Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

explorerx4

There are a few tolls around Chicago. One of my kids goes there occasionally and I get the bill.
From CT, I can drive all the way to Wisconsin with the EZ Pass.

suydam

I only travel through PA. A couple of times a year but it's so worth having the EZ Pass.

snakeweasel

stever said:

$35 - that's cheaper entertainment than dinner and a movie.

I always like the guy who throws money at the booth and misses. And then tries to get out and find the loose change he lost.

The Illinois Tollway is a little different than most as you may or may not go through a tollbooth entering and exiting the tollway and every so often you have to go through a mainline tollbooth. Growing up in the 60's when the Illinois tollway was relatively new they didn't have gate installed at the exact change lanes. Well my dad driving his manual transmission car didn't want to shift all the way down then back up would fly through those booths at 50+ MPH and fling the money into the basket as he flew through. I seriously doubt that half that money made it into the basket.

stever said:

Wouldn't want to wait around but the $4 toll on the Mackinaw Bridge entitles you to have someone else drive you across the bridge. Be kind of fun to do that and then hang out the window taking video....

They do that because they have found out that some people have anxiety about driving over that bridge. Truth be told it can be a little hair raising during highwinds with the bridge swaying and cars being affected by the wind also. The bridge is almost 5 miles long and gets up to 200 feet above the water. If you really want to they have it open one day a year to walk across.

jmonroe

Hey Mike,

About that episode in the doctors waiting room. I always wear skivvies but if I dropped my pants in a waiting room how much would you give me. I realize you won't be getting the full floor show value of $35.00 but it has to be worth something, right?

jmonroe

abacomike

jmonroe said:

Hey Mike, About that episode in the doctors waiting room. I always wear skivvies but if I dropped my pants in a waiting room how much would you give me. I realize you won't be getting the full floor show value of $35.00 but it has to be worth something, right? jmonroe

If you are wearing skivvies, not worth the cost of the ink used to print a $20 bill.  Now, on the other hand, no skivvies - definitely worth $35.00! 

stever

@snakeweasel, the center of the Mighty Mac is fun too because it's just grating on the driving deck. If you time it right, you can look down and see an ore boat cruising under you.

jmonroe

I got my Consumer Report the other day and was skimming through it after breakfast today. They are in love with the BMW 750i. They said it finally outscored the MB S-Class.

They said the price range for the 750i is between $82,295 and $98,395 but the loaded up car they test drove was $110,645. I'm not one that is in awe of any car, but for over $110K I'm sure I'd like it a whole lot too.

I couldn't help but think about the Bently SRV that one of our posters showed last week that cost over $321,000. I'm thinking that the gardener for the Bently owner is the one that drives a 750i. I'm sure our poster buddy 'farmer' would probably play in the dirt for that kind of a ride.

I guess there is no chance now that Mike would buy the 750i just to see if Consumer Reports is right, which is not always the case.

jmonroe

berri

So Aba - did they play "Blue Moon" on the radio while driving home

jmonroe

Mike said:

If you are wearing skivvies, not worth the cost of the ink used to print a $20 bill. Now, on the other hand, no skivvies - definitely worth $35.00!
_________________________________________________________________________________

If all I got was $35.00 for a floor show like that, I'd be cheated:

jmonroe

abacomike

@jmonroe said:

"I guess there is no chance now that Mike would buy the 750i just to see if Consumer Reports is right, which is not always the case."

No, sorry JM.  I've test driven them and found the car to be over-priced for what you get.  Besides, I am done with luxury sport sedans - remember? 

snakeweasel

stever said:

@snakeweasel, the center of the Mighty Mac is fun too because it's just grating on the driving deck. If you time it right, you can look down and see an ore boat cruising under you.

Once a year me and she who must be obeyed get up that way. We spend a weekend on Mackinac Island which wouldn't interest this group because cars are banned on the island. Sometimes going home we cross the bridge make our way through the UP and head home through WI. It's about an hour to an hour and a half longer getting home but can be worth it.

abacomike

berri said:

So Aba - did they play "Blue Moon" on the radio while driving home

I don't know, berri.  I wasn't listening to the radio - I was chuckling to myself about the poor old guy at the doctor's office.

We are under another flood warning - pouring yet again.  At least no lightning or thunder yet.

jmonroe

suydam said;

I only travel through PA. A couple of times a year but it's so worth having the EZ Pass.
_______________________________________________________________________

When the PA Turnpike started the E-ZPass system, I refused to buy a transponder because at that time they didn't even give discounts like they do now. So, for 3 weeks I figured I'd teach them a lesson. At the end of the 3rd week I figured they had taught me the lesson and I couldn't sign up fast enough.

jmonroe

stickguy

anyone that drives in and around NYC pretty much has to have EZ pass. Or stop at the ATM daily. a bunch of those bridges/tunnels are over $10, and the "cheap" ones are $5+

driver100

imidazol97 said:

@driver100
The drive home from Pigeon Forge took me up I75 where the landslide was on the mountain north of Knoxville at 8:30 am. Didn't slow down below 50. The 7 miles from Caryville to the next overpass has two curves for couple of miles and then the uphill and construction start. Both lanes are maintained with a berm for pull offs on the right side.

At the top of the 2-mile climb and a couple more miles of flatter driving, there's an overpass that's under construction. Two lanes. Then there's the police car facing traffic to get everyone alert to merge to left one lane for the trek through the rockslide area. That's a 45-mph zone but people didn't slow down. In the afternoons, last Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and this afternoon at 4:30 the traffic has slowed to the red speeds all the way down to the exits at Caryville when I looked at traffic on maps.google.com. That's 25-30 mph estimated. Because it's uphill, trucks and towed trailers must have a problem accelerating some when they need to.

If you're hitting that at mid or late afternoon and don't like slow driving for 8 miles on a Friday afternoon, just stock up on patience.

Thanks for the update imid........very helpful We leave Tampa area early Friday and our target is to get to Atlanta the first day (7 1/2 to 8 hours actual driving time). We will be going through that area on Saturday so that should be a fairly good time with fewer trucks than during the week, though all the RVs, trailers and other motor home vehicles will be heading north like lemmings since it is the end of the month/rental period. On Saturday our target is Findley OH...about 10 hours actual driving time.

Much appreciated!

driver100

Mike, I don't know...you have run into more naked guys in one week than I have run into in a lifetime

And, I am not complaining btw. I'd pay $35 not to see this guy pull down his pants.

abacomike

driver100 said:

Mike, I don't know...you have run into more naked guys in one week than I have run into in a lifetime And, I am not complaining btw. I'd pay $35 not to see this guy pull down his pants.

Between the guy in his bathtub and this guy at the doc's office, you might be right!

berri

But you did the right thing both times!

abacomike

berri said:

But you did the right thing both times!

I am just lucky - I sure didn't think these situations out sufficiently.

@driver

the guy in the doc's office didn't "PULL" his pants down - they fell down!

nelsonf

graphicguy said:

driver...my pet peeve, too. We don't have any toll roads in my 'burg, but everywhere else I travel does. I try to be mindful of keeping traffic moving. When on a toll road, I always go to the "manned" lane, as I need a receipt and change. That's why I keep my wallet in the cup holder or seat beside me.

Invariably, there will be someone who can't comprehend the simple action of having change or small bills readily available. Sorry, fairer gender, but 99% of the time it's a female who insists on waiting until they get to the booth to search in the bottom of their suitcase purse to find change for the toll booth. Forget for a moment that they had 4 cars in front of them and plenty of time to find change, or that they're holding up 10 cars behind them, which they're oblivious to.

They also seem to insist on talking on their phone instead of getting toll booth change. ARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!!

It's the same type of people that stand in line at Starbucks for 10 minutes, then when they finally get to the register, have to look up and take their time deciding what they want, instead of figuring it out while they were in line.

driver100

nelsonf said:

graphicguy said:

driver...my pet peeve, too. We don't have any toll roads in my 'burg, but everywhere else I travel does. I try to be mindful of keeping traffic moving. When on a toll road, I always go to the "manned" lane, as I need a receipt and change. That's why I keep my wallet in the cup holder or seat beside me.

Invariably, there will be someone who can't comprehend the simple action of having change or small bills readily available. Sorry, fairer gender, but 99% of the time it's a female who insists on waiting until they get to the booth to search in the bottom of their suitcase purse to find change for the toll booth. Forget for a moment that they had 4 cars in front of them and plenty of time to find change, or that they're holding up 10 cars behind them, which they're oblivious to.

They also seem to insist on talking on their phone instead of getting toll booth change. ARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!!

It's the same type of people that stand in line at Starbucks for 10 minutes, then when they finally get to the register, have to look up and take their time deciding what they want, instead of figuring it out while they were in line.

That's true! Or the little old lady at the grocery store who has to pay her $4.87 cent bill by counting out all the change in her purse, which seems to be mostly pennies and nickels.

driver100

a

bacomike">
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the guy in the doc's office didn't "PULL" his pants down - they fell down!

Works out to be about the same.

ab348

Mike, if you tell us next week that you ran into a guy wearing only a wooden barrel held up by suspenders at the checkout in Walmart I'm going to start doubting you.

abacomike

ab348 said:

Mike, if you tell us next week that you ran into a guy wearing only a wooden barrel held up by suspenders at the checkout in Walmart I'm going to start doubting you.

If I do run into that barrel guy, my next stop is the psych ward at the local hospital and have a psychiatrist "Baker Act" me and throw away the key.  Hope you guys will come visit me! 

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

Mike, if you tell us next week that you ran into a guy wearing only a wooden barrel held up by suspenders at the checkout in Walmart I'm going to start doubting you.

I don't know, it is tax season after all.

Mr_Shiftright

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

no, you misunderstood farmer. PA has no intention of eliminating tolls. that ain't never happening. They just want to eliminate all manned toll booths, and make the entire PA Tpke electronic collection only.

Yeah, I realized that when I re read your post.

In other news...anyone interested? Seem to be an awful lot for a used car. What was MSRP?

https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/5492095437.html

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Should be worth about $65,000 retail with those miles.

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

ab348 said:

Mike, if you tell us next week that you ran into a guy wearing only a wooden barrel held up by suspenders at the checkout in Walmart I'm going to start doubting you.

If I do run into that barrel guy, my next stop is the psych ward at the local hospital and have a psychiatrist "Baker Act" me and throw away the key.  Hope you guys will come visit me! 

I'm not sure about that, if we visited you there they might not let us out.

"Sane!!! At the mad scientist convention they called me sane, sane I say. I'll show them who's sane, they will come to rue the day they called me sane."

berri

Mike is in south FL which in some respects is like places such as the Pacific Northwest, New England and the far northern Midwest - some unusual people with unique attributes. I don't mean that in a negative sense, just that you run into some interesting individuals. CA doesn't have a lock on it!

roadburner

abacomike said:

jmonroe said:

Hey Mike,

About that episode in the doctors waiting room. I always wear skivvies but if I dropped my pants in a waiting room how much would you give me. I realize you won't be getting the full floor show value of $35.00 but it has to be worth something, right?

jmonroe

If you are wearing skivvies, not worth the cost of the ink used to print a $20 bill.  Now, on the other hand, no skivvies - definitely worth $35.00! 

I had a guy at morning arraignment almost lose his pants- he had been brought over from the jail and had had his belt taken away. Pretty funny...

imidazol97

driver100 said:

I'd pay $35 not to see this guy pull down his pants.

Age and Mother Nature are not kind to most older bodies--no matter how much they try to stay in shape. The genetics just aren't kind past a certain age.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

We will be going through that area on Saturday so that should be a fairly good time with fewer trucks than during the week, though all the RVs, trailers and other motor home vehicles will be heading north like lemmings since it is the end of the month/rental period. Much appreciated!

We picked this week for Pigeon Forge, knowing it was the week after Easter but thinking spring breaks have been scheduled based on grading periods and not the Easter Sunday for most schools, so visitors would be spread out over several weeks which is what we saw in the past we thought.

Instead, Pigeon Forge/Gatilinburg area was full of people who arrived on Monday for a week probably. Three lanes essentially filled from stoplight to stoplight on Monday in PF as folks drove in. From that I infer a lot of people will be heading back "north" to Ohio and Michigan Saturday morning and Sunday who spent their week in the beautiful area there. I'll predict a heavy traffic load like I saw last weekend watching traffic maps and Waze on Friday/Sat/Sun as people return to Buckeye Land and Yooper and Looper Michigan.

I'd suggest getting to that stretch as early in the day as possible. Have a safe trip to everyone traveling this weekend.

Auto-related--at the start of the uphill climb a car was being pulled out of the side of the interstate that had turned over. At 8:30 AM someone had a bad start to their day, or a finish to a bad night.

Michaell

abacomike said:

ab348 said:

Mike, if you tell us next week that you ran into a guy wearing only a wooden barrel held up by suspenders at the checkout in Walmart I'm going to start doubting you.

If I do run into that barrel guy, my next stop is the psych ward at the local hospital and have a psychiatrist "Baker Act" me and throw away the key.  Hope you guys will come visit me! 

If you do see that, you'll have seen a ghost.

Tim McKernan, the Denver Broncos superfan who wore an orange barrel with suspenders to every home game he attended for over 30 years, passed away in 2009.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrel_Man_(Denver_Broncos)

PF_Flyer

jmonroe said:

suydam said;

I only travel through PA. A couple of times a year but it's so worth having the EZ Pass.
_______________________________________________________________________

When the PA Turnpike started the E-ZPass system, I refused to buy a transponder because at that time they didn't even give discounts like they do now. So, for 3 weeks I figured I'd teach them a lesson. At the end of the 3rd week I figured they had taught me the lesson and I couldn't sign up fast enough.

jmonroe

Yep, it only take one trip to someplace metro where you have to cross a bridge and the discount covers the cost of the EZ Pass. Heck, even our trips down to DC, we take a one exit stretch of the Turnpike between Bedford and Breezewood and it saves us $1.03 going down and back.

No more "get the toll money ready 'cause the toll is a mile ahead" for me

graphicguy

nelsonf said:

graphicguy said:

driver...my pet peeve, too. We don't have any toll roads in my 'burg, but everywhere else I travel does. I try to be mindful of keeping traffic moving. When on a toll road, I always go to the "manned" lane, as I need a receipt and change. That's why I keep my wallet in the cup holder or seat beside me.

Invariably, there will be someone who can't comprehend the simple action of having change or small bills readily available. Sorry, fairer gender, but 99% of the time it's a female who insists on waiting until they get to the booth to search in the bottom of their suitcase purse to find change for the toll booth. Forget for a moment that they had 4 cars in front of them and plenty of time to find change, or that they're holding up 10 cars behind them, which they're oblivious to.

They also seem to insist on talking on their phone instead of getting toll booth change. ARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!!

It's the same type of people that stand in line at Starbucks for 10 minutes, then when they finally get to the register, have to look up and take their time deciding what they want, instead of figuring it out while they were in line.

Amen....!!!!

This happened a few years ago....

I mentioned we don't have toll roads around here, so the last thing on my mind is to take a pocket full of change with me to pay for tolls.

I was traveling on the east coast between Boston and NYC for work. I had a packed day and was driving all over the place. Anyway, I come to the George Washington Bridge and realize I don't have money for tolls.

Even back then (early '00s), I didn't carry much in the way of cash with me as I use credit cards for everything because I need receipts to file expense reports.

Well, realizing I didn't have any cash, I look behind me and cars are backed up. Can't go backwards, and the toll booth in front of me was packed....nowhere to go.

So now, I'm plotting my getaway. Either I gun it through the toll booth, and deal with the consequences later. Or, I plead with the toll attendant to let me slide. I chose the latter.

I made a theatrical event out of my predicament to the toll taker, pleading that I didn't have any money, showing him my empty wallet. He said...."you mean you don't have ANY money?"

"Nope!".

He said he is held responsible for all vehicles paying tolls as there was a counter on the gate, telling his boss exactly how many cars went through the toll gate. Didn't realize that, but makes sense. What's to keep a toll taker from putting the cash in their pockets, with no one being the wiser?

As I explained to him, it doesn't matter what he does, but I still can't pay the toll. Figuring I'm going to be arrested for a few dollars in tolls I can't pay, he gives me a few choice curse words.

He says he's going to turn his head, and I should speed away so he doesn't see me and can't give a description of my car, nor my plate number. I said "seriously?". Without another word, he turned his head. I floored it.

Never heard another peep about the incident.

stickguy

Some toll booths have envelopes for that situation. Still the honor system, but you are supposed to mail it back in. Also can't pull that in Philly, since the tolls at the bridges (even the EZ pass lanes) are still gated.

This is also why I yell at my kids to not travel with no cash on them. Sometimes you find a situation where you can't (or don't want to) use a card, and you are screwed.

I must me an outlier. I hate not having a decent amount of cash on me, even local but especially travelling. I also pay cash at gas stations (unless I can use the gas co CC), and at restaurants. Not big on handing my card to a stranger to wander away and do lord knows what with it.

Oh, for gas, remember that in NJ it is all attended stations. So you have to hand your card to a (generally) skeevey dude. And gas stations are notorious for skimmers. That's why I got Exxon, she'll, etc. cards.

Michaell

There are two toll roads in metro Denver. To get the discount, you tie a CC to the account and connect all license plates to it. Cameras at the toll booths (all of them unmanned) then link the plate to the card and debit the balance. When the balance gets below a threshold, it's automatically charged.

Given that it's the most direct route from my house to the airport, we've maintained an account for years.

If you have no account, then the registered owner gets a bill in the mail. I suspect the same is true for rental cars.

suydam

Those kinds of roads are bonanzas for rental companies, because they charge a daily fee far in excess of what you would actually pay. That was the case in Florida anyway. Some rental agencies build it into the daily price, some add it on after.

stickguy

I have taken my EZ pass with me when I was going to be renting, and knew I would need it.

suydam

We had it with us in Florida. No help there!

abacomike

I was walking down the street this morning (no one is going to believe this) and I ran into this guy wearing a barrel with suspenders holding it up off the ground.  I asked him why he was wearing a barrel?  He responded that he was reading some posts and comments on Edmunds about this guy who runs into naked people.  When he saw that this guy who ran into naked people would commit himself to a psychiatric ward if he saw someone wearing a barrel, he thought he would "give it a go".

But then he changed his story - he said he cannot tell a lie - he lost his pants at a poker game with a bunch of carnies (carnival employees).  I immediately drove to the hospital and now I am posting from my "padded cell" and am on a suicide watch!  They even took away my shoelaces and my belt! 

iluvmysephia1

As long as they don't take your Mercedes-Benz, miker! I just heard Janis Joplin singing in my head. Wow!

isellhondas

Wow...a four poster and it's not even a bed!

iluvmysephia1

Someone can delete three of those if they have those powers. To be. Yikes. Ads caused it - ads! On here they are!

abacomike

iluvmysephia1 said:

Someone can delete three of those if they have those powers. To be. Yikes. Ads caused it - ads! On here they are!

Iluv, I'm starting to question your sanity now after doing a 4-poster.  I wonder if you could do that again with one try! 

iluvmysephia1

What's weird is I can't go in and delete 3 of 'em, even if I wrote them! My screen did a freeze because of these aggressive, amped-up ads on here. On Edmunds. Here. Ads! Ugghhhh!

stever

Deleted three of them.

Now we'll get six posts asking about this mysterious four poster.

cdnpinhead

I don't care if it rains or freezes. . .

stever

Very good, and car related too.

jmonroe

stever said:

Now we'll get six posts asking about this mysterious four poster.
___________________________________________________________________

Ok let me be the first to ask. I go out for a hair cut and I come to this?

I guess I'm not the only one having problems with this site. I still can't go to "quote " to reply.

jmonroe

PF_Flyer

stever said:

Deleted three of them.

Now we'll get six posts asking about this mysterious four poster.

I've heard of a heavy right foot before... but a heavy right index finger??