Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

stever

houdini1 said:

stever said:

And if it's only 30 seconds, if I rear end someone, maybe I'll shut my car off and then restart it and let it idle a few minutes in the hopes that it erases the speedo reading showing me going 80 in a 30.

Pretty clever. I'll try to remember that.

Doesn't sound like it'll work (forgot who posted about how it does work). Maybe a strong magnet would do the trick though? But you're right, the data probably gets sent to OnStar where it gets massaged and sold to the advertisers (and occasionally gets used in lawsuits).

andres3

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

bwia said:

driver100 said:

bwia said:

driver100 said:

Tonight we were on our way to meet friends for dinner. We were almost there and we came to an intersection, and the light changed to amber. I had a fair bit of time and easily stopped, but a large waste type truck plowed into the back of us. It sent us flying across the road and up onto the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road. Thankfully, we seem to be OK physically, but we are shaken up and very tired. We have dealt with police and the towing company, filed reports, and I was on hold with the the insurance company claim department for about 30 minutes while being told "I am a priority". how long do you wait when you aren't a priority?



Any ideas how you can get fair value for your car.....tow truck driver said don't trust the insurance company.

*Driver, I hope both you and your wife are okay. I was away from the board for the past two weeks totally absorbed with the Rio Olympics and just now catching up with the posts that I missed.

Don't know if the insurance company has already settled. More than likely they will offer fair value if deemed a total loss. Not sure how the E-400 ranks in resale value but it should be near the top minimizing your potential loss. Nonetheless, stay safe and minimize night time driving.

Thanks for writing bwia. Actually, I did take the advice of many here who said to see my doctor. I went yesterday, and he said a fuzzy head was normal because I hadn't slept (I believe it is true I had such an adrenaline rush that youo can't possibly sleep), if I hadn't lost conscious, felt dizzy, felt sick, and if I had no pain that should mean I am OK....but, he is glad I came in.

The accident happened in broad daylight, perfect conditions, at 4:45 p.m. But, we avoid traveling at night time as much as possible as the even crazier drivers are out there at that time.

Insurance company hasn't actually settled yet, but, on the phone they did say we paid for full value coverage, meaning, if your car is in an accident within the first 2 years (car is 22 months old) we will get whatever we paid for the car.

We have chosen a new 2017 E400 and the MSRP was about $400 less than that, however now they give me only 3% off list instead of 4% off.....dealers getting squeezed more.........so now I will be paying out about $300 extra.

Thanks again, I feel pretty much back to normal which to me is a miracle.

*Driver, thank goodness there were no injuries and both you and your wife walked away unscathed. And with MB's obsession with safety that outcome is not surprising.

Can't tell from the picture but did any of the airbags deploy? Or that recognizing that there was no one sitting in the back seat the rear and curtain airbags remained mute.

bwia, No airbags went off, and I don't believe they are supposed to as all the impact was from the rear bumper and trunk area. I think the seatbelts really did their job, they tighten up like a straightjacket. You can hardly breathe, and my wife has a bruise where the strap crosses her chest. I think that keeps you from being thrown forward and then back...resulting in whiplash. For some reason the headrests fall apart......maybe it cushions the blow, like a crumple zone for your head.

I don't think airbags would help, and they may make it worse if you could steer, but I think the car shut down.

IMPORTANT QUESTION: I am wondering, are there black boxes in the truck and my car? Can they check to see what speed we were both going, and whether he applied his brakes? Would they use that information to decide on charges?

All our school buses have GPS systems that record speed and breaking. Depending on how new the truck was it might have the info you want.

Are you thinking of a lawsuit?

Not thinking of a lawsuit at this time, as long as there are no hassles. If I get the full cost of the car back, and if we don't have lasting injuries, and if my insurance rates don't increase then I am not out. If the moron cop gives input that I am partially at fault because I didn't know the idiot driving the truck was going to try to beat the light, I'd like some back up information. That's where his speed and whether he hit the gas would help, and they could see what my speed was and when I hit the brakes........it would print a pretty good picture.

One friend has a dash cam and I thought that was a bit much. That would have really helped in this case, but, I would probably show it to a lawyer before I showed it to the cops!

I think a dash cam would be 10 X more useful than any other cam in a car. I certainly would rather have a "built-in" one than an aftermarket one too. You may never need it, but when you do, you do.

Would also be useful for recording traffic stops. I'd love to have video tape contradicting an officer's testimony in court.

andres3

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

Most new cars have cameras on all sides these days. Why can't they make all the cameras record all the time, or at least 20 minute loop? That might make people drive more carefully, it would also be good information if there is an accident.

Most people don't want every little mistake recorded for all to see. I know that one of the reasons I'm retiring next year is that there're are more cameras looking at me on the bus than at the kids. The thought that 20 years from now somebody might be watching me pick my nose really creeps me out.

Like the monitor that Allstate will put on the car and you get a 15% discount. They want to see how fast you drive, if you brake suddenly, etc. I wonder how many people go for that deal.

oldfarmer, I don't think someone is going to be watching a video of you driving the bus 20 years from now....and if they do, they must have an extremely boring life.

I don't get the "monitor" discount. I bet the "discount if you don't have any accidents" method is 10X more effective and motivational. It works like a rebate when you don't have any accidents, but in CA they don't allow it. Of course, that's like a free loan to the insurance company.

andres3

graphicguy said:

A gentleman who works for me is from Pakistan. He has become a U.S. Citizen and has been in this country for over a decade. Very smart person, and loves the U.S.

However, he has two cams in his car (a Hyundai minivan). One is on the dash, the other is rigged up to the roof inside the back cargo area pointing out the back window. I thought he was being overly cautious. But, he is afraid of getting pulled over, and being Pakistani, somehow having some harm come to him or his family by any officials who may pull him over.

I tell him all the time he has nothing to fear. He feels differently. As they say, perception is reality. Shame it's come to this.

I would pay big bucks to have had a camera and microphone on during a traffic stop with a Santee Sheriff. It might have gone viral in the days just before things started going viral. It might have not helped in court, but it would have garnered a good reaction in the court of public opinion and social media.

stickguy

I wonder when a maker will build it in, as an option? wonder what the take rate will be?

ab348

jmonroe said:

You said the tires were waaay out of being correctly inflated and that does not surprise me. If I were you I'd go out to the garage right now and check all 20 lug nuts for the proper torque. Any shop that can't put in the correct air pressure is capable of not using a torque wrench. I never leave a shops parking lot without checking the lug nuts, except at the Firestone store I have been going to lately but I check them as soon as I get home, if the car was in for state inspection. The risk is too great.

jmonroe

Must have been a bad weekend for repair shops. My buddy who accompanied me to the car show on Saturday in his freshly restored and gorgeous '71 4-4-2 told me that when he got it home he was doing some maneuvering in his driveway prior to putting it away when he heard a loud clunk from the front end. When he got out and eventually popped the hood after finding nothing adrift underneath, he found all the alignment shims on one side of the front suspension had fallen out and were laying on the frame rail because the guy who did his wheel alignment did not tighten the bolts that held the upper control arm shaft to the frame. Good thing that showed itself in his driveway and not while on the highway.

ab348

jmonroe said:

I'm with you, my Alma mater got their money when my tuition was paid. I'd like to be in the position that I had enough to even think about donating to them, but me being me, I'd probably give it to fund some research for a cure for something, anything really.

jmonroe

Yeah, when I first graduated and was making short money at my first couple of jobs I would get the calls and funding appeals in the mail from the 2 universities I had degrees from, and for a while I actually sent them money. But lately, after seeing how much they pay all their hordes of administrators and how much they waste on monumental buildings on ever-expanding campus property, I figure they don't need a dime from me. They seem to have money to burn.

explorerx4

Decided t take a pass on the Escape even though it was going to be a killer deal on a new one.
Really didn't want the pano roof and didn't like the light color interior plus it had the small turbo 4.
If I solve a specific problem at work tomorrow, I'm going to ask for the price on something else, figuring I'm on a lucky streak.

ab348

explorerx4 said:

Decided t take a pass on the Escape even though it was going to be a killer deal on a new one.
Really didn't want the pano roof and didn't like the light color interior plus it had the small turbo 4.
If I solve a specific problem at work tomorrow, I'm going to ask for the price on something else, figuring I'm on a lucky streak.

Huh. A pano roof and a light colored interior would be two things on my must-have list.

suydam

Me too.

explorerx4

I have a convertible and my truck has a power moon roof. Fresh air is not a problem.
Another local dealer has a new 2016 Escape SE (33k) about 33% off list.
Going to keep looking.

driver100

stickguy said:

I wonder when a maker will build it in, as an option? wonder what the take rate will be?

I would buy it!

driver100

suydam said:

Me too.

+2

driver100

explorerx4 said:

I have a convertible and my truck has a power moon roof. Fresh air is not a problem.
Another local dealer has a new 2016 Escape SE (33k) about 33% off list.
Going to keep looking.

Not for fresh air....mine is almost never open. I like light coming in and I don't like the claustrophobic feeling of a black interior, feels like I am in a dungeon.

The 2017 E400 we sat in was black with a black interior.......I don't get it. Pay that much for a car with no pizzazz.

suydam

It's for light for me as well.

explorerx4

Hey Driver100,
How about a low mileage E350?
http://www.mitchellseligford.com/used/Mercedes-Benz/2016-Mercedes-Benz-E-Class-Windsor,+CT-7aca96b00a0e0ae8595b246c56f28c1b.htm?searchDepth=54:54

ab348

suydam said:

It's for light for me as well.

Yeah, me also. I say that as a guy whose 2 cars at present both have black interiors. The ATS isn't so bad because it has a sunroof and the headliner is a light shade, so it doesn't feel all that dark. The Cutlass, though, is like a coal mine inside.

stickguy

Light insides and roof are required for me too. And I open mine as much as possible.

stickguy

Benz looks nice. But that does not appear to be beige inside.

And to me, a 2016 with 28k miled, is not LOW LOW miles!

oldfarmer50

andres3 said:

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

bwia said:

driver100 said:

bwia said:

driver100 said:

Tonight we were on our way to meet friends for dinner. We were almost there and we came to an intersection, and the light changed to amber. I had a fair bit of time and easily stopped, but a large waste type truck plowed into the back of us. It sent us flying across the road and up onto the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road. Thankfully, we seem to be OK physically, but we are shaken up and very tired. We have dealt with police and the towing company, filed reports, and I was on hold with the the insurance company claim department for about 30 minutes while being told "I am a priority". how long do you wait when you aren't a priority?



Any ideas how you can get fair value for your car.....tow truck driver said don't trust the insurance company.

*Driver, I hope both you and your wife are okay. I was away from the board for the past two weeks totally absorbed with the Rio Olympics and just now catching up with the posts that I missed.

Don't know if the insurance company has already settled. More than likely they will offer fair value if deemed a total loss. Not sure how the E-400 ranks in resale value but it should be near the top minimizing your potential loss. Nonetheless, stay safe and minimize night time driving.

Thanks for writing bwia. Actually, I did take the advice of many here who said to see my doctor. I went yesterday, and he said a fuzzy head was normal because I hadn't slept (I believe it is true I had such an adrenaline rush that youo can't possibly sleep), if I hadn't lost conscious, felt dizzy, felt sick, and if I had no pain that should mean I am OK....but, he is glad I came in.

The accident happened in broad daylight, perfect conditions, at 4:45 p.m. But, we avoid traveling at night time as much as possible as the even crazier drivers are out there at that time.

Insurance company hasn't actually settled yet, but, on the phone they did say we paid for full value coverage, meaning, if your car is in an accident within the first 2 years (car is 22 months old) we will get whatever we paid for the car.

We have chosen a new 2017 E400 and the MSRP was about $400 less than that, however now they give me only 3% off list instead of 4% off.....dealers getting squeezed more.........so now I will be paying out about $300 extra.

Thanks again, I feel pretty much back to normal which to me is a miracle.

*Driver, thank goodness there were no injuries and both you and your wife walked away unscathed. And with MB's obsession with safety that outcome is not surprising.

Can't tell from the picture but did any of the airbags deploy? Or that recognizing that there was no one sitting in the back seat the rear and curtain airbags remained mute.

bwia, No airbags went off, and I don't believe they are supposed to as all the impact was from the rear bumper and trunk area. I think the seatbelts really did their job, they tighten up like a straightjacket. You can hardly breathe, and my wife has a bruise where the strap crosses her chest. I think that keeps you from being thrown forward and then back...resulting in whiplash. For some reason the headrests fall apart......maybe it cushions the blow, like a crumple zone for your head.

I don't think airbags would help, and they may make it worse if you could steer, but I think the car shut down.

IMPORTANT QUESTION: I am wondering, are there black boxes in the truck and my car? Can they check to see what speed we were both going, and whether he applied his brakes? Would they use that information to decide on charges?

All our school buses have GPS systems that record speed and breaking. Depending on how new the truck was it might have the info you want.

Are you thinking of a lawsuit?

Not thinking of a lawsuit at this time, as long as there are no hassles. If I get the full cost of the car back, and if we don't have lasting injuries, and if my insurance rates don't increase then I am not out. If the moron cop gives input that I am partially at fault because I didn't know the idiot driving the truck was going to try to beat the light, I'd like some back up information. That's where his speed and whether he hit the gas would help, and they could see what my speed was and when I hit the brakes........it would print a pretty good picture.

One friend has a dash cam and I thought that was a bit much. That would have really helped in this case, but, I would probably show it to a lawyer before I showed it to the cops!

I think a dash cam would be 10 X more useful than any other cam in a car. I certainly would rather have a "built-in" one than an aftermarket one too. You may never need it, but when you do, you do.

Would also be useful for recording traffic stops. I'd love to have video tape contradicting an officer's testimony in court.

Like I said, there was a local fellow who liked to do that.

He wound up dead.

oldfarmer50

explorerx4 said:

I have a convertible and my truck has a power moon roof. Fresh air is not a problem.
Another local dealer has a new 2016 Escape SE (33k) about 33% off list.
Going to keep looking.

I've got to start shopping in CT. The best my dealer is sending me is the standard end of year $2000 off on an Escape. About 5%. Yuck.

oldfarmer50

explorerx4 said:

Hey Driver100,
How about a low mileage E350?
http://www.mitchellseligford.com/used/Mercedes-Benz/2016-Mercedes-Benz-E-Class-Windsor,+CT-7aca96b00a0e0ae8595b246c56f28c1b.htm?searchDepth=54:54

A dealer north of me was advertizing a 2014 Cadillac ELR with 13k miles for $39,995.
Origional sticker $77,690. Unless it caught fire or was owned by GG that's some steep depreciation.

graphicguy

Explorer....I agree. 28K miles on a one year old car (or less) has been driven a lot.

OF....those ELRs are sell proof. I know my Caddy dealer still has at least one 2015 he can't get rid of. It's now a service loaner. I've driven it a couple of times. It really is a nice car. It's just not $80,000 nice, nor $60K, nor $50K,.....you get the picture.

houdini1

oldfarmer50 said:

andres3 said:

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

bwia said:

driver100 said:

bwia said:

driver100 said:

Tonight we were on our way to meet friends for dinner. We were almost there and we came to an intersection, and the light changed to amber. I had a fair bit of time and easily stopped, but a large waste type truck plowed into the back of us. It sent us flying across the road and up onto the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road. Thankfully, we seem to be OK physically, but we are shaken up and very tired. We have dealt with police and the towing company, filed reports, and I was on hold with the the insurance company claim department for about 30 minutes while being told "I am a priority". how long do you wait when you aren't a priority?



Any ideas how you can get fair value for your car.....tow truck driver said don't trust the insurance company.

*Driver, I hope both you and your wife are okay. I was away from the board for the past two weeks totally absorbed with the Rio Olympics and just now catching up with the posts that I missed.

Don't know if the insurance company has already settled. More than likely they will offer fair value if deemed a total loss. Not sure how the E-400 ranks in resale value but it should be near the top minimizing your potential loss. Nonetheless, stay safe and minimize night time driving.

Thanks for writing bwia. Actually, I did take the advice of many here who said to see my doctor. I went yesterday, and he said a fuzzy head was normal because I hadn't slept (I believe it is true I had such an adrenaline rush that youo can't possibly sleep), if I hadn't lost conscious, felt dizzy, felt sick, and if I had no pain that should mean I am OK....but, he is glad I came in.

The accident happened in broad daylight, perfect conditions, at 4:45 p.m. But, we avoid traveling at night time as much as possible as the even crazier drivers are out there at that time.

Insurance company hasn't actually settled yet, but, on the phone they did say we paid for full value coverage, meaning, if your car is in an accident within the first 2 years (car is 22 months old) we will get whatever we paid for the car.

We have chosen a new 2017 E400 and the MSRP was about $400 less than that, however now they give me only 3% off list instead of 4% off.....dealers getting squeezed more.........so now I will be paying out about $300 extra.

Thanks again, I feel pretty much back to normal which to me is a miracle.

*Driver, thank goodness there were no injuries and both you and your wife walked away unscathed. And with MB's obsession with safety that outcome is not surprising.

Can't tell from the picture but did any of the airbags deploy? Or that recognizing that there was no one sitting in the back seat the rear and curtain airbags remained mute.

bwia, No airbags went off, and I don't believe they are supposed to as all the impact was from the rear bumper and trunk area. I think the seatbelts really did their job, they tighten up like a straightjacket. You can hardly breathe, and my wife has a bruise where the strap crosses her chest. I think that keeps you from being thrown forward and then back...resulting in whiplash. For some reason the headrests fall apart......maybe it cushions the blow, like a crumple zone for your head.

I don't think airbags would help, and they may make it worse if you could steer, but I think the car shut down.

IMPORTANT QUESTION: I am wondering, are there black boxes in the truck and my car? Can they check to see what speed we were both going, and whether he applied his brakes? Would they use that information to decide on charges?

All our school buses have GPS systems that record speed and breaking. Depending on how new the truck was it might have the info you want.

Are you thinking of a lawsuit?

Not thinking of a lawsuit at this time, as long as there are no hassles. If I get the full cost of the car back, and if we don't have lasting injuries, and if my insurance rates don't increase then I am not out. If the moron cop gives input that I am partially at fault because I didn't know the idiot driving the truck was going to try to beat the light, I'd like some back up information. That's where his speed and whether he hit the gas would help, and they could see what my speed was and when I hit the brakes........it would print a pretty good picture.

One friend has a dash cam and I thought that was a bit much. That would have really helped in this case, but, I would probably show it to a lawyer before I showed it to the cops!

I think a dash cam would be 10 X more useful than any other cam in a car. I certainly would rather have a "built-in" one than an aftermarket one too. You may never need it, but when you do, you do.

Would also be useful for recording traffic stops. I'd love to have video tape contradicting an officer's testimony in court.

Like I said, there was a local fellow who liked to do that.

He wound up dead.

But, but.....we all do.

snakeweasel

andres3 said:

Where you live they must follow the 85th percentile convention better than in CA. There is no such thing as "people often driving" below the speed limit in CA, unless it is due to heavy congestion or other unusual obstacles. Since speed limits are often set below the 85th percentile here in CA for the sole purpose of revenue generating speed traps, our speed limits are artificially low by and large.

Then I must have been lied to the last time I thought I was in CA as I saw enough people driving at or below speed limit when they could have gone faster.

As for revenue generation you would think twice about saying that if you knew how much it cost to generate that revenue.

andres3 said:

I just don't see the "I go 10 over the speed limit" group being a statistically significant portion of the population. If they raised the speed limit to 90 MPH, there are many cars on the road that would probably struggle to go 100 MPH, and the frugal and/or green people might not go that fast just to save on gas.

The "invisible X" group is a significant portion of the drivers especially younger ones who often drive speeds that they think they can get away with. Most police will tell you that they write the same amount of tickets with higher speed limits.

andres3 said:

Most of my personal experience with higher speed limits comes from Arizona's 75 MPH speed limit and I was able to personally observe the effect of greater compliance and less speed differentials at those locations vs. their locations with 65 MPH speed limits. Unfortunately they don't have a middle ground 70 MPH speed limit. I think anyone paying attention while driving in AZ will agree with me.

Last time I was in AZ I didn't observe the same thing you observed.

Now my personal experience mostly comes from my neck of the woods where a few years ago we raised the speed limit from 65 to 70 on rural interstates and speed limits increase on interstates when you eave the metro area. I notice that there is less speed differentials at the lower speed limits. On the rural interstate highways I do pass the slower moving cars at a faster pace and the faster moving cars pass me at a faster pace than they do in the more urban areas.

But I suspect you would never admit to that.

fintail

I saw my name here, had to read some posts. A dashcam is a fun toy, both for peace of mind should police and/or a judge decide to cross over into incompetence, and also for scenic drives. And if you commit an error,...oops, forgot to load the SD card, silly me

The E400 crash from driver100 is interesting too - talk about a crumple zone. A testament to MB and to the W212, that looks like a good 40 mph crash, even if hit by a truck. The car is also interesting to me - those wheels aren't offered in the US market, and later Canadian market E offerings have been substantially different from US offerings, closer to UK style option packages.

snakeweasel

andres3 said:

I'd ask that dealer to at least make it EVEN-STEVEN; no cash beyond the insurance settlement. Especially considering they won the sale due to someone else driving negligently.

Why is it the dealerships responsibility to make it "even-steven"? They didn't do anything wrong, they should do the deal like any other deal.

snakeweasel

PF_Flyer said:

I was a defensive driver when I had that '66 Newport, but those days of having a LOT of iron around you are loooong gone. Can't afford to let your attention wander behind the wheel now. You never know who's NOT driving the cars around you.

The thing is that you are more likely to walk away from an accident in todays cars that from one of those cars from back in the day when you had a lot of iron around you. How the metal around you crumples and dissipates the energy around you is more important than how much metal is around you and how much it weighs.

ab348

fintail said:

The car is also interesting to me - those wheels aren't offered in the US market, and later Canadian market E offerings have been substantially different from US offerings, closer to UK style option packages.

Those wheels caught my eye too. Not really in a good way TBH as I've never been a fan of the "petal" style wheels. They sort of remind me of Kia wheels. Were they an optional item, @driver100 or were they standard? I don't think I've seen them on E Class models here but possibly on a CLA.

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

If the moron cop gives input that I am partially at fault because I didn't know the idiot driving the truck was going to try to beat the light, I'd like some back up information. That's where his speed and whether he hit the gas would help, and they could see what my speed was and when I hit the brakes........it would print a pretty good picture.

Really? You were partially at fault because you didn't know that the truck driver was going to try to beat the light? That's like saying the Poland was responsible for WWII because they didn't get out of the way of those German tanks.

tjc78

@graphicguy / @roadburner Quick electronics question... Getting conflicting advice on the net. Will a TV's optical (Toslink) output pass through digital audio it is receiving from HDMI? I believe it will, but was curious if either of you have tried. I'm in a tough connectivity situation with my bedroom TV.

Thanks!

tjc78

snakeweasel said:

PF_Flyer said:

I was a defensive driver when I had that '66 Newport, but those days of having a LOT of iron around you are loooong gone. Can't afford to let your attention wander behind the wheel now. You never know who's NOT driving the cars around you.

The thing is that you are more likely to walk away from an accident in todays cars that from one of those cars from back in the day when you had a lot of iron around you. How the metal around you crumples and dissipates the energy around you is more important than how much metal is around you and how much it weighs.

Just YouTube some old crash tests and you can easily see how true it is today's cars are safer.

driver100

explorerx4 said:

Hey Driver100,
How about a low mileage E350?
http://www.mitchellseligford.com/used/Mercedes-Benz/2016-Mercedes-Benz-E-Class-Windsor,+CT-7aca96b00a0e0ae8595b246c56f28c1b.htm?searchDepth=54:54

Wish I could buy that one....though the video seems to be a different car. It says it has a beige interior but it looks black or dark gray. Under 30k miles is good. Also, they say double sunroof, but it doesn't have panarame roof....odd?
But, looks like a great price for that car!

driver100

ab348 said:

fintail said:

The car is also interesting to me - those wheels aren't offered in the US market, and later Canadian market E offerings have been substantially different from US offerings, closer to UK style option packages.

Those wheels caught my eye too. Not really in a good way TBH as I've never been a fan of the "petal" style wheels. They sort of remind me of Kia wheels. Were they an optional item, @driver100 or were they standard? I don't think I've seen them on E Class models here but possibly on a CLA.

They are the standard wheels that came with the car. I like them, they look almost gray and it contrasts with the white car, black roof. They sure get brake dust on them quickly though.......they look great when clean. Some of the optional wheels on the 2017 look really petal like...with big open space between spokes.

snakeweasel

jmonroe said:

explorerx4 said:

Dipped my toe into the new vehicle possibility.
Local dealer has a new 2016 Escape Titanium for 25% off list.
Sent the salesguy I bought a few vehicles from an inquiry for more details.
To be continued...

Could be a demo with around 5K miles on it. Dealers still consider it new because it's never been titled. That doesn't mean it's not a good deal but with demo miles and it being a '16, that's about what you should expect.

jmonroe

My wifes car was a demo with about 6K miles on it. They were pricing it like it only had 6 miles on it stating that it was "new" since it was never titled. I countered that I could go down the street to Jr Samples auto sales and get the exact same car with approximately the same number of miles as a used car for thousands less and the instant I drove it off the lot I wouldn't know the difference between the new one that's never been titled and the used one that has been titled.

To me it was used, titled or not, and should have been priced as such. In the end they came down to my price.

driver100

fintail said:

The E400 crash from driver100 is interesting too - talk about a crumple zone. A testament to MB and to the W212, that looks like a good 40 mph crash, even if hit by a truck. The car is also interesting to me - those wheels aren't offered in the US market, and later Canadian market E offerings have been substantially different from US offerings, closer to UK style option packages.

Good estimate.....the truck was going between 40 and 50 mph. When I bought the 2015 E400 my salesman said Mercedes offers more different models in Canada....than in the US. They could have chosen European wheels for the Canadian market for some reason........

fintail

I have seen them on CLA and C in the US, but I believe on EU and UK spec E.

ab348 said:

Those wheels caught my eye too. Not really in a good way TBH as I've never been a fan of the "petal" style wheels. They sort of remind me of Kia wheels. Were they an optional item, @driver100 or were they standard? I don't think I've seen them on E Class models here but possibly on a CLA.

snakeweasel

bwia said:

I too plan to retire next year. My wife retired two years ago and for a while there, I thought she had regretted that decision; but no more. She no longer relies on me to travel or do fun things.

Thank God, we have a comfortable retirement nest egg but we have not yet made our last will and testament but last week we had "the talk" and that was an emotional moment. The entire family talked about my last wishes and how our real estate property should be divided. Frankly, I hadn't thought much about these details but after watching how quickly my wife's brother-in-law deteriorated after his Alzheimer's diagnosis, it's given me a new appreciation for end of life planning.

Now the hard part. I want to leave something substantial for my two grandchildren but also want to set up and endowment at my Alma mater. Any thoughts?

Speaking of wills my sister last week gave me a folder, in it was her will and as luck would have it I am her executor. This will be fun.

fintail

I have seen them on CLA and C in the US, but I have seen them on E in Europe. Just a weird market thing, like how Canada had the W212 E300 which was never seen in the US. The US also had a basic premium package with many extra ala carte options, where in Canada there were more group option packages as was the case in the UK. With W213, this has changed again. Canada also gets models like a SWB S-class and gasoline B-class, not seen in the US.

I drive the diesel version of your now departed E400. It'll be interesting to see when the 6cyl W213 arrives.

driver100 said:

fintail said:

The E400 crash from driver100 is interesting too - talk about a crumple zone. A testament to MB and to the W212, that looks like a good 40 mph crash, even if hit by a truck. The car is also interesting to me - those wheels aren't offered in the US market, and later Canadian market E offerings have been substantially different from US offerings, closer to UK style option packages.

Good estimate.....the truck was going between 40 and 50 mph. When I bought the 2015 E400 my salesman said Mercedes offers more different models in Canada....than in the US. They could have chosen European wheels for the Canadian market for some reason........

jmonroe

snakeweasel said:

bwia said:

I too plan to retire next year. My wife retired two years ago and for a while there, I thought she had regretted that decision; but no more. She no longer relies on me to travel or do fun things.

Thank God, we have a comfortable retirement nest egg but we have not yet made our last will and testament but last week we had "the talk" and that was an emotional moment. The entire family talked about my last wishes and how our real estate property should be divided. Frankly, I hadn't thought much about these details but after watching how quickly my wife's brother-in-law deteriorated after his Alzheimer's diagnosis, it's given me a new appreciation for end of life planning.

Now the hard part. I want to leave something substantial for my two grandchildren but also want to set up and endowment at my Alma mater. Any thoughts?

Speaking of wills my sister last week gave me a folder, in it was her will and as luck would have it I am her executor. This will be fun.

That's being a little presumptuous ain't it.

jmonroe

ab348

tjc78 said:

@graphicguy / @roadburner Quick electronics question... Getting conflicting advice on the net. Will a TV's optical (Toslink) output pass through digital audio it is receiving from HDMI? I believe it will, but was curious if either of you have tried. I'm in a tough connectivity situation with my bedroom TV.

Thanks!

My TV receives its signal via HDMI from a digital cable box and feeds it out thru an optical cable to a sound bar with no problem. I have noticed a bit more out of sync sound since the sound bar was installed but don't know if it is just a coincidence.

snakeweasel

OK, earlier this evening I am mowing the lawn and my wife comes running out. She tells me that there is someone on the phone from Microsoft stating that there is an issue with her computer and if I could talk to them. I go inside pick up the phone say "Goodbye" and hang up. I turn to my wife to tell her what the call was and before I could say anything the phone rings again and my wife looks at the caller ID and says it's the same number.

I answer the phone and before I could say anything there is this voice with a heavy Indian accent is telling me that there is an issue with our computer and if we don't cooperate they will lock out our computer. I respond that I am very aware of this scam and again I hung up.

Be careful out there.

suydam

I never answer a phone number I don't recognize. If it's on the level they'll leave a voice mail.

venture

snakeweasel said:

OK, earlier this evening I am mowing the lawn and my wife comes running out. She tells me that there is someone on the phone from Microsoft stating that there is an issue with her computer and if I could talk to them. I go inside pick up the phone say "Goodbye" and hang up. I turn to my wife to tell her what the call was and before I could say anything the phone rings again and my wife looks at the caller ID and says it's the same number.

I answer the phone and before I could say anything there is this voice with a heavy Indian accent is telling me that there is an issue with our computer and if we don't cooperate they will lock out our computer. I respond that I am very aware of this scam and again I hung up.

Be careful out there.

When I get that phone call I tell them I don't have a computer. They insist I do...LOL.
Then I hang up.

verdugo

snakeweasel said:

But I suspect you would never admit to that.

Oh snake, you should know better than to keep feeding the trolls.

roadburner

tjc78 said:

@graphicguy / @roadburner Quick electronics question... Getting conflicting advice on the net. Will a TV's optical (Toslink) output pass through digital audio it is receiving from HDMI? I believe it will, but was curious if either of you have tried. I'm in a tough connectivity situation with my bedroom TV.

Thanks!

It depends on the TV. Most newer ones will output a digital surround signal(at least 5.1). My 2008 Kuro Elite only outputs stereo from an HDMI source.

Michaell

suydam said:

I never answer a phone number I don't recognize. If it's on the level they'll leave a voice mail.

My mom has taken the same approach. Which meant that when I called her with my new work-supplied cell phone I had to leave a message - she didn't recognize the number.

Michaell

Speaking of scams ... I'm sure you've had calls (or know someone who has) from the "IRS" indicating that a lawsuit is going to be filed against you for non-payment.

I've got a HS buddy who spent 4 years working for the IRS, then another 20+ working for the FBI before retiring a year or so ago. He's been documenting the calls he gets, and his responses, on FB.

It's hilarious. He finally got one of them to tell them their name ... a male answered "Lola". He also got them to provide an address of where they were calling from - they actually got that one right (IRS HQ in DC). And an office number. My friend's wife, who also works with the FBI, said that she was heading right down there to speak with "Mr. Lola".

I've asked him to teach the rest of us how to string them along. He throws out questions about whether this is an issue with the numbers before or after you calculate AGI .. silence.

He gets them to hang up, eventually.

stever

Be funny if a SWAT team shows up. (WaPo)

fordfool

snakeweasel said:

I answer the phone and before I could say anything there is this voice with a heavy Indian accent is telling me that there is an issue with our computer and if we don't cooperate they will lock out our computer. I respond that I am very aware of this scam and again I hung up.

Heavy accent (HA): We’ve detected a virus in the operating system of your computer causing it to perform slowly.

Me: Which computer?

HA: A problem with Windows.

Me: I only use Linux Ubuntu.

Me: (I keep HA going long enough to discover that he’s trying to gain remote access to my computer.)

HA: Is your computer on?

Me: No, it will take a few minutes to boot up. (I return to what I had been doing; after five minutes my phone begins to beep.) Apparently HA got tired of waiting and hung up. No patience at all!