Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

verdugo

@Mr_Shiftright said:
nelson -- I stream Pandora a lot in my car, and numerous podcasts, and I've never reached 1Gb yet. It's the videos that gobble up your phone bill.

T-Mobile doesn't count Pandora and a few other music streaming services towards your data cap. Pretty good deal.

driver100

@imidazol97 said:

And one of my favorites (favourites in Canadian) is the 1999 E Class with the simple styling, flat sides, big windows, large headlights.

abacomike

@verdugo said:

"T-Mobile doesn't count Pandora and a few other music streaming services towards your data cap. Pretty good deal."

Yes, that's correct! They don't charge data usage for streaming music from Pandora, IHeart Radio, iPhone Radio. (New) and several others. But they do charge for commercials on those sites. It's just the music they don 't charge for.

verdugo

@abacomike said:
verdugo said:

"T-Mobile doesn't count Pandora and a few other music streaming services towards your data cap. Pretty good deal."

Yes, that's correct! They don't charge data usage for streaming music from Pandora, IHeart Radio, iPhone Radio. (New) and several others. But they do charge for commercials on those sites. It's just the music they don 't charge for.

I didn't know the part about the commercials. I find they annoying and I don't listen to it enough to justify paying for it.

abacomike

@verdugo said:

"I didn't know the part about the commercials. I find they annoying and I don't listen to it enough to justify paying for it."

I don't either. I listen to 93.1 FM here in south Florida (available on IHeart and Pandora under easy listening) for soft rock. They have their own app you can download and listen to. At night before falling asleep, I pit my iPhone headphones on and open the app. I have WiFi so I don't use data at all.

But when you are streaming music using 4G, it starts charging data usage during commercial interruptions. I wonder how they know you are receiving a commercial or streamed music.

I have Tmobile because the are the best buy for excellent service down here.

nyccarguy

For those of my friends here who don't post or follow the Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous thread here on edmunds, here's an actual "buying experience."

I just got 1 step closer to punching my card. I ordered a 2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium. In addition to the dealer I drove the car from (Kingsley Subaru - Rye, NY), I also emailed the dealer closest to my house (Subaru Stamford - Stamford, CT), & a dealer about 40 minutes away near where my parents live (Bill Kolb Jr. Subaru - Orangeburg, NY).

The guy I test drove the car with came back with the cheapest price. Everyone was in the ball park. I ended up paying about $500 over invoice for the car ($23,800). My car should be here next week.

I'm excited!

abacomike

@nyccarguy‌ said:

"The guy I test drove the car with came back with the cheapest price. Everyone was in the ball park. I ended up paying about $500 over invoice for the car ($23,800). My car should be here next week.

I'm excited!"

Congrats Bradd. Glad you finally pulled the trigger. Sounds like a good deal, too.

Enjoy!

nyccarguy

Here are the numbers broken down:

Subaru Stamford: $23,826 + $379 Conveyance Fee = $24,205

Kingsley Subaru: $23,800 + $75 Doc Fee = $23,875

Bill Kolb Junior Subaru: $23,808 + $75 Doc Fee = $23,883

Every little bit helps. The prices from "Kolb" & "Stamford" include a $100 discount for being a Costco Member. The price from "Kingsley" includes a $300 discount for being a AAA member.

Thanks Mike. I'm happy with the deal & cannot wait to take delivery of my new car. This car represents a bunch of "firsts" for me. My 1st Subaru, first car with tan guts, 1st car with a boxer engine, 1st car with a CVT.

stickguy

I have had plenty of tan interiors. No CVTs however. But, I have owned 2 Subes in the past. Both FWD however, and stick shifts.

mako1a

Congrats, Bradd. Ordering gets you exactly what you want. The cost over lot buying is negligible and you don't have to settle. This is a buy (not a lease) right?

nyccarguy

Yup. I'm buying this time around. Thanks for the well wishes!! I'm planning on financing for 72 months. Subaru is offering 2.9%. I told the sales guy that if he can get me a better rate, than ill take it from another bank.

I heard an industry term when I was walking the lot with my sales guy. A girl pulled up in her Grandfather's lease return. A previous generation Impreza with a missing wheel cover & numerous dings, dents, & scratches. My sales guy said: "Wow! That car has hit everything except the lotto."

mako1a

Good on the buying. I ordered once and it was a fun way to buy. The dealer calls you every week or so and gives you a progress report which puts some excitement into the whole process. Kind of like a countdown to delivery day. Then he spins you up a little with how happy you'll be. Nice.

driver100

@nyccarguy said:Every little bit helps. The prices from "Kolb" & "Stamford" include a $100 discount for being a Costco Member. The price from "Kingsley" includes a $300 discount for being a AAA member.

Congratulations and happy driving nyc. It isn't fair, you get your car in a week and Mike and I have to wait two months.

Funny that all those selling prices are so close...within $26, but that "Conveyance Fee" sure makes a difference. I guess a "Conveyance Fee" is a fancier and more expensive word for Doc Fee. Like a "sales consultant" instead of salesperson. Or a "Previously Owned" car instead of a used car.

Anyway, the Subie sounds like a lot of fun and you are going to enjoy it!

driver100

@nyccarguy said:Grandfather's lease return. A previous generation Impreza with a missing wheel cover & numerous dings, dents, & scratches. My sales guy said: "Wow! That car has hit everything except the lotto."

When I leased my cars around 1980 terms were generous, lots of miles, low residuals, no hassle return. Today, I understand they go over the car carefully and deduct for anything that isn't perfect. That is probably a big advantage to buying...there is more control over those expenses, and if someone gets into financial trouble, you own the car so you can sell it. Getting out of a lease isn't easy and it could be costly.

ab348

When I leased my Regal they were selling some sort of "Walk Away" insurance that got you off the hook for all those little dings and scratches. I forget how much but IIRC it was pretty cheap.

dino001

Congrats. Subaru is a great choice. It will surely be different than that 328xi, but they deliver on what they promise - safe and inexpensive transportation with a little dose of entertainment. Here in Florida, Subaru dealers rank generally above the mainstream in terms of experience. They are not quite luxury experience (long shot from it) and they don't pretend to be, but all they tend to me much more laid back and straightforward than say volume Toyota/Honda dealers. After having two of those (WRX and STI) it's hard to even want to go to those other guys for a test drive. A visit on Subaru lot is always pleasant, whereas nearly every time I went to those volume stores, I felt I needed a shower afterwards.

driver100

@ab348 said:
When I leased my Regal they were selling some sort of "Walk Away" insurance that got you off the hook for all those little dings and scratches. I forget how much but IIRC it was pretty cheap.

I would probably opt for that insurance if cheap enough, but I sure saved a bundle by not buying all the extra insurance I could have bought for the 535. Run Flat Tire insurance, $1800 - they'll replace as many as you need but for $400 you can buy a lot of tires. Also, ding insurance cost $300 or $400. I do have one stone chip that went right through the 3M plastic shield which cost $400 and is of dubious help.

Insurance can be the biggest scam of this decade.

They talked about a scam people are being taken for, on the radio this morning. You get a message on your telephone that says it is very important information and you should call a number immediately. Once you call they have a recorded message that keeps you on the phone as long as possible, and you can be billed for as much as $2400 a minute. The toll free number is in the Dominican Republic and can start with 809, though there are others.

Don't call back if you get a message and it sounds like a weird exchange number.

abacomike

Just spoke with my son. He starts radiation treatments a week from Friday. He will be receiving double treatments so long as he can handle them. They are using "proton" radiation. He is having one double treatment per month for 3 months (or 2 single treatments per month if he can't handle the double treatments). According to his oncologist, they expect to successfully rid him of this malignant tumor. Once he completes the treatments in 3 months, they will determine if more are needed.

He has to completely shave his head prior to the treatments. His SO will drive him to and from the treatments. He has to go to Loma Linda Medical Center for the radiation - they want closer control over the therapy. It's about a 90 minute drive on I-10 from where he lives in La Quinta to Loma Linda.

So, from what he reports, it seems the cancer is not as aggressive as they originally diagnosed and with God's careful watch, he will be OK, I pray.

Kirstie_H

@abacomike said:
He has to completely shave his head prior to the treatments. His SO will drive him to and from the treatments. He has to go to Loma Linda Medical Center for the radiation - they want closer control over the therapy. It's about a 90 minute drive on I-10 from where he lives in La Quinta to Loma Linda.

>

So, from what he reports, it seems the cancer is not as aggressive as they originally diagnosed and with God's careful watch, he will be OK, I pray.

Great news, Mike! I'm sure it will be a tough time, but I'm hopeful that he'll come through cancer-free. This is the beginning of his healing.

I basically shave my S.O.'s hair for him every few weeks. It's an "in" look these days, and my SO comments on how much easier showering is - only one product - body wash. There's an upside to almost everything.

abacomike

@Kirstie_H‌ said:

"Great news, Mike! I'm sure it will be a tough time, but I'm hopeful that he'll come through cancer-free. This is the beginning of his healing."

Thanks, Kirstie, let's hope so. And yes, I've seen more and more "baldies" as the "in" look.

I hope he can handle the double treatments - that's a lot of radiation for one treatment. Most patients can't tolerate that much at once - but he's a tough guy.

houdini1

@abacomike said:

Fantastic news Mike !

abacomike

@houdini‌1 said:

"Fantastic news Mike !"

Let us hope so. We'll know more in a few months once they assess the results from the radiation treatments.

Thanks, houdini and all my poster buddies for all your prayers and hopes.

henryn

Plus 1, and a big thumbs up! This truly is great news.

abacomike

Thanks, henryn!

henryn

@abacomike said:

>

I have Tmobile because the are the best buy for excellent service down here.

Are we talking "customer service", or "cell phone operation"? Assuming that we are talking actual cell phone operation (cellular service), then Tmobile comes in 3rd in this area. Verizon is number 1, as they are in most places. AT&T is a solid second place, just as they are in most of the United States. Tmobile is 3rd, and Sprint is a distant 4th place.

In the high rise downtown building where I work, Verizon works about 90% of the time. AT&T, maybe 75%. Tmobile, not at all unless you hold the phone next to an outside window on the north side of the building.

At my house, all 4 of the major carriers work perfectly.

I will agree with you that Tmobile is a "best buy", excellent value for the money.

Oh, and here's something I ran across while browsing:

http://wallstcheatsheet.com/stocks/10-cars-that-probably-should-not-have-hit-the-road.html/?ref=OB

"Ten cars That Probably Should Not Have Hit The Road"

nyccarguy

Great news Mike! Keep us posted!

abacomike

Will do, Bradd.

driver100

@abacomike said: According to his oncologist, they expect to successfully rid him of this malignant tumor.
J

Fantastic news Mike....I am so glad for you.

stever

It's amazing what they can do these days. My older sister is going on 6 years as a AML survivor.

Just shopped a new razor, but it was $8 for the handle and one cartridge. Better to get a 4 pack of cartridges, but the one blade in my Gillette is two years old. I'm too cheap to shave much more than my neck below my beard once or twice a week.

Finally saw a sunroof today on a MINI but the owner wasn't around to quiz him/her about the heat and whether they'd get another one. Now that we aren't on the road, driving the big honking minivan is grating on me.

abacomike

@driver100 said:

"Fantastic news Mike....I am so glad for you."

Thanks driver - let's hope the results in. 3 months indicate iradication of the malignant tumor.

abacomike

@stever said:

"It's amazing what they can do these days. My older sister is going on 6 years as a AML survivor."

It was lucky that the small tumor produced the symptomology that caused him to lose consciousness that first time. That led to an MRI that uncovered it in his frontal lobe. The second MRI 5 weeks later showed very small growth - indicating a less aggressive cancer - but I won't be relieved until they start the treatments and that they are successful in killing it.

robr2

Great news Mike.

I had a molar extracted today instead of the planned root canal. The Novocaine is wearing off. It now hurts.

driver100

@stever said: but the one blade in my Gillette is two years old.

That must be a world record....send the blade to Guiness Book of World Records.

Finally saw a sunroof today on a MINI but the owner wasn't around to quiz him/her about the heat and whether they'd get another one. Now that we aren't on the road, driving the big honking minivan is grating on me.

I like having a sunroof but it isn't a big deal. Most of the year it isn't practical, just adds too much heat. What kind of minivan do you have that is so honking big? Or is anything larger than a MINI big?

Mr_Shiftright

Went to look at a used truck today. I got there and spent about 5 minutes with my mouth open, gazing first at the printed ad, and then at the "very clean, needs nothing" truck. I suppose next time I'll only look at adverts that show BOTH sides of the truck in the photos.

WHEE, Shifty, there goes two more hours of your life!

driver100

@robr2 said:
Great news Mike.

I had a molar extracted today instead of the planned root canal. The Novocaine is wearing off. It now hurts.

Thanks for sharing Rob

btw....I have a colonoscopy in Oct....wish they would get those little camera (periscopes) up and going.

abacomike

@robr2‌ said:

"Great news Mike.

I had a molar extracted today instead of the planned root canal. The Novocaine is wearing off. It now hurts."

That's what happens when the shot wears off. Didn't the dentist give you Vicodin or something like that?

And talk about surprises - root canal to an extraction. Not a great thing to happen, that's for sure.

Feel better - better yet, get some Vicodin or codeine and get a little high - that works for me when things get out of whack with pain.

And thanks for the thoughts.

stever

@driver100 said:
What kind of minivan do you have that is so honking big?

It's an '09 Dodge Grand Caravan. Emphasis on grand.

Our first one was an '89 Voyager. Really good size. The second was the '99 Quest. Still smallish, especially compared to the Grand Caravan.

That said, the Mazda 5 seemed a bit too narrow.

@abacomike, sometimes the cards don't play out well (as you well know). But your news really is encouraging.

Oh yeah, I guess y'all know about drying off your razor blade after every use? I don't use mine much, but I think that's a big reason why it doesn't dull too fast.

abacomike

@driver100 said:

"btw....I have a colonoscopy in Oct....wish they would get those little camera (periscopes) up and going."

Had one of those done about 6 weeks or so ago. The very worst part takes place about 16 hours before the procedure right up to about. 3 hours before the procedure. The procedure itself and the aftermath is a breeze - but the night before - good grief!

abacomike

@stever said:

"Oh yeah, I guess y'all know about drying off your razor blade after every use? I don't use mine much, but I think that's a big reason why it doesn't dull too fast."

I have been using the same fusion blade now for 3 months. It's getting close to needing a change, but I am determined to get 5 more out of it. That's about 4 times more shaves than my Mach III ever got .

laurasdada

@driver100 said:

What Mike said. Colonoscopy is the easy part. The prep? Oy...

Thoughts to you and yours, Mike.

robr2

@abacomike said:
That's what happens when the shot wears off. Didn't the dentist give you Vicodin or something like that?
And talk about surprises - root canal to an extraction. Not a great thing to happen, that's for sure.
Feel better - better yet, get some Vicodin or codeine and get a little high - that works for me when things get out of whack with pain.

The pain isn't from the extraction area. It seems to be coming from my cheek where the Novocaine was injected. Maybe when it's all worn off, the gum will hurt.

The root canal was prescribed in the middle of July. Due to limited time, I wasn't able to do it until today. The endodontist noticed it was cracked and it went down below the gum line. So off to the oral surgeon I went. In about 4 months I'll have to decide if I want an implant.

I just picked up the Vicodin prescription. I'll use it as a last resort as I have to drive the next 3 days making sales calls. Ibuprofen will the the drug of choice except at night.

abacomike

@robr2‌ said:

"I just picked up the Vicodin prescription. I'll use it as a last resort as I have to drive the next 3 days making sales calls. Ibuprofen will the the drug of choice except at night."

I can't take any codeine based pain killers as I am allergic to codeine and dilaudid. That's why I have 30 mg tablets of morphine for severe pain. It was prescribed to me after shoulder surgery.

But all that stuff is a double-edged sword to me. It takes away the pain but it also keeps me awake at night and it constipates me. That's why I don't take that stuff unless I face seriously acute pain.

abacomike

@ laurasdada said:

"What Mike said. Colonoscopy is the easy part. The prep? Oy...

Thoughts to you and yours, Mike."

Thanks. But yes, the night before is much like planes taking off at O'Hare - one every two minutes, if you get my drift - ALL ABOARD!!!

driver100

@stever said:It's an '09 Dodge Grand Caravan. Emphasis on grand.

Our first one was an '89 Voyager. Really good size. The second was the '99 Quest. Still smallish, especially compared to the Grand Caravan.

So, are we talking about getting a MINI as a replacement vehicle...as in bmw MINI?
How many of you are on this trip? Will a MINI replace a Graqnd Caravan or regular Caravan?

driver100

@abacomike said:The very worst part takes place about 16 hours before the procedure right up to about. 3 hours before the procedure.

This will be my second one...so, not looking forward to it. I wish they would find another method, rather than drinking 10 gallons of prep. Maybe some Draino type formula.

Mike, I thought of two questions for you about the new Mercedes. Do they give you Sirius and for how long? And, are you getting your windows tinted? You may need it living in Florida year long, I am not going to get it. They tried to scare me by telling me if I don't get it the dash could crack and all that....I have never had that happen in any car I have owned.

I do think I will go to an aftermarket place....a reputable one, and have the upholestry 3M'd. My friend with the Maserati said his wife spilled coffee in the Mas and it just wiped right up. You may not need it with black, my seats are almost white. And, I won't be able to wear any new jeans in the car...that die really comes off.

roadburner

@abacomike said:
stever said:

"Oh yeah, I guess y'all know about drying off your razor blade after every use? I don't use mine much, but I think that's a big reason why it doesn't dull too fast."

I have been using the same fusion blade now for 3 months. It's getting close to needing a change, but I am determined to get 5 more out of it. That's about 4 times more shaves than my Mach III ever got .

Not to re-ignite The Great Shaver Debate, but my son and I have switched to the Dorco 4 Blade System. $5.50 for the razor, and 16 cartridges for $18.70.

abacomike

@driver100 said:

"Mike, I thought of two questions for you about the new Mercedes. Do they give you Sirius and for how long? And, are you getting your windows tinted? "

Yes, you get a 3 month trial period for their traffic and weather which I find to be the best on the Mercedes. It shows radar on a map for rain and storms and fronts as well as wind speed and direction. It's $70.00 per year thereafter.

You get a 6 month trial period for all their channels.

As far as tint for the windows, the CLS 550 was the first car I did not tint and it worked out fine even though we had the 3rd hottest summer on record. So I am not going to tint the new car.

I have a Mercedes front sun shade which I used when I park. Most Mercedes dealers carry them. They are reflective silver on one side and made of very heavy board which lasts for a long time. The rear power sunshade keeps most of the hot rays if the sum out of the car. That seems to be sufficient, even with black leather. Remember, I get power ventilated seats for the front and they work great. Also, when I drive at night, I found the rear tinted window reduces my visibility, thus another reason for not tinting.

I hop that answers your questions .

bwia

Very good news Mike. Stay Blessed.

stever

@driver100, sorry for the confusion. I'd love a MINI in the family but I want my sister to get one so she can pay for the repairs and let me drive it every blue moon. The MINI in my post was just the first car I've seen here in Las Cruces with a sunroof period - I think people are afraid of them with the heat.

We've been shopping hatches and the current front runners are the Soul and Prius V (note that both offer big honking holes in the roof as options). Gonna be hard to downsize though even though there's rarely more than two of us in the car. Mostly we like to camp and haul bikes around, and that's easy in a van. Gotta buy a house first though (and almost every house we've looked at have had skylights - go figure).

(@roadburner, maybe I should buy one of your blades to keep me going until 2016).

isellhondas

@abacomike said:
driver100 said:

"Fantastic news Mike....I am so glad for you."

Thanks driver - let's hope the results in. 3 months indicate iradication of the malignant tumor.

Great news Mike!

I've heard nothing but good things about Loma Linda.

I lifelong (kindergarten) friend lives in La Quinta and she's a Critical Care Nurse at Eisenhower Hospital.