Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

verdugo

driver100 said:

I have passed on your hello, and all the other's too. Mike has a major meeting with his doctor today, to decide on a course of action.

Driver, please add my hellos and best wishes. I hope to have him back in the forum in no time at all.

snakeweasel

andres3 said:

houdini1 said:

andres3 said:

explorerx4 said:

Back from Germany.
The main reason was to spread my mother's ashes on the Baltic sea.
It's pretty common over there, so it was very professional and respectful.
We stayed in the Hamburg area. The city has 2500 bridges.
Sticking to the vehicle topic, my all black F150 would be a rock star over there.
Got to drive on the autobahn, biggest adjustment was keeping my eyes on the rear view mirror to get out of the way of the fast movers.
Overall, it was a life changing trip. I'm not kidding about that, still trying to absorb it all.

Thanks for attempting to drive correctly by moving right to let faster traffic pass on the left. Perhaps those lessons learned can be translated and taught here in the US as well, although maybe you are a "fast" driver here and don't get passed much?

In my neck of the woods you can get a ticket for prolonged driving in the left lane. Generally, you are supposed to use it for passing only.

It's the law in most States to use the left lane for passing only and "slower traffic keep right." Yet I have yet to see a single CHP officer enforce this law that is broken all the time.

Actually few states have "keep right except to pass" and those that do have it only for high speed limited access highways. Most states have passed the uniformed vehicle code or some modification of it. The uniform vehicle code allows use of the left lane as long as you are going the flow of traffic or faster. Many states have modified it such as yielding to faster traffic.

fezo

Hey, folks. I'm still about. Way too many posts to catch up on so you'll just have to forgive me and let me know if I missed anything major.

Been a rough bit of time with a week of vacation in the middle.

The transplant do says my numbers may not get any better than they are right now. I can live with that because I function OK, don't get sick, and at the rare occasional cold I recover quickly and am back in the ocean after four years. Still can't go in a lake. I'll manage.

So I go to the retina guy end of JUne. notices my eye pressure is in "high normal" range and notices some optic nerve cupping. Says see him in a year, my regular ophthalmologist is six months. Sends a report. Ophthalmologist's office calls as soon as they have the report and wants to see me pretty quickly. I go in and have a reading that says glaucoma and the optic nerve cupping (that little white dot on the retina is where your optic nerve is. Cupping means it's bigger than it should be. It tends to go hand in hand with glaucoma though they've yet to prove it causes it, but it's a pretty sure guess.) Prescribes drops to lower the pressure and says see him in two weeks (I'm used to this kind of thing). Two weeks later they run a field of vision test and check the pressure. Long story short (too late!) I've lot an almost imperceptible bit of peripheral vision in the right eye (keeping in mind the left one only has peripheral vision) and the drops work. The story is that as long as I keep the drops up for the rest of my life my vision should not be further affected. Moderate glaucoma under control.

Of course it was only early this year that they diagnosed moderate cataracts but that's OK for now.

This has been a big hit psychologically even as I've known since I was 15 that losing the good eye was possible because of what took the other one. That's under control.

Been kind of tough and that vacation (Outer Banks) happened in the two week period between diagnosis and follow up. Try to be as normal as possible and always assume a good outcome.

Other than that things are just peachy.... If you don't count the two older daughters, but they are finding their way....

Driver - tell Mike I said hi. I'll gladly trade medical stories with him.

Off to try a little ocean and still want to manage Kentucky next year for the total solar eclipse. We shall see....

snakeweasel

roadburner said:

ab348 said:

Sometimes I think motorcycles are like cigarettes, they should come with a Surgeon-General's warning and all kids of scary ads. I can think of several friends or family/school acquaintances who were either killed or seriously injured on motorcycles.

The fatality rate drops significantly when you subtract the unlicensed, drunk/drugged riders, Darwin's assistants(no helmet or other gear), and those that haven't taken an MSF RiderCourse or similar.

Still not as safe as a car, but better odds than a lot of people think.

When I ride I assume I'm invisible- and that any driver that can see me will try to kill me. I assume every oncoming car is going to turn in front of me if it can- and that every car on a side road will pull out on me. I don't crawl along, but I do cover the front brake and roll off the throttle a bit.

It's sad to read of accidents that a little training would probably have prevented- just last month an SUV turned in front of a bike and the rider said he had no choice but to "lay it down." He missed the SUV but hit the curb- killing his pillion rider.
I'd bet the farm he never even touched his front brake lever...

The basic MSF course is essential to anyone starting out on a bike as well as taking intermediate courses and taking periodical refresher courses.

Laying down a motorcycle is one of the worse things you can do as you pretty much lose control and cannot break. It's better to hit the vehicle head on at a much reduced speed applying your breaks with as much force as you can than to slide into it while scraping the ground.

Also what kicks up the fatality rates on motorcycles are hotshots on sports bikes racing in the streets.

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

Just wanted to pass on a "Hello" from our friend Mike. He doesn't have much energy, and he is deciding on options for his next steps. I know we will be hoping for the best possible results.

Give Mike our best.

ab348

snakeweasel said:

Actually few states have "keep right except to pass" and those that do have it only for high speed limited access highways. Most states have passed the uniformed vehicle code or some modification of it. The uniform vehicle code allows use of the left lane as long as you are going the flow of traffic or faster. Many states have modified it such as yielding to faster traffic.

I remember when I was a kid in the 1960s and we got out first multi-lane highways - or 2-lanes with occasional passing lanes added every so often - the signs said "Slower Traffic Keep Right". But there was a problem - what if you didn't think you were slow? If you were doing the limit, nobody should go faster, should they? That seemed to be the mindset of many drivers then. I remember being in the car with my Dad driving and him cursing at some drivers who would stay in the left passing lane on a 2-lane uphill stretch. After some public debate the signs and rules were changed to "Keep Right Except To Pass" and have remained that way here ever since. Of course we still have our share on Anti-Destination League members who camp out in the left lane and just trundle along, oblivious to what is stacked up behind them.

driver100

cdnpinhead said:

ab348 said:

The Display Key seems like overkill. Just because something CAN be done, doesn't mean it should be done

I agree, but BMW doesn't and hasn't for a long time. They have answered many questions that no one asked, at considerable expense and complication.

One thing BMW did which really makes me hesitate before I buy one again is put Run Flat Tires on their cars. I hope the others don't switch, and unless I truly liked a BMW way more than the competition, that is a deal breaker for me. I don't like not having a spare, and the tires are more expensive, and wear out way earlier than regular tires.

driver100

stever said:

A reporter would like to talk with drivers who frequently have to deal with wind throb -- i.e. the sound that occurs when you have a rear window down and the front window up. If you'd like to share your experience, please reach out to pr@edmunds.com by no later than August 8, 2016.

I have definitely experienced that noise and the more expensive the car the louder the noise seems to be. I find the best solution is to put the a/c on high, and put all the windows up

driver100

Fezo, nice to have you back, glad you are doing reasonably well.

Mike has a major consultation today, I will pass on the additional well-wishing thoughts!

stever

I love cruising around with the window(s) down - the van never has an issue with the helicopter noise. The noise my wife makes when I do that in the summer is another thing.

@fezo, been there. My newest eye doc has decided I don't have glaucoma after all and cut me back to one drop a day for the high pressure. Just don't sneak up on me on my left side - I'm liable to elbow you. Together, we'd probably manage fine walking down the supermarket aisles side by side.

driver100

ab348 said:

snakeweasel said:

Actually few states have "keep right except to pass" and those that do have it only for high speed limited access highways. Most states have passed the uniformed vehicle code or some modification of it. The uniform vehicle code allows use of the left lane as long as you are going the flow of traffic or faster. Many states have modified it such as yielding to faster traffic.

. After some public debate the signs and rules were changed to "Keep Right Except To Pass" and have remained that way here ever since. Of course we still have our share on Anti-Destination League members who camp out in the left lane and just trundle along, oblivious to what is stacked up behind them.

On trips I really try to stay in the right lane as much as possible. But, all that happens is I get behind a slow guy in the right lane, and all the cars behind me in the left lane, move up and won't let me in. Now, it has to be pretty clear in the left lane before I move to the right.

When I do stay inline in the left lane, I get the guy who has to speed around me and risk everyone around him's life, to move up one or two cars, which shaves about 2 minutes off his destination time.

henryn

Getting old is not for wussies, I gotta admit. There are still a lot of things that I like to do, that I enjoy doing, which are getting more difficult with each passing year. But I refuse to give up!

I purchased a used ZTR mower Saturday morning, and Sunday afternoon I had that sucker up in the air and the blades off and sharpened. It would have been a lot easier 20 years ago, but I still managed, and I'm quite proud of myself for doing so.

I do avoid ladders as much as I reasonably can, no point in tempting fate. But I can still pull d_____ hard on a cheater pipe stuck on the end of a ratchet attached to a stuck bolt holding on a lawn mower blade. And I have some fresh scrapes on my arms to prove it!

I am paranoid about my eyes, I don't want anything to happen to them. (Knock on wood!)



Does this count as a punch? (smile)

snakeweasel

henryn said:

I do avoid ladders as much as I reasonably can, no point in tempting fate.

I was in Orlando this weekend for my granddaughters first birthday party. Saturday getting ready for the party the son in law asked me to get the ladder and put something up and I obliged.

Gravity 1
Snakeweasel 0

My right foot and knee are still screaming at me about that.

Michaell

My mom, at age 78, is expressly forbidden to stand on any sort of step-ladder, no matter how sturdy or how low to the ground it is.

jmonroe

henryn said:

Getting old is not for wussies, I gotta admit. There are still a lot of things that I like to do, that I enjoy doing, which are getting more difficult with each passing year. But I refuse to give up!

I purchased a used ZTR mower Saturday morning, and Sunday afternoon I had that sucker up in the air and the blades off and sharpened. It would have been a lot easier 20 years ago, but I still managed, and I'm quite proud of myself for doing so.

I do avoid ladders as much as I reasonably can, no point in tempting fate. But I can still pull d_____ hard on a cheater pipe stuck on the end of a ratchet attached to a stuck bolt holding on a lawn mower blade. And I have some fresh scrapes on my arms to prove it!

I am paranoid about my eyes, I don't want anything to happen to them. (Knock on wood!)



Does this count as a punch? (smile)

Not sure which one of those you want the punch for. But yeah, hell yeah, you get a punch for all of those.

It doesn't look like there is a blade of grass that is safe in your hood.

jmonroe

stickguy

We knew that my dad needed to sell his house when we learned he was still going up on the roof to do stuff. At age 85. Stubbornness runs in the family.

stickguy

I hate RFTs. One of my pet peeves. I was building an X1 online today (yeah, I got issues) and noticed they offered a temp spare option, which came with RFT delete. Even better, saved $200!

jmonroe

I have a question for the MOD's.

For no good reason I have checked my profile page to see if I have gotten any abuse thingies. So far so good but I see where I have accumulated a few "Likes and LOL's" along with the posts that got them. Now my question, how do I know who to send the thank you posts to? Just sending out a blast 'thank you' is kinda impersonal.

jmonroe

andres3

ab348 said:

snakeweasel said:

Actually few states have "keep right except to pass" and those that do have it only for high speed limited access highways. Most states have passed the uniformed vehicle code or some modification of it. The uniform vehicle code allows use of the left lane as long as you are going the flow of traffic or faster. Many states have modified it such as yielding to faster traffic.

I remember when I was a kid in the 1960s and we got out first multi-lane highways - or 2-lanes with occasional passing lanes added every so often - the signs said "Slower Traffic Keep Right". But there was a problem - what if you didn't think you were slow? If you were doing the limit, nobody should go faster, should they? That seemed to be the mindset of many drivers then. I remember being in the car with my Dad driving and him cursing at some drivers who would stay in the left passing lane on a 2-lane uphill stretch. After some public debate the signs and rules were changed to "Keep Right Except To Pass" and have remained that way here ever since. Of course we still have our share on Anti-Destination League members who camp out in the left lane and just trundle along, oblivious to what is stacked up behind them.

I think any reasonable judge would interpret "Slower Traffic Keep Right" and "Keep Right Except to Pass" as essentially the same thing. One maybe being more lenient to allowing use of the left lane when no one else is around. Otherwise, "slower" is a relative term that has nothing to do with slow. If someone is going faster than you, by definition you are slower. Pretty simple if you ask me.

The "no one should go faster" than me crowd has failed to comprehend the English language and has failed to read the sign. They enjoy being a rolling roadblock.

andres3

jmonroe said:

andres3 said:

explorerx4 said:

There have been a lot a thefts of newer cars locally. People are leaving the fobs in cars with push button start, so thieves just open the door push the start button and drive away.

This is definitely a large potential problem and flaw with push button start and key FOBS.

It is really easy to forget the keys in the car.

Why is it so hard to take your keys with you regardless of how you start the car? I've had push button start with both my '09 and '15 Genny and I have yet to leave the fob in the car even once. You can't lock the car when the fob is in the car so that should be your first reminder. Now, if you're in the habit of not locking your car, well, you better tie a Doberman to all the doors and maybe even all four wheels. That kind of stupidity can't be compensated for by the auto makers. They have enough real problems to solve without "how do we get our owners to lock their car"?

jmonroe

With the old keys, they'd either be in my pocket or in the ignition. Now it's easy to mindlessly put them anywhere, from the passenger seat to the cup holder. Other then that, you make valid points.

I suppose I'm just getting older and more forgetful, and just trying to blame it on technology.

It still is the case however, that if you had your "old school" keys in a safe semi-hidden spot, no one would try to steal your car as they wouldn't know any better, now, all they have to do to know if the keys are within "range" is push the start button (if you do forget to lock your car).

stever

jmonroe said:

I have a question for the MOD's.

For no good reason I have checked my profile page to see if I have gotten any abuse thingies. So far so good but I see where I have accumulated a few "Likes and LOL's" along with the posts that got them. Now my question, how do I know who to send the thank you posts to? Just sending out a blast 'thank you' is kinda impersonal.

jmonroe

If you go to your profile and hover/click over your likes or lols, all the favored posts will open up in summary form. Then you can hover over the like or lol on any of the posts in the list and you'll see who clicked those buttons.

(Every time you guys call out us MODs I want to change my handle to Linc Hayes....)

houdini1

jmonroe said:

henryn said:

Getting old is not for wussies, I gotta admit. There are still a lot of things that I like to do, that I enjoy doing, which are getting more difficult with each passing year. But I refuse to give up!

I purchased a used ZTR mower Saturday morning, and Sunday afternoon I had that sucker up in the air and the blades off and sharpened. It would have been a lot easier 20 years ago, but I still managed, and I'm quite proud of myself for doing so.

I do avoid ladders as much as I reasonably can, no point in tempting fate. But I can still pull d_____ hard on a cheater pipe stuck on the end of a ratchet attached to a stuck bolt holding on a lawn mower blade. And I have some fresh scrapes on my arms to prove it!

I am paranoid about my eyes, I don't want anything to happen to them. (Knock on wood!)



Does this count as a punch? (smile)

Not sure which one of those you want the punch for. But yeah, hell yeah, you get a punch for all of those.

It doesn't look like there is a blade of grass that is safe in your hood.

jmonroe

Kubota'a are supposed to be really nice, and it probably cost as much as a used car. We need a review please.

jmonroe

stever said:

jmonroe said:

I have a question for the MOD's.

For no good reason I have checked my profile page to see if I have gotten any abuse thingies. So far so good but I see where I have accumulated a few "Likes and LOL's" along with the posts that got them. Now my question, how do I know who to send the thank you posts to? Just sending out a blast 'thank you' is kinda impersonal.

jmonroe

If you go to your profile and hover/clice over your likes or lols, all the favored posts will open up in summary form. Then you can hover over the like or lol on any of the posts in the list and you'll see who clicked those buttons.

(Every time you guys call out us MODs I want to change my handle to Linc Hayes....)

Damn, why didn't I think of that?

Thanks,

jmonroe

jmonroe

houdini1 said:

jmonroe said:

henryn said:

Getting old is not for wussies, I gotta admit. There are still a lot of things that I like to do, that I enjoy doing, which are getting more difficult with each passing year. But I refuse to give up!

I purchased a used ZTR mower Saturday morning, and Sunday afternoon I had that sucker up in the air and the blades off and sharpened. It would have been a lot easier 20 years ago, but I still managed, and I'm quite proud of myself for doing so.

I do avoid ladders as much as I reasonably can, no point in tempting fate. But I can still pull d_____ hard on a cheater pipe stuck on the end of a ratchet attached to a stuck bolt holding on a lawn mower blade. And I have some fresh scrapes on my arms to prove it!

I am paranoid about my eyes, I don't want anything to happen to them. (Knock on wood!)



Does this count as a punch? (smile)

Not sure which one of those you want the punch for. But yeah, hell yeah, you get a punch for all of those.

It doesn't look like there is a blade of grass that is safe in your hood.

jmonroe

Kubota'a are supposed to be really nice, and it probably cost as much as a used car. We need a review please.

I agree, Hank owes us a story about that purchase.

If nothing else, I assume the salesman at least talked real nice to him. Not like when he wanted to buy a Town & Country and didn't get a call back. :@

jmonroe

isellhondas

fezo said:

Hey, folks. I'm still about. Way too many posts to catch up on so you'll just have to forgive me and let me know if I missed anything major.

Been a rough bit of time with a week of vacation in the middle.

The transplant do says my numbers may not get any better than they are right now. I can live with that because I function OK, don't get sick, and at the rare occasional cold I recover quickly and am back in the ocean after four years. Still can't go in a lake. I'll manage.

So I go to the retina guy end of JUne. notices my eye pressure is in "high normal" range and notices some optic nerve cupping. Says see him in a year, my regular ophthalmologist is six months. Sends a report. Ophthalmologist's office calls as soon as they have the report and wants to see me pretty quickly. I go in and have a reading that says glaucoma and the optic nerve cupping (that little white dot on the retina is where your optic nerve is. Cupping means it's bigger than it should be. It tends to go hand in hand with glaucoma though they've yet to prove it causes it, but it's a pretty sure guess.) Prescribes drops to lower the pressure and says see him in two weeks (I'm used to this kind of thing). Two weeks later they run a field of vision test and check the pressure. Long story short (too late!) I've lot an almost imperceptible bit of peripheral vision in the right eye (keeping in mind the left one only has peripheral vision) and the drops work. The story is that as long as I keep the drops up for the rest of my life my vision should not be further affected. Moderate glaucoma under control.

Of course it was only early this year that they diagnosed moderate cataracts but that's OK for now.

This has been a big hit psychologically even as I've known since I was 15 that losing the good eye was possible because of what took the other one. That's under control.

Been kind of tough and that vacation (Outer Banks) happened in the two week period between diagnosis and follow up. Try to be as normal as possible and always assume a good outcome.

Other than that things are just peachy.... If you don't count the two older daughters, but they are finding their way....

Driver - tell Mike I said hi. I'll gladly trade medical stories with him.

Off to try a little ocean and still want to manage Kentucky next year for the total solar eclipse. We shall see....

Mr. Fezo welcome back and thanks for the updates!

I guess the bodies we were given can be pretty fragile and our continued health isn't guaranteed. I promised myself I would no longer take my good health for granted after losing FOUR (that we know of) high school classmates this year!

roadburner

houdini1 said:

Kubota'a are supposed to be really nice, and it probably cost as much as a used car. We need a review please.

They make great mowers and tractors; my philosophy with respect to tools and outdoor power equipment is to buy commercial quality- which means I only have to buy a particular tool or piece of equipment once.

henryn

jmonroe said:

houdini1 said:

jmonroe said:

henryn said:

Getting old is not for wussies, I gotta admit. There are still a lot of things that I like to do, that I enjoy doing, which are getting more difficult with each passing year. But I refuse to give up!

I purchased a used ZTR mower Saturday morning, and Sunday afternoon I had that sucker up in the air and the blades off and sharpened. It would have been a lot easier 20 years ago, but I still managed, and I'm quite proud of myself for doing so.

I do avoid ladders as much as I reasonably can, no point in tempting fate. But I can still pull d_____ hard on a cheater pipe stuck on the end of a ratchet attached to a stuck bolt holding on a lawn mower blade. And I have some fresh scrapes on my arms to prove it!

I am paranoid about my eyes, I don't want anything to happen to them. (Knock on wood!)



Does this count as a punch? (smile)

Not sure which one of those you want the punch for. But yeah, hell yeah, you get a punch for all of those.

It doesn't look like there is a blade of grass that is safe in your hood.

jmonroe

Kubota'a are supposed to be really nice, and it probably cost as much as a used car. We need a review please.

I agree, Hank owes us a story about that purchase.

If nothing else, I assume the salesman at least talked real nice to him. Not like when he wanted to buy a Town & Country and didn't get a call back. :@

jmonroe

Actually, it was quite a bit like buying a used car. I have been searching for the right deal on the right mower for about a month now.

ZTR mowers are for the most part fairly similar. They mostly fall into two classifications, homeowner and commercial. The homeowner or residential models have thinner stamped metal decks, smaller transaxles (hydrostatic drives), and engines that are of a lesser grade. A typical residential grade ZTR will weigh in about 600 pounds, and a commercial model will run about 1,000 pounds. My new (new to me) Kubota weighs 1,058 pounds.

This particular machine was made in 2006, and sold new for $6,500 (plus tax of course). Commercial grade machines have an hourmeter, no speedometer or odometer. Most of the commercial grade mowers are good for about 1,500 to 2,000 hours, then they get traded in.

This unit was sold to a homeowner, who has only put 191 hours on it in 10 years. The equivalent of the little old lady who only drove to church on Sundays. @oldfarmer50 would love this one! And (so I was told) it was always serviced at the Kubota dealer. It does have Kubota branded filters on the engine and the transaxles.

The original owner bought a new, bigger place, and wanted a bigger mower. Bigger as in bigger cutting deck, this one only has a 48 inch cutting deck. For whatever reason, he decided to go John Deere instead of Kubota this time. The John Deere dealer does not like to keep competing brands sitting around, so they threw it up on Craigslist at a very nice price, and I jumped all over it.

Interesting side note, this was Saturday morning, and they did not have a manager on duty to approve my check. But they were happy to put the entire transaction on my Amex card. $2,900 plus 8.25% sales tax.

fezo

Yeah, I just found out yesterday that an old friend in what seemed to be perfect health dropped dead. 59 years old. I figure I'm on bonus time so I don't complain. That said I'm still planning to live to be a hundred.

It's bad when looking to attend her wake 2 hours away I have to plan it between a doctor's appointment and PT...

jmonroe

henryn said:

jmonroe said:

houdini1 said:

jmonroe said:

henryn said:

Getting old is not for wussies, I gotta admit. There are still a lot of things that I like to do, that I enjoy doing, which are getting more difficult with each passing year. But I refuse to give up!

I purchased a used ZTR mower Saturday morning, and Sunday afternoon I had that sucker up in the air and the blades off and sharpened. It would have been a lot easier 20 years ago, but I still managed, and I'm quite proud of myself for doing so.

I do avoid ladders as much as I reasonably can, no point in tempting fate. But I can still pull d_____ hard on a cheater pipe stuck on the end of a ratchet attached to a stuck bolt holding on a lawn mower blade. And I have some fresh scrapes on my arms to prove it!

I am paranoid about my eyes, I don't want anything to happen to them. (Knock on wood!)



Does this count as a punch? (smile)

Not sure which one of those you want the punch for. But yeah, hell yeah, you get a punch for all of those.

It doesn't look like there is a blade of grass that is safe in your hood.

jmonroe

Kubota'a are supposed to be really nice, and it probably cost as much as a used car. We need a review please.

I agree, Hank owes us a story about that purchase.

If nothing else, I assume the salesman at least talked real nice to him. Not like when he wanted to buy a Town & Country and didn't get a call back. :@

jmonroe

Actually, it was quite a bit like buying a used car. I have been searching for the right deal on the right mower for about a month now.

ZTR mowers are for the most part fairly similar. They mostly fall into two classifications, homeowner and commercial. The homeowner or residential models have thinner stamped metal decks, smaller transaxles (hydrostatic drives), and engines that are of a lesser grade. A typical residential grade ZTR will weigh in about 600 pounds, and a commercial model will run about 1,000 pounds. My new (new to me) Kubota weighs 1,058 pounds.

This particular machine was made in 2006, and sold new for $6,500 (plus tax of course). Commercial grade machines have an hourmeter, no speedometer or odometer. Most of the commercial grade mowers are good for about 1,500 to 2,000 hours, then they get traded in.

This unit was sold to a homeowner, who has only put 191 hours on it in 10 years. The equivalent of the little old lady who only drove to church on Sundays. @oldfarmer50 would love this one! And (so I was told) it was always serviced at the Kubota dealer. It does have Kubota branded filters on the engine and the transaxles.

The original owner bought a new, bigger place, and wanted a bigger mower. Bigger as in bigger cutting deck, this one only has a 48 inch cutting deck. For whatever reason, he decided to go John Deere instead of Kubota this time. The John Deere dealer does not like to keep competing brands sitting around, so they threw it up on Craigslist at a very nice price, and I jumped all over it.

Interesting side note, this was Saturday morning, and they did not have a manager on duty to approve my check. But they were happy to put the entire transaction on my Amex card. $2,900 plus 8.25% sales tax.

Thanks for the sales tale with the riding mower.

FWIW, when I lived in SC from '92 to '97, around '93 my next door neighbor asked me if I could help him with his John Deere mower because it wouldn't start which was a pretty common occurrence with that mower. He always seemed to be doing something with it almost every time he was about to use it. I found a cracked plug and the pickup coil was misadjusted. I thought that was the fix for it but then something else went wrong. I think it was the drive qizmo so he threw up his hands and bought a Sears unit. He said, "I thought I was buying something better than a Sears. I've had a Sears mower in every house I've had and the one I had was getting old so I thought I was doing myself a favor by getting a Deere. Boy was I wrong". :@

jmonroe

snakeweasel

andres3 said:

I think any reasonable judge would interpret "Slower Traffic Keep Right" and "Keep Right Except to Pass" as essentially the same thing. One maybe being more lenient to allowing use of the left lane when no one else is around. Otherwise, "slower" is a relative term that has nothing to do with slow. If someone is going faster than you, by definition you are slower. Pretty simple if you ask me.

The "no one should go faster" than me crowd has failed to comprehend the English language and has failed to read the sign. They enjoy being a rolling roadblock.

I would think any reasonable judge would not interpret a sign but rather interpret the actual traffic code.

"Slower traffic keep right" does not mean "keep right except to pass", "slower traffic" implies that traffic that is not "Slower" does not have to "keep right". And most laws are written defining "slower traffic" as that which is going slower than the normal flow of traffic.

suydam

I had a Deere lawn tractor. It was solid as a rock and I never had a problem with it. They were very common in the rural Midwest area where I lived.

fezo

I'll hang in the right lane if it's moving at a reasonable speed. This should not be confused with the speed limit.

I tend on multi-lane roads to be the second fastest guy at any given time.

snakeweasel

fezo said:

I'll hang in the right lane if it's moving at a reasonable speed. This should not be confused with the speed limit.

I tend on multi-lane roads to be the second fastest guy at any given time.

Here in Illinois they did pass a "keep right except to pass" law for high speed limited access highways. But since I am in the metro Chicago area most of the interstate highways around me are at least 3 lanes wide I tend to stay out of the far right lane. This leaves one, and most of the time more than one, lane to my left. The far right hand lane has to much traffic entering and exiting the highway fat too often.

fordfool

henryn said:

Does this count as a punch? (smile)

Sure, why not? It must have cost more than some of the beaters that I've owned.

murphydog

I remember when I was a kid in the 1960s and we got out first multi-lane highways - or 2-lanes with occasional passing lanes added every so often - the signs said "Slower Traffic Keep Right". But there was a problem - what if you didn't think you were slow? If you were doing the limit, nobody should go faster, should they? That seemed to be the mindset of many drivers then. I remember being in the car with my Dad driving and him cursing at some drivers who would stay in the left passing lane on a 2-lane uphill stretch. After some public debate the signs and rules were changed to "Keep Right Except To Pass" and have remained that way here ever since. Of course we still have our share on Anti-Destination League members who camp out in the left lane and just trundle along, oblivious to what is stacked up behind them.

OK - that is funny, the anti-destination league! I like the ones that trundle along below the speed limit, then when a passing lane appears they speed up like crazy. Of course with passing lane ends they are back down to 5 mph below the speed limit

stickguy

I prefer 3 lane highways. I don't want to putt along, but I also am not comfortable flying too fast. so on the NJ Turnpike, I can float between the left and middle lanes.

but on the NY Thruway, which is only 2 lanes, when traffic is heavier (heck, when isn't it?) you get 2 choices. Stuck in the right lane with the pokies, or out in the left lane, being pushed along at whatever speed the loonies can push it to. so that often becomes a choice between 60-65 and 80-85, when I really want to be sitting at 70-75. and worst is when you get locked into the right lane behind a slow mover, and just never get a break in the left lane to get out.

jmonroe

stickguy said:

I prefer 3 lane highways. I don't want to putt along, but I also am not comfortable flying too fast. so on the NJ Turnpike, I can float between the left and middle lanes.

but on the NY Thruway, which is only 2 lanes, when traffic is heavier (heck, when isn't it?) you get 2 choices. Stuck in the right lane with the pokies, or out in the left lane, being pushed along at whatever speed the loonies can push it to. so that often becomes a choice between 60-65 and 80-85, when I really want to be sitting at 70-75. and worst is when you get locked into the right lane behind a slow mover, and just never get a break in the left lane to get out.

Yeah, I hate it when that happens. As I have said many times, when I was working, I drove the PA pike for about 40 miles round trip the last 7 years I was working. There was a stretch where they made the pike 3 lanes (for about 10 miles after I got on the Pike after work) about 6 years ago and I almost always drove in the right lane. I had no problems doing it since most drivers wanted in the middle and far left lane so I almost had the road all to myself. Then there were times when people in the middle lane would just do just a little over 65 MPH which was the limit at that time (it's now 70 MPH) and if I wanted to get out of the pack I'd have to wait for a crack. Since my '09 Genny had a V8 with 370 HP I didn't need much of a crack. So into the middle lane initially then quickly into the far left lane. After just a few seconds I was back in the right lane again on my private road.

By the time I got my '15 Genny V8 with 420 HP, I was retired but I have had the occasion to drive that same stretch of road a few times and ran into the same conditions a couple times. Now I don't even need a crack, just a half of a crack.

I don't drive much over the speed limit on a regular basis but when I want to get out of the pack I know I can do it with just a second or two of patience looking for that little opening.

jmonroe

roadburner

henryn said:

Actually, it was quite a bit like buying a used car. I have been searching for the right deal on the right mower for about a month now.

ZTR mowers are for the most part fairly similar. They mostly fall into two classifications, homeowner and commercial. The homeowner or residential models have thinner stamped metal decks, smaller transaxles (hydrostatic drives), and engines that are of a lesser grade. A typical residential grade ZTR will weigh in about 600 pounds, and a commercial model will run about 1,000 pounds. My new (new to me) Kubota weighs 1,058 pounds.

This particular machine was made in 2006, and sold new for $6,500 (plus tax of course). Commercial grade machines have an hourmeter, no speedometer or odometer. Most of the commercial grade mowers are good for about 1,500 to 2,000 hours, then they get traded in.

This unit was sold to a homeowner, who has only put 191 hours on it in 10 years. The equivalent of the little old lady who only drove to church on Sundays. @oldfarmer50 would love this one! And (so I was told) it was always serviced at the Kubota dealer. It does have Kubota branded filters on the engine and the transaxles.

The original owner bought a new, bigger place, and wanted a bigger mower. Bigger as in bigger cutting deck, this one only has a 48 inch cutting deck. For whatever reason, he decided to go John Deere instead of Kubota this time. The John Deere dealer does not like to keep competing brands sitting around, so they threw it up on Craigslist at a very nice price, and I jumped all over it.

Interesting side note, this was Saturday morning, and they did not have a manager on duty to approve my check. But they were happy to put the entire transaction on my Amex card. $2,900 plus 8.25% sales tax.

I bought my Cub Cadet Commercial ZTR mower back in 2007; it currently has 157 hours on it. It should last me forever...

driver100

stickguy said:

I hate RFTs. One of my pet peeves. I was building an X1 online today (yeah, I got issues) and noticed they offered a temp spare option, which came with RFT delete. Even better, saved $200!

There is hope for BMW...maybe too many people complained.

When I checked an Audi A6 and asked the salesman if it had RFTs, he said....no, and we have lots of people who ask me that.

bwia

Henry, I like your mower buying story but was taken aback by the 8.25% sales tax. And besides, shouldn't used vehicles be exempt from  sales taxes? The original owner paid the full sales tax when purchased new. When he traded in the mower, he of course did not get a sales tax refund. 

How can the state get away with this double-taxation scam, and at 8.25% to boot. That sounds criminal and there should be a law against it.

fezo

Actually I agree with the middle lane when there is one. All about having one guy to run interference for me.

There are indeed times (frequently) when the right lane is unbearable.

Love the anti-destination league comment.

stickguy

Jersey taxes every sale (but you do get trade in credit). But on private sales, or dealer with no trade, every buyer pays tax so they dip as many times as the car gets sold.

And I do like Audis for the tire reason. Yes, first thing I do in the showroom is pop the trunk and see what is in there under the cover! That is how I discovered that the Acura (with a "mobility kit") could have a tire put in (actually an accessory on at least the ILX) because the well was still there, complete with the bracket to bolt the tire down. literally they just took out the spare and jack, stuck an inflator and fix a flat can into the styrofoam insert, and called it a day.

roadburner

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

I hate RFTs. One of my pet peeves. I was building an X1 online today (yeah, I got issues) and noticed they offered a temp spare option, which came with RFT delete. Even better, saved $200!

There is hope for BMW...maybe too many people complained.

When I checked an Audi A6 and asked the salesman if it had RFTs, he said....no, and we have lots of people who ask me that.

A 2 Series or 3 Series equipped with the Track Handling Package gets conventional Michelin Pilot Super Sports- ditto for the M235i as well as the true M cars.

oldfarmer50

fezo said:

Yeah, I just found out yesterday that an old friend in what seemed to be perfect health dropped dead. 59 years old. I figure I'm on bonus time so I don't complain. That said I'm still planning to live to be a hundred.

It's bad when looking to attend her wake 2 hours away I have to plan it between a doctor's appointment and PT...

Folks are having a bad month in the friend department. Makes you appreciate how lucky you are to still be here.

oldfarmer50

bwia said:

Henry, I like your mower buying story but was taken aback by the 8.25% sales tax. And besides, shouldn't used vehicles be exempt from  sales taxes? The original owner paid the full sales tax when purchased new. When he traded in the mower, he of course did not get a sales tax refund. 

How can the state get away with this double-taxation scam, and at 8.25% to boot. That sounds criminal and there should be a law against it.

You live in Taxachucets and ask that question?

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

Jersey taxes every sale (but you do get trade in credit). But on private sales, or dealer with no trade, every buyer pays tax so they dip as many times as the car gets sold.

And I do like Audis for the tire reason. Yes, first thing I do in the showroom is pop the trunk and see what is in there under the cover! That is how I discovered that the Acura (with a "mobility kit") could have a tire put in (actually an accessory on at least the ILX) because the well was still there, complete with the bracket to bolt the tire down. literally they just took out the spare and jack, stuck an inflator and fix a flat can into the styrofoam insert, and called it a day.

Have the same thing in the Mustang. Saves some weight.

driver100

roadburner said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

I hate RFTs. One of my pet peeves. I was building an X1 online today (yeah, I got issues) and noticed they offered a temp spare option, which came with RFT delete. Even better, saved $200!

There is hope for BMW...maybe too many people complained.

When I checked an Audi A6 and asked the salesman if it had RFTs, he said....no, and we have lots of people who ask me that.

A 2 Series or 3 Series equipped with the Track Handling Package gets conventional Michelin Pilot Super Sports- ditto for the M235i as well as the true M cars.

Why would they use regular tires on those cars....but, use RFTs on their other models? Doesn't that tell me something?

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

Jersey taxes every sale (but you do get trade in credit). But on private sales, or dealer with no trade, every buyer pays tax so they dip as many times as the car gets sold.

And I do like Audis for the tire reason. Yes, first thing I do in the showroom is pop the trunk and see what is in there under the cover! That is how I discovered that the Acura (with a "mobility kit") could have a tire put in (actually an accessory on at least the ILX) because the well was still there, complete with the bracket to bolt the tire down. literally they just took out the spare and jack, stuck an inflator and fix a flat can into the styrofoam insert, and called it a day.

Have the same thing in the Mustang. Saves some weight.

Saves a measly few pounds by not having a spare.....would much rather have a real spare tire. How much does a tire and rim weigh........30 pounds at the most? How much gas does that save?

roadburner

driver100 said:

Why would they use regular tires on those cars....but, use RFTs on their other models? Doesn't that tell me something?

The M, M Performance, and THP cars are aimed at the enthusiast driver- note that those tires aren't all seasons either. For the less rabid BMW driver RFTs are actually a pretty decent choice. The latest tires are quite good and BMW has figured out how to achieve a good ride/handling compromise on the cars that have them. As a matter of fact, the V rated Michelin Primacy MXM4 ZP tires I put on my son's E90 3er are excellent tires- especially considering that they are considered to be a Grand Touring tire.

stickguy

An insignificant amount in terms of mpg or handling. Heck most drivers are probably at least 30 pounds overweight! And silly to worry about getting an extra .01 MPG in a mustang V8!

On the BMW, I assume you get real tires but no spare. The worst of both worlds. I know at least Volvo and Acura do that.

I guess that is another plus to the CUV craze around here, with out bombed out roads. Still get a decent amount of sidewall, and a spare! The 235/60 meats on the RDX can absorb a lot of abuse (and still handle fine).