Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

fezo

Road signs are an issue all right. I used to be able to read them at further distance but I manage. Harder at night. I know the procedure is same day and you get a nice lens in your prescription. I told my wife this could save me a bunch since all of that is covered by insurance. I'm the guy who offsets a couple hundred perfectly healthy people in the coverage pool.

fezo

Gee, a 73 Dart could be a giggle if it weren't for the rust but without rust it wouldn't be a 73 Dart.

stickguy

I have not brought myself to stop and look yet. maybe this weekend. I think they want $1,800 for it based on the grease pencil on the window! Pale green, vinyl top, rusted rockers. Willing to bet it is a slant 6 automatic. Definite grandpa car.

now, a 340 Duster with a 4 speed? I could make that work!

stickguy

My Duster did have the lightweight package. that would be outer rear fenders that had completely rusted away, until my dad and I pop riveted some sheet metal there. The kid that bought it seemed impressed by that!

stever

@fezo, had mine done in my late 50s (lots of sun, both parents were smokers, yada yada). Wound up with a detachment in the left eye a few months later. Oh well, stuff happens, and I can mostly see okay after two repairs. Good friend's hubby just went through something similar; he's healing from a detachment a few months after his cataracts were done. The odds are good at around 1 in 1,000 but if you can wait, may as well.

I have several pair of glasses around here, mostly spares, that I got online from zennioptical.com. The best deal was some Rx ski goggles for like $40. Results vary, but it may be worth taking a flier on.

Happy New Year everyone! Tuning up with some Bailey's before the toasting with Uncle Jack.

stickguy

you west coasters are lucky. can watch the ball drop, say happy new year, and still be in bed by 10.

fezo

50s was a whole different situation. Major operation and hospitalization. Now you go in an office and out you go.

A friend of mine had a cataract operation in the mid 60s and it didn't work. She has really limited vision in that eye. That was still the major operation days. By the 80s or maybe even late 70s they figured out what they do now.

Michaell

stickguy said:

you west coasters are lucky. can watch the ball drop, say happy new year, and still be in bed by 10.

We get the ball drop on tape at midnight. 

stever

fezo said:

50s was a whole different situation.

My late 50s - like 6 or 8 years ago now.

Guess the chili will have to drop without us.... See y'all next year.

fezo

Oh, those 50s! Now you really have my confidence up.....

It's 2016! What's that in metric?

snakeweasel

To all my Edmunds friends;

Welcome to the 2,016th annual rat race.  

snakeweasel

fezo said:

Oh, those 50s! Now you really have my confidence up..... It's 2016! What's that in metric?

MMDCCLXIX A.U.C.

bwia

Happy New Year to all and Blessings for 2016

PF_Flyer

snakeweasel said:

To all my Edmunds friends;

Welcome to the 2,016th annual rat race.  

Perhaps the rats won't gain on us this year

Mr_Shiftright

If you win the rat race, you're still a rat.

fezo

snakeweasel said:

fezo said:

Oh, those 50s! Now you really have my confidence up.....

It's 2016! What's that in metric?

MMDCCLXIX A.U.C.

0000011111100000

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Just noticed that the ads between posts are sometimes running full TV commercials. There's one on right now where some blonde fro the old 30 Rock show is sitting on some guy's back drinking orange juice while he does push ups.

Maybe that's why the system is so glitchy.

I think you are right oldfarmer. It seems the ads make the pages take longer to appear. Oh well, the ads pay the freight....I can live with it.

Well we can all do our part by making shorter posts so they don't weigh as much and Edmunds will spend less on shipping them out to us.

snakeweasel

PF_Flyer said:

stever said:

We have company right now. Our Taos friends' older Subaru is throwing a check engine light. Our Texas friend connected his phone to the OBDII and his app grabbed the codes. Could be a bad gas cap since it is an older car unless it's something else related to the evap system. His app unfortunately cannot reset the CEL. I think some cars are already able to do all this just by tabbing through the dashboard screens.

Always keep CEL Reset Tape handy

Red Green would be proud.

Mr_Shiftright

Oh I thought that was to limit the car's speed

snakeweasel

Mr_Shiftright said:

Yes, but don't do that if it's blinking!

If it's blinking is the car in disco mode?

Mr_Shiftright

No, the CEL then changes to a series of $$$$ signs.

snakeweasel

berri said:

I hope at some point buyers start letting the auto companies know they want some style, not over the top ugly nor boring look a like.

Style like this?



Admit it you want it.

driver100

snakeweasel said:

berri said:

I hope at some point buyers start letting the auto companies know they want some style, not over the top ugly nor boring look a like.

Style like this?



Admit it you want it.

I think oldfarmer could surprise his wife with that customizing package.

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

Of the top 10 scams, I received phone calls from two of them this year:

One involves a threatening phone call from the IRS stating that I was being taken to court for $18,000 in back taxes I owed.  Of course, my response to the fake IRS agent was, "...I guess I'll see you in court!"  He hung up

When I do taxes I always tell my clients that the IRS will never call them, the IRS always contacts them through the mail, and when they do get contacted to contact us as soon as they can. I have had some tell me that they have received calls from people say that they were from the IRS.

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

imidazol97 said:

abacomike said:

I have done a little analysis of the car buyers both on this thread and over on CCBA (I monitor that thread but don't post much).  It seems that there are several types of car buyers:

One type loves to have several cars/trucks in his fleet - and is always looking to add more - a true chronic car buyer and stable owner.

Another type loves to buy new cars - at least one per year - because there is always something coming onto the market that is perceived to be a "must have"!

Another type buys cars but keeps his cars for several years - usually until the new car warranty is about to expire.  But these types are always looking and are usually defenseless if a car catches their fancy and the deal is too good to ignore.

Then, there's the pre-owned only type - never buys a new car, but is in and out of used cars constantly.  This type loves to tinker with his cars as well.

There are a myriad of types of car buyers, but they usually can comfortably fit into one or more of the above categories.  Where do you fit?  

Alll knds. All types. I believe a well-loved car salesman summed it up on these forums years back by saying, "There's a butt for every seat." I believe the comment was in reference to some cars in colors that others found off putting or certain options or combinations that were thought hard-to-sell. But someone will come along and can be put in that seat.

Yep!  A car for every buyer and a buyer for every car!  

A buyer for every car? I seem to remember some talk here a while back about some beast known as the lot queen.

snakeweasel

cdnpinhead said:

abacomike said:

;Where do you fit?  

You left out my category -- buy a new vehicle and drive it for 100 - 200K miles. A well-chosen car is no less satisfying when it's old than when it was new, unless one is inclined to be distracted by whatever new shiny object comes into view.

I am that kind of buyer too. I drove my car exactly 10,712 miles in 2015 so with it now having just under 104K miles I think I won't be buying a new car for some time unless she who must be obeyed really wants that CUV/SUV.

abacomike

@snakeweasel:

There may be lot queens and princesses, but in the end, they are all conquered by the "Lords of the Manor" - those who buy transportation, not good looks!  

ab348

snakeweasel said:

Admit it you want it.

I cannot imagine any sane, sober person in possession of their faculties would find that anything but repulsive.

snakeweasel

bwia said:

. With global warming becoming a serious environmental issue, buying habits are changing with some households now own one rather than two vehicles in the family.

I think it's more to do with two things; first is the current economical situation where we have more people who have dropped out of the workforce and many who have been forced to find new jobs are not getting their previous salaries. The second is more and more younger people are choosing to live in denser urban areas with better mass transit and don't need cars.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

snakeweasel said:

berri said:

I hope at some point buyers start letting the auto companies know they want some style, not over the top ugly nor boring look a like.

Style like this?



Admit it you want it.

I think oldfarmer could surprise his wife with that customizing package.

I just showed that to my wife and her response was Ewwwwwwwww!

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

Just got home from taking my neighbors to dinner.  They were so nice to me after I got home from the hospital and went shopping for me, I thought I would treat them to a steak dinner.

When the check came and I took a good look at it, I asked the neighbors if they knew how to wash dishes.  All kidding aside, the 3 of us racked up a bill of $311.00.  I left a $60.00 tip and began to think - I had a surf and turf, so did the husband.  The wife had a petit filet and they shared a Caesar salad.  They ordered sautéed mushrooms and chef fries and each of them had a drink.  I did not have any sides or alcoholic beverages.  They shared a large piece of cheesecake.  Each had a cappuccino.

They sure could pack it away.  But $371.00 for dinner - that's almost the price of an HDTV at BestBuy.  I didn't think I knew anyone well enough to spend that much money on dinner for 3 - and all I had was a main course and iced tea.  Next time, it's Chick-Fil-A or McDonalds!  

Once I paid more than that for just me and the wife on our tenth anniversary. It was at the signature room at the top of the John Hancock building, but man what a view.

snakeweasel

bwia said:

stever said:

It's pretty strange. Glut today, but supply apparently is shrinking fast. Over in your area, in spite of cheap oil, the wind business is gaining momentum. Solar isn't slacking off any either - more cheap natural gas could weaken that demand, but it looks like those alternative fuels have turned the corner. Even if the incentives were jerked, there's lots of Wall Street money invested in wind and solar now. Good blurb in the WA Post today.

Here in NM, the state is hurting because oil revenue is ~25% of the budget.

The oil money has dried up in Alaska too and the state is planning to re-introduce an income tax after a 35 year absence.

What's really bizarre is the State's decision to levy an income tax while continuing to send out dividend checks for  up to  $8,000 per resident  (or household, I'm not sure)

I was up in Alaska the first year they had the dividend, most of the people I knew blew the money on stuff VHS equipment.

stever

I spent mine on fancy meals. Some of us know where our priorities lie.

My favorite meal memory happened on a road trip in '99 (?) on Gaspé Bay. We spent $10 on a campsite that was run by the owner of an adjoining restaurant, and then had an outstanding 7 course meal there that evening. The tab was around $100, plus tip. We knew it was going to be special when the locals started arriving and each would discuss the night's entrees with the owner for several minutes and when the starter plate of limpets and periwinkles plate was set before us, we were in hog heaven.

The place (L'Auberge Du Gargantua) is long closed, and the kitchen garden was paved over.

snakeweasel

 

Not wanting to pick any nits but while Jack Daniels does distill its product in such a way that they can legally call it a bourbon they don't, they prefer "Tennessee Sipping Whiskey". Some purists don't think that Jack Daniels is a bourbon because they charcoal filter it, but that really doesn't exclude it from being called a bourbon.

abacomike

@snakeweasel:

I was in New Orleans back in the 1980's for a conference with another school principal. We were staying at the Marriott New Orleans on the corner of Royal and Canal on the 60th floor.  We had made reservations for dinner on the top floor with a view of the Mississippi River and the city.  We were sitting at the bar waiting for our table to be made ready when I got an elbow in my ribs from the guy sitting next to me.  He mistook me for my twin brother and bought us a round of drinks.  We invited him to join us at the table for dinner.  The final tab with drinks and dessert was $650.00 for the 3 of us.  This friend of my brother's put the whole bill on his American Express Business Card.

I mentioned this to my brother when I got home to Chicago.  He said he knew this Guy - it was his neighbor.

Great food, great company, and a great view!  

snakeweasel

stickguy said:

you west coasters are lucky. can watch the ball drop, say happy new year, and still be in bed by 10.

When I was a wee lad my parents let me stay up to midnight and watch the ball drop, then it was off to bed.

It wasn't until I was older that I realized that the countdown we were watching was at Times Square in NYC which was an hour ahead of us.

abacomike

snakeweasel said:

 

Not wanting to pick any nits but while Jack Daniels does distill its product in such a way that they can legally call it a bourbon they don't, they prefer "Tennessee Sipping Whiskey". Some purists don't think that Jack Daniels is a bourbon because they charcoal filter it, but that really doesn't exclude it from being called a bourbon.

Whatever they chose to call it, I sipped it like a pro last night.  I agree that this Sinatra 100 is definitely a sipping whiskey. You appreciate it more sipping it "neat" rather than over ice.  It has that sweet aftertaste with that vanilla taste.  Outstanding!  

snakeweasel

ab348 said:

snakeweasel said:

Admit it you want it.

I cannot imagine any sane, sober person in possession of their faculties would find that anything but repulsive.

Remember we are a nation that salivates over reality stars.

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

Whatever they chose to call it, I sipped it like a pro last night.  I agree that this Sinatra 100 is definitely a sipping whiskey. You appreciate it more sipping it "neat" rather than over ice.  It has that sweet aftertaste with that vanilla taste.  Outstanding!  

Any good whiskey is a sipping whiskey. I usually drink my whiskey neat, sometimes I'll start it off pure then I'll add a few drops of water in it to open it up. It does change the dynamics of the whiskey and I always try it with a whiskey I have never had before.

Anyway, enjoy the JD.

ab348

snakeweasel said:

Any good whiskey is a sipping whiskey. I usually drink my whiskey neat, sometimes I'll start it off pure then I'll add a few drops of water in it to open it up. It does change the dynamics of the whiskey and I always try it with a whiskey I have never had before.

Especially with expensive whisky, that is the way to go. I almost always enjoy it more with just a bit of water rather than neat but try it both ways.

Last night I had 3 small drams of different whiskies: Highland Park 25, which was incredible but almost too densely flavored neat; with water it was incredible. Then a Macallan Elegancia I forgot I had, which I really liked. I hadn't had it for years and did not remember it at all. Nutty flavor. Then at the end of the night I had a little bit of Lagavulin 16 which is a unique whisky, very peaty and strongly flavored, not for everyone but simply a great whisky. With a little water it is wonderful.

isellhondas

abacomike said:

This is the first New Years Eve that I am celebrating alone in my home.  Very lonely feeling, but I did not have the strength to go out - was invited to several neighbor's as well as our country club.  But it was just not meant to be this year.

But I did want to wish all of you and your families a Very Hapy New Year with hopes the New Year brings all of us HEALTH and HAPPINESS!

Best to all of you!  

The same back at you Mike! Let's all have a wonderful HEALTHY 2016!

houdini1

snakeweasel said:

bwia said:

. With global warming becoming a serious environmental issue, buying habits are changing with some households now own one rather than two vehicles in the family.

I think it's more to do with two things; first is the current economical situation where we have more people who have dropped out of the workforce and many who have been forced to find new jobs are not getting their previous salaries. The second is more and more younger people are choosing to live in denser urban areas with better mass transit and don't need cars.

Didn't I read somewhere that there was a record # of new cars sold in the U.S. in 2015?

Mr_Shiftright

He needs to spend more time in Walmart to understand the demographic.

snakeweasel said:

ab348 said:

snakeweasel said:

Admit it you want it.

I cannot imagine any sane, sober person in possession of their faculties would find that anything but repulsive.

Remember we are a nation that salivates over reality stars.

abacomike

Mr_Shiftright said:

He needs to spend more time in Walmart to understand the demographic.

Admit it you want it.

I cannot imagine any sane, sober person in possession of their faculties would find that anything but repulsive.

Remember we are a nation that salivates over reality stars.

K-Mart or Sears - not Walmart!  Everyone shops at Walmart at one time or another.  Even I shop at Walmart for OTC meds, vitamins, shaving products, tooth paste, shampoo, and even cheeses and dry goods.  

I compared prices at Publix and Winn Dixie with Walmart - Walmart was 15-20% less on most products I buy.  That's significant!  

roadburner

Walmart is my go-to store for Mobil 1- you cannot beat the prices.

Mr_Shiftright

Oh I was thinking of those "The People of Walmart" slide shows on YouTube---no offense intended!

abacomike

I was watching FOX News Channel this afternoon and saw on the "ticker" that there was yet another earthquake in Oklahoma - IIRC it was a 4.5 Richter trembler.  They reported that Oklahoma has now become the most active area for earthquakes in the world.

A 4.5 is a fairly good sized trembler, especially for that area.  They claim that this phenomenon began with "fracking" for oil in old wells.  Good grief - if these quakes can be directly linked to fracking, they really need to put a stop to it in that area.  Fracking creates fissures that loosen underground structural integrity.  

Mr_Shiftright

Not likely from fracking, but the more "normal" method of extracting large volumes of water from non-fracked wells and then injecting this water into deep sedimentary formations can cause quakes of significant size. So says the USGS science page.

snakeweasel

houdini1 said:

snakeweasel said:

bwia said:

. With global warming becoming a serious environmental issue, buying habits are changing with some households now own one rather than two vehicles in the family.

I think it's more to do with two things; first is the current economical situation where we have more people who have dropped out of the workforce and many who have been forced to find new jobs are not getting their previous salaries. The second is more and more younger people are choosing to live in denser urban areas with better mass transit and don't need cars.

Didn't I read somewhere that there was a record # of new cars sold in the U.S. in 2015?

Yes, I read that too. however it is on the heals of 5 or 6 years of lackluster car sales so it's more of a case of filling pent up demand replacing older than a growing number of cars on the road.

berri

I'm not a geologist, but I've read different stuff that seems to indicate we may be jumping the gun on fracking and oil supply because those wells aren't lasting near as long as conventional ones. I don't really know, but wonder if that is one of the factors besides maintaining market share behind the Saudi decision to keep pumping all out.