate with only 47,000 miles on it. Same story - uses it for shopping, doctors and that's it. He told me he is going to have the car buried with him at the cemetery (jokingly thank goodness). He refuses to consider anything else because there is noting on the market that would make him happier than he is now.

Both neighbors religiously rotate their tires, have oil changes, etc. They take better care of their cars than they do their apartments, trust me!

abacomike

stickguy said:

Pass on that GM. It only gets 11.6 MPG!

I don't think the older folks who own these cars care what the mpg's are, even when prices were over $3.00 a gallon. The amount of driving they do is so insignificant, it really doesn't matter to them. I drive about 8000+ miles a year which is more than three times what these guys drive a year. I wonder how often they visit a gas station to put gas in the car? Every other month?

suydam

They've got to be pretty old. everyone I know from the Boomer generation grew up driving smaller cars as adults. Midsize is as big as we get and those are starting to look too large to me. I think the ancient seniors driving boats are starting to leave the planet.

Related to that, leaving the gym yesterday I noticed that every single vehicle parked on the street was a compact or smaller SUV. Among others I saw a Rogue, a couple of CRVs, 2 Ford Escapes, a Saturn VUE, a CX5, and of course my Encore.

stickguy

yeah, compact CUVs are the hot ticket now. Actually makes a lot of sense to me, especially if you only have 1 car. Not too large, good view sitting up a little, very flexible for cargo, hold a lot in a small space. Kind of a swiss army knife, and AWD if you actually need it! I could live with a CRV as family car (we basically do, with the RDX) but a Civic would not be practical enough.

abacomike

@suydam:

These folks I am talking about are the parents of baby boomers - mostly WWII vets born before 1940.  They love their "cruisers"!  

suydam

I agree, but there are getting to be fewer and fewer of them. My own father passed away a year ago at the age of 93. However, he was not a fan of large cars. Drove his MGs till he could no longer get into and out of them. His last car (inherited by one of my kids) was a mid-90s Honda Accord.

Mr_Shiftright

When you get to be a certain age, entering and exiting the car becomes a big deal, and ease of entry and exit is a primary factor in the choice you make. And that doesn't mean a large car necessarily.

verdugo

nyccarguy said:

My best friend leased a Wrangler in May of 2014.  He took the hard top off about 3 days after he got it & drove it with the top down almost every day that Spring & summer (unless it was raining or unworldly sticky & hot).  He put the hard top back on around the 1st or 2nd week in October.  He traded it in a month later.  after 6 months he got full value (remaining lease payments plus buyout) for it on a trade in.

I got a 2008 Wrangler Rubicon with a few options. It came out to $38k (I'm not sure if that was before or after tax.)

We traded it in 3 years and 2 months later with 24k miles and a pretty big ding in the bumper (wish I could say it was off roading. Truth is I hit a lamp post making a U-turn.) We got $29k for it.

I was very pleasantly surprised.

Mr_Shiftright

Well, a lamp post is technically "off road". So you're good.

driver100

"oldfarmer50">

In Florida there are tons of low milage GMs on Craigslist. It doesn't matter what year since they were pretty identical for about 20 years. Here's a good example:



http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/5363132770.html

Basically a new car for under $6k.


Looks like a great buy. Only thing floor carpet looks pretty grungy and passenger door doesn't close....and, it was owned by a politician!

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

Pass on that GM. It only gets 11.6 MPG!

Ha ha. Maybe the owner was stuck in traffic. My 4.6L 4 valve gets 30 on the highway and a solid 22 all around.

henryn

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

Pass on that GM. It only gets 11.6 MPG!

Ha ha. Maybe the owner was stuck in traffic. My 4.6L 4 valve gets 30 on the highway and a solid 22 all around.

I owned a 2004 Grand Marquis, and it never got that kind of mileage. More like 20 or 21 on the highway, and 14 in town. And I always keep written records, record every fill up, do the math myself (never trust a lie-o-meter).

My new 2015 F150 is actually doing 20 mpg overall, for the first 1200 miles. Which sames amazing to me.

driver100

abacomike"


The most important word in my post is "IF" I was going to buy...!  I tried to sit in one a couple of months ago and had problems getting in and out of it.  No way would I buy one for that reason - too chlostrophobic for me.  But I do love a good "ROAR" out of an engine every so often!

Not to put words in anyone's mouth but maybe what you meant was if you were like Jay Leno and could own a few dozen cars a Mustang GT would be in your garage....for those days when you had no aches and pains.

I would love one if I was in that situation.

graphicguy

mako1a said:

I sold my truck last week. Wasn't using it much. Paid $8800 for it 3 years ago. Sold it for $6k. Nice clean truck, but lots of miles (218000).

Good looking truck. Surprised it's that miled up given its condition!

graphicguy

Just adding educational mataral that may save your life (especially you, OldFarmer, given you're a pro driver)......

http://youtu.be/g5c7JgIUcFY

Mr_Shiftright

I love my truck more than bacon itself.

abacomike

driver100 said:

abacomike" The most important word in my post is "IF" I was going to buy...!  I tried to sit in one a couple of months ago and had problems getting in and out of it.  No way would I buy one for that reason - too chlostrophobic for me.  But I do love a good "ROAR" out of an engine every so often!

Not to put words in anyone's mouth but maybe what you meant was if you were like Jay Leno and could own a few dozen cars a Mustang GT would be in your garage....for those days when you had no aches and pains. I would love one if I was in that situation.

I'll agree with those "words in my mouth", driver.  Add to that a Stingray, a Porsche, a Rolls Royce Ghost and a Harley Davidson touring bike and I'm set for life!  

oldfarmer50

henryn said:

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

Pass on that GM. It only gets 11.6 MPG!

Ha ha. Maybe the owner was stuck in traffic. My 4.6L 4 valve gets 30 on the highway and a solid 22 all around.

I owned a 2004 Grand Marquis, and it never got that kind of mileage. More like 20 or 21 on the highway, and 14 in town. And I always keep written records, record every fill up, do the math myself (never trust a lie-o-meter).

My new 2015 F150 is actually doing 20 mpg overall, for the first 1200 miles. Which sames amazing to me.

Maybe different gearing. Mine has an "economy" 3.09 rear which takes some of the off the line guts away. Make for better cruising milage.

Maybe my lie-o-meter isn't being honest.

fezo

Hi, folks. Don't mind me. Have been in a slump. Will catch up. Right now I need a nap, but not to worry. It's from too much fun last night.

Was at Sloan Kettering Monday. Everything is looking good but other tests they took blood for take a week to get a result. a key one takes two weeks. If all goes well by next week they'll step up the vaccine regimen. I think come spring I'll be OK for the first time in a dozen years. Definitely a bit of Rip Van Winkle there.

The rotator cuff is coming along. Don't have to do crazy ways to grab the seat belt anymore.

Well, I did have one issue with a seat belt in the Miata which is still up in the air as to whether they total it or not. If they don't no problem. $500. If they do I want to see if I can collect the money, add a little of my own and get it done. Great body shop. Worst case scenario is I pocket the insurance check. The reason things are going so long is they need to tear the front down, particularly the front bumper cover. Looking for hidden damage, If they only find a little no problem; a lot problem. A little tap up front. You don't buy Miatas for their durability.

graphicguy

Good to hear from you Fezo.....

roadburner

graphicguy said:

Good to hear from you Fezo.....

Ditto!

abacomike

@fezo:

Hope those blood tests are in normal ranges, fezo.  I was a little worried we hadn't heard from you in such a long time.

Good to know you were out of sorts due to partying, though!  

ab348

fezo said:

Hi, folks. Don't mind me. Have been in a slump. Will catch up. Right now I need a nap, but not to worry. It's from too much fun last night.

Hey, good to see you! Good luck with the medicos and the Miata. I'm moving a little slow today too, thanks to a bit too much Crown Royal Northern Harvest last night and the cats waking me up too early today. It's that time of year!

tjc78

henryn said:

Pass on that GM. It only gets 11.6 MPG!

Ha ha. Maybe the owner was stuck in traffic. My 4.6L 4 valve gets 30 on the highway and a solid 22 all around.

I owned a 2004 Grand Marquis, and it never got that kind of mileage. More like 20 or 21 on the highway, and 14 in town. And I always keep written records, record every fill up, do the math myself (never trust a lie-o-meter). My new 2015 F150 is actually doing 20 mpg overall, for the first 1200 miles. Which sames amazing to me.

Those numbers are pretty close to my 04.  I average a dead solid 18 mpg overall with a 60-40 hwy/city split.  I'm also not easy on it either.   I've pulled 25 on a long highway ride at 75 with the AC on the whole time.

As for GMs and Town Cars you either love them or hate them.  I grew up with them.  Pop had an 82 Mark VI Givenchy, 85 Town Car, 89 Grand Marquis (ended up my first car), 93 & 98 Town Cars and the 04 GM which is also now mine.  My uncles also had various forms of the Panther platform as well.  

berri

I was driving down I-88 through Northern Illinois

I know that stretch of Interstate. It's the one that is often very empty, but loaded with Illinois State Police cars...and they wonder why the state is almost bankrupt

oldfarmer50

graphicguy said:

Just adding educational mataral that may save your life (especially you, OldFarmer, given you're a pro driver)......

http://youtu.be/g5c7JgIUcFY

You know, I'm pretty sure that I saw that film in Driver's Ed when I was 16.

I'm almost ashamed to admit it but the class favorite was the bloody crash film that hoped to scare you into being careful. You know the one with the pre-airbag steering column impailments and headless drivers.

stickguy

such a different world. Not the inattentiveness (if anything, that is worse). but the cars.

when they were towing the 4 door chevy away after the big accident, with the front pushed in, you can see the steering wheel was snapped in half. obviously by the driver, who was probably a mess. Today, you would just see a limp airbag, and the driver walks away.

berri

I remember back in high school when they would show these somewhat gruesome old Michigan State Highway Patrol movies of accidents. May have impacted the girls, but the guys were always "alright, some car action". Do you remember those old coin games by the pinball machines at the stores where you'd pop in a coin, sit in the drivers seat while the film rolled and be scored on how many mistakes you made? We always tried to smack up everything we could.

berri

Fezo - hang in there Mazda kid !

fezo

Hey, anyone who want toss a nice donation to the Miata restoration fund, (my wife's been out of work since the end of May, does start again on Jan. 4 so that's good) the Fezo "please save my Miata fund is open. Depends on what they find behind the front bumper cover. If it's mostly OK the insurance will cover it except for $500. If not and the difference between what they'll pay me to total it isn't too bad I'll pick that up. If not expect some "Guys, please help me save my Miata please," posts. Too bad it won't be done for a couple of weeks even if we get the OK because it's supposed to be 67 on Christmas Eve (thank you El Nino, this is my kind of December). Would love to drive around blasting Christmas Carols. Not the same in the 5.

Yeah, I had fallen into kind of a hole which happens in a long recovery. This time I seem to have pulled myself out of it without a few visits to the therapist The fact that I seem to be working PT on my own and that left rotator cuff helps. Makes one feel line one accomplishing something.

Still waiting on the further tests. I expect by spring I'll have a full immune system and a repaired rotator cuff. Then I can hunt down that snake with the $750 a pill daraprim. I needed that drug for a long time being a toxoplasmosis baby. Even at $13 a pill it was over 1300% over cost. People in the health care field that are only in it for the profit really need to find another line of work. Like robbing banks.

qbrozen

mako1a said:

Are you shopping for another truck now? No, but I'm on the inside track of an oldfarmer special. My local mechanic sometimes gets vehicles that don't get paid for and are sold auction style. I spotted a Volvo XC90 2005 a couple months ago and inquired. Owners daughter says she'll let me know when the auction will be (after all the paperwork and notifications are cleared up). Very few people show up and even less with cash so I expect to get it for around $1500-2000 and it will require about $1200 in repairs. Body and interior are great, 4WD,leather. The only thing I don't like is it's black, but hey $3k for a $7or8k vehicle, why be fussy?

Need to be careful on those. If it is a T6, those go through transmissions pretty frequently. And any AWD model will offer up transfer case fluid to your driveway by way of the rear output shaft seal. When the oil gets low, it overheats and its big bucks to replace.

PF_Flyer

fezo said:

Hi, folks. Don't mind me. Have been in a slump. Will catch up. Right now I need a nap, but not to worry. It's from too much fun last night.

Don't kid a kidder... you weren't in a slump, you were in Sloan Kettering or a Miata!

Merry, Merry, Happy Happy, or whatever other adjective floats your boat!

bwia

Hit and run 

While in Dominica I hit (brushed) a pedestrian. Apparently the colision was not serious as the pedestrian kept on walking and I kept on driving. 

Bad idea I know but at first I thought he banged on the vehicle because I was driving too close to the already tiny side walk. Thank God the collapsible passenger side mirror absorbed the impact.

As to cars in Guadeloupe, Dominica and St. Lucia, they are all small hatchbacks and SUVs. And as far as I  have noticed they all use regular gas that sells at $5.00 USD a gallon. Nonetheless, it's nice to see Mercedes Benz and BMW as airport taxis.

And this is for Mike. I saw the perfect woman - a Kim Kardashian prototype - only 10X better. She was about 5' 8" and carved out of marble, so to speak. Although I am not conversant in metrics  I would estimate her proportions to be 38-34-40. The dress was so tight it did not leave much to the imagination. Not sure if it is legal but with assets like these she should not be allowed to board the plane. 

andres3

ab348 said:

tommister2 said:

ab348, Have you ever explained why you are so defensive about GM? Did you retire from there or something? You seem to get so upset about anyone that has a problem with GM. Obviously I don't know you at all but it doesn't seem healthy.

I hope you don't think I'm bashing you. I really am just curious.

I don't get upset when people have problems with GM. People have problems with every car company.

I do get troubled by the constant bashing that GM takes here and elsewhere from a certain bunch of people. They seem to be held to a different standard. Why that is I can only speculate. I have been a GM customer for a long time, over 35 years. I have had other makes in that time also. The most troublesome and undependable car I have owned in that time was a new Toyota - go figure. I have known some GM cars to be troublesome, but that is true of any make. It happens. What I get riled about are posts like those from a certain member here whose username begins with "a" that are simply generalized bashing, constantly, based upon what exactly, I am not sure, which he seems to have taken to heart. That is something to really be curious about.

I'm glad GM has some 35 year fans such as you. It's actually a good thing as if there weren't at least some of you, then the GM subsidies and bailouts asked of each taxpayer for the GM fanboys warranties to stay in tact and alive would be even greater.

This isn't a generalized bash, I'm specifically upset I have to pay for warranty work (indirectly) through my tax payments for people that buy GM and Chrysler vehicles. I'm equally upset I have to pay for golden parachutes for a lot of wall street banks too. I just wish the GM fanboys would cut checks big enough to GM for their vehicles so that us taxpayers don't have to shoulder the burden.

My wife got her two $500 goodwill gift-cards from VW already; that was fast (as we didn't rush to sign up)! Still waiting on that "goodwill" check from Chrysler for the embarrassment their products caused in the 90's and early 2000's.