Hey, folks. Checking in and will try to get in at least daily again. Lots going on and the election was a huge distraction and giving me agita. Worse now but I'll bet it would have been if it went the other way. I'll leave politics at that.
Oldest daughter who has an inherited depression (through my mom's great grandmother to my grandfather to my mom to me to Jill. Jill got the worst of it and anyone who has dealt with a serious depression problem knows that while the illness is quite real that each patient is different. Unlike when I needed the transplant it isn't a you have a, you need b type of situation. Struggled with it for years, would have good periods and then really low, hollow periods. Finally devoted really two years on nothing but recovery. Might have been less time but some of these "professionals" are only in it for the paycheck. She finally got the right combination of people and got advanced enough that they sent her to school to be a peer counselor, that is the first rung on the ladder to early intervention and her first step on the ladder to becoming a therapist which is her goal. Took maybe 10 years out of her life but my physical ills took better than 20 useful years out of mine (the very large majority of which I worked through) so she gets the idea that you can only go from where you are so for the first time since she was a little kid I have her fully back.
My second daughter, Michelle, inherited some of that but has always been functioning well.
Third and fourth daughters (the "twins") are just fine and dandy. Carrie has it not at all and since Claire is adopted she's a genetic crapshoot that seems to have turned out insanely well.
Good having Jill back. Makes me feel more complete.
I'm definitely having retirement issues. Still with the compromised immune system so there's things I can't do and other than the fast that we need a bit more money short term no desire to go back. Still working it out.
I date back to 1996 or 7 here at Edmunds and until October of 2011 was working disables the whole time andposting in between clients who showed up strictly randomly. Some days I had a ton of work (THAT was near impossible) and some days hardly anyone showed. Then I was in almost every topic.
I'll admit Facebook has been a distraction as well.
Still trying to put pieces together which is coming along. Should tick off a couple of bucket list items that I've had long before the term was started in the coming year. Want to drive the perimeter of Lake Superior (my donor has expressed interest in coming for a portion of that; he shares the fascination. The other is seeing a total eclipse of the sun which has been on my list since age 12 when we went all the way to Maine and get clouded out on the day. Have a room in Marion, IL booked, but that plan might alter depending on what I get done between now and August 21. Nashville is in the path of totality and if I get enough new stuff going I might go down and try to pitch songs. Have a friend right in town. I don't know his living arrangements but a possible free place to crash. Several people here have a pretty short trip to the path of totality - you can google solar eclipse 2017 and there's scads of sites including maps of the path. I remember that it crosses southern Illinois, parts pf Kentucky and Tennessee and exits out South Carolina but there's more than that. If I'm going to go blind I might as well do it with a solar eclipse....
Hang in there- you deserve some peace, relaxation, and commercial success.
You might catch the extra-large full moon tonight (actually it was at its peak last night). Won't happen again until I think. 2034...let's see 18 years from now....nah, probably won't be there myself, but could be.
Even though it is fully on rainy season out here in the Pacific Northwest I am missing the convertible now that dad's Ghia is gone.
I briefly ran through the Seattle auto show hoping to look at a few options, but was very limited in time. Glanced at a Camaro and was shocked how little rear leg room there was (uh...none!). No convertible Mustangs to peek at, and the BMW section was jammed with people.
Next I wondered by the Mercedes area and they had a AMG 43 C class convertible - what a looker! Love the interior, small back seats yes, but some leg room for a kid, and even some room in the trunk with the top down.
Did not even check the sticker, I am sure it was north of $65K, which makes zero sense....but wowza I really liked it.
Hey, folks. Checking in and will try to get in at least daily again. Lots going on and the election was a huge distraction and giving me agita. Worse now but I'll bet it would have been if it went the other way. I'll leave politics at that.
Oldest daughter who has an inherited depression (through my mom's great grandmother to my grandfather to my mom to me to Jill. Jill got the worst of it and anyone who has dealt with a serious depression problem knows that while the illness is quite real that each patient is different. Unlike when I needed the transplant it isn't a you have a, you need b type of situation. Struggled with it for years, would have good periods and then really low, hollow periods. Finally devoted really two years on nothing but recovery. Might have been less time but some of these "professionals" are only in it for the paycheck. She finally got the right combination of people and got advanced enough that they sent her to school to be a peer counselor, that is the first rung on the ladder to early intervention and her first step on the ladder to becoming a therapist which is her goal. Took maybe 10 years out of her life but my physical ills took better than 20 useful years out of mine (the very large majority of which I worked through) so she gets the idea that you can only go from where you are so for the first time since she was a little kid I have her fully back.
My second daughter, Michelle, inherited some of that but has always been functioning well.
Third and fourth daughters (the "twins") are just fine and dandy. Carrie has it not at all and since Claire is adopted she's a genetic crapshoot that seems to have turned out insanely well.
Good having Jill back. Makes me feel more complete.
I'm definitely having retirement issues. Still with the compromised immune system so there's things I can't do and other than the fast that we need a bit more money short term no desire to go back. Still working it out.
I date back to 1996 or 7 here at Edmunds and until October of 2011 was working disables the whole time andposting in between clients who showed up strictly randomly. Some days I had a ton of work (THAT was near impossible) and some days hardly anyone showed. Then I was in almost every topic.
I'll admit Facebook has been a distraction as well.
Still trying to put pieces together which is coming along. Should tick off a couple of bucket list items that I've had long before the term was started in the coming year. Want to drive the perimeter of Lake Superior (my donor has expressed interest in coming for a portion of that; he shares the fascination. The other is seeing a total eclipse of the sun which has been on my list since age 12 when we went all the way to Maine and get clouded out on the day. Have a room in Marion, IL booked, but that plan might alter depending on what I get done between now and August 21. Nashville is in the path of totality and if I get enough new stuff going I might go down and try to pitch songs. Have a friend right in town. I don't know his living arrangements but a possible free place to crash. Several people here have a pretty short trip to the path of totality - you can google solar eclipse 2017 and there's scads of sites including maps of the path. I remember that it crosses southern Illinois, parts pf Kentucky and Tennessee and exits out South Carolina but there's more than that. If I'm going to go blind I might as well do it with a solar eclipse....
Hang in there- you deserve some peace, relaxation, and commercial success.
You might catch the extra-large full moon tonight (actually it was at its peak last night). Won't happen again until I think. 2034...let's see 18 years from now....nah, probably won't be there myself, but could be.
Yea, I have a couple of locations I've scoped out where I might get a good super moon photo. I have to head out to see how my map reading skills worked out
Speaking of Buicks, for years the feeling was that if you were being held up on a 2-lane by someone driving 10 or 20 under the speed limit, the culprit would be driving a Buick. But I think we can retire that now, because I am certain that the Buick has been replaced by a Toyota, generally a Corolla. I was out for a drive today and saw at least 3 instances of Corollas, both current-gen and previous-gen, dawdling along and holding up traffic. Not the first time recently either. They seem to be the "last car" of choice for many octogenarians. It is uncanny.
At every turn it seemed we would get behind a slow poke, and what we they driving?? A Buick, and in all but one case, a LeSabre. It got to the point where we would both laugh and say "it's a Buick"! I think Toyota does indeed wear that honor now.
I play a game, sometimes with my wife, as I come up to pass a Buick I say I bet the driver of this next car is over 70, and 80% of the time I am right. 10% of the time I am sure its some 70 year old's child (late in life child) or grandchild. Older people who switch from Buicks to Asian makes almost always go to Toyotas....Camry, Corolla or Avalon.
Thanks for not including Hyundai on that list.
That would have definitely made me go full luxo with my next purchase.
jmonroe
Just a wild opinion, but I think actual Hyundai buyers (Sonata and Elantra) are usually younger people looking for inexpensive transportation. Since these cars are makes older people didn't grow up with, and since they are a little more edgy, and since they aren't as traditional as say Honda or Toyota, I think most buyers are younger.
Genesis is a car for the more established older person, but, once again, not the older MB buyer who grew up always hoping one day to drive a Mercedes. Wild opinion again, but I think a Genesis buyer is not as old and traditional as say a Mercedes buyer.....except in your case compared to me (I'm 69).
cdnpinhead and PFFlyer makes two Nissan guys frequently on here. I've noted a large lack of Nissan Versa sedan reviews on the net. The Versa Note seems more popular - the sedan costs less but I like the sedan.
I think it's easier, though, to be fooled by good reviews than by bad ones. My reasoning is that people might tend to over-rate a movie because of the hype or star power, but people don't tend to under-rate movies so much. If you go under 50%, you know the film has problems.
Those observations are basically true, but, there are always exceptions. One movie that my wife and I enjoyed, and several other people did too, but it got a 20% and a 42% on RT is The Tourist....Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.
Most of the reviews were terrible, but this one was right on the money for us:
[The Tourist] is very entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable from the very start and doesn't let up until the screen goes black, which is something that very few films are able to pull off nowadays.
It was like an old fashioned mystery with humor, great scenes of Venice, a boat chase for a change, and a clever twisting plot. That is why I always read reviews, but try to see past them. The movie was pure light entertainment, and kept me awake, which counts for a lot!
Missed the Seattle Auto Show this year (only one weekend) because I took my wife down to the Hood Canal area to celebrate her birthday. Even in the rain, area is beautiful. Also was able to take the Escape on the Fauntleroy-Southworth Ferry, which was far more fun than it should have been...
2025 Jetta GLI Autobahn, 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xE
28firefighter-one of many things I miss about my birth City of Seattle are those ferryboats! I remember being out on the deck, looking down in to that dark Puget Sound water. Humm...what if, heaven forbid, I fell in to this water? Wrasslin' with an octopus?
Speaking of Buicks, for years the feeling was that if you were being held up on a 2-lane by someone driving 10 or 20 under the speed limit, the culprit would be driving a Buick. But I think we can retire that now, because I am certain that the Buick has been replaced by a Toyota, generally a Corolla. I was out for a drive today and saw at least 3 instances of Corollas, both current-gen and previous-gen, dawdling along and holding up traffic. Not the first time recently either. They seem to be the "last car" of choice for many octogenarians. It is uncanny.
At every turn it seemed we would get behind a slow poke, and what we they driving?? A Buick, and in all but one case, a LeSabre. It got to the point where we would both laugh and say "it's a Buick"! I think Toyota does indeed wear that honor now.
I play a game, sometimes with my wife, as I come up to pass a Buick I say I bet the driver of this next car is over 70, and 80% of the time I am right. 10% of the time I am sure its some 70 year old's child (late in life child) or grandchild. Older people who switch from Buicks to Asian makes almost always go to Toyotas....Camry, Corolla or Avalon.
Thanks for not including Hyundai on that list.
That would have definitely made me go full luxo with my next purchase.
jmonroe
Just a wild opinion, but I think actual Hyundai buyers (Sonata and Elantra) are usually younger people looking for inexpensive transportation. Since these cars are makes older people didn't grow up with, and since they are a little more edgy, and since they aren't as traditional as say Honda or Toyota, I think most buyers are younger.
Genesis is a car for the more established older person, but, once again, not the older MB buyer who grew up always hoping one day to drive a Mercedes. Wild opinion again, but I think a Genesis buyer is not as old and traditional as say a Mercedes buyer.....except in your case compared to me (I'm 69).
I guess I'm a real weirdo (no wise cracks please :@ ) because I never set a goal for what I wanted to do or own when I got older. I just figured that if I managed my money correctly as I went through life and didn't go wild with purchases once I retired, I should be able to do most of what I wanted to do and buy most of what I wanted to buy. So far, it looks like that can happen barring some bad stuff hitting us.
FWIW, when I was your age I owned a Genny, I didn't have to grow into it. IF I do buy a real luxo in a few years it won't be because it was a goal of mine, it will be because I want to.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Even though it is fully on rainy season out here in the Pacific Northwest I am missing the convertible now that dad's Ghia is gone.
I briefly ran through the Seattle auto show hoping to look at a few options, but was very limited in time. Glanced at a Camaro and was shocked how little rear leg room there was (uh...none!). No convertible Mustangs to peek at, and the BMW section was jammed with people.
Next I wondered by the Mercedes area and they had a AMG 43 C class convertible - what a looker! Love the interior, small back seats yes, but some leg room for a kid, and even some room in the trunk with the top down.
Did not even check the sticker, I am sure it was north of $65K, which makes zero sense....but wowza I really liked it.
As my son likes to say....maybe next time.....
Consider an old Chrysler Sebring. MY 2000 or older. Super smooth Mitsu motor, best interior space of the bunch and best of all dirt cheap. $2000 should get you one suitable for nice weather cruising.
cdnpinhead and PFFlyer makes two Nissan guys frequently on here. I've noted a large lack of Nissan Versa sedan reviews on the net. The Versa Note seems more popular - the sedan costs less but I like the sedan.
I didn't like the look of the sedan at first, but I think it's OK now. The hatch is just way more versatile (pun alert) for us, the wife especially. She gets to drag a bunch of presentation materials around now and then, and the space is real handy!
SANTA MONICA, CA — November 14, 2016 — A rising number of car shoppers have negative equity on their trade-ins when they're purchasing their next vehicle, reports Edmunds.com, the leading car information and shopping network. According to Edmunds data, an estimated 32 percent of all trade-ins toward the purchase of a new car through the first three quarters of 2016 were underwater. This is the highest rate on record, and it's up from 30 percent of all trade-ins toward new car purchases from January to September last year. These "upside down" shoppers had an average of $4,832 of negative equity at the time of trade-in, also a record.
Seems like a lot of people treat car purchases like they happened to see a candy bar they like in a checkout line. But if yoou want to pay to play, whatever floats your boat, I suppose.
So they are trying to create a snob appeal in regards to the movie where people can claim a bit of superiority of those who didn't like it as much as they did.
You get it snake !!
Even though A Space Odyssey got great reviews I felt it was the same thing. I didn't get it...not intellectual enough. I tried to ask an usher what it all meant.
Most reviews rave about it, but I agree with this one; A small sphere of intellectuals will feel that Kubrick has said something, simply because one expected him to say something. ... Most moviegoers will only wish that Mr. Kubrick would come back down to earth.
Sort of like the Emperors New Clothes, if you don't see them you're not worthy of your position in life.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I agree, I think the user reviews are usually more accurate than the pros. In this case though, about 5 people I know said they saw the movie and they liked it. That is almost a better test for me....when 4 or 5 people with similar taste like a movie that is a really good sign.
That would depend on the pro and the other people involved. I don't think I agreed with any friend of mine about a movie more than 85% of the time. On the other hand I liked the movies this guy liked over 90% of the time.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Speaking of Buicks, for years the feeling was that if you were being held up on a 2-lane by someone driving 10 or 20 under the speed limit, the culprit would be driving a Buick. But I think we can retire that now, because I am certain that the Buick has been replaced by a Toyota, generally a Corolla. I was out for a drive today and saw at least 3 instances of Corollas, both current-gen and previous-gen, dawdling along and holding up traffic. Not the first time recently either. They seem to be the "last car" of choice for many octogenarians. It is uncanny.
At every turn it seemed we would get behind a slow poke, and what we they driving?? A Buick, and in all but one case, a LeSabre. It got to the point where we would both laugh and say "it's a Buick"! I think Toyota does indeed wear that honor now.
I play a game, sometimes with my wife, as I come up to pass a Buick I say I bet the driver of this next car is over 70, and 80% of the time I am right. 10% of the time I am sure its some 70 year old's child (late in life child) or grandchild. Older people who switch from Buicks to Asian makes almost always go to Toyotas....Camry, Corolla or Avalon.
Thanks for not including Hyundai on that list.
That would have definitely made me go full luxo with my next purchase.
jmonroe
Just a wild opinion, but I think actual Hyundai buyers (Sonata and Elantra) are usually younger people looking for inexpensive transportation. Since these cars are makes older people didn't grow up with, and since they are a little more edgy, and since they aren't as traditional as say Honda or Toyota, I think most buyers are younger.
Genesis is a car for the more established older person, but, once again, not the older MB buyer who grew up always hoping one day to drive a Mercedes. Wild opinion again, but I think a Genesis buyer is not as old and traditional as say a Mercedes buyer.....except in your case compared to me (I'm 69).
FWIW, when I was your age I owned a Genny, I didn't have to grow into it. IF I do buy a real luxo in a few years it won't be because it was a goal of mine, it will be because I want to.
jmonroe
But you have the mentality of a younger person so you will take a chance on a new brand. Us old codgers like the old man's car...a Mercedes....tried and proven suitable for senior citizens.
I never aspired to own a Mercedes, it just happened. I am not a big risk taker about life type things, so I want to go with what has pretty well got a good track record...that is just me.
SANTA MONICA, CA — November 14, 2016 — A rising number of car shoppers have negative equity on their trade-ins when they're purchasing their next vehicle, reports Edmunds.com, the leading car information and shopping network. According to Edmunds data, an estimated 32 percent of all trade-ins toward the purchase of a new car through the first three quarters of 2016 were underwater. .
Unbelievable! Budgeting should be taught in school. It makes very little sense to trade cars and be in the hole for $1000s before you even leave the dealers lot.
Now...is that a road hazard claim, or an insurance claim on the ferry company, or a big "your baby" stamped on your letter from the insurance company?
My guess is that it would be a claim on the ferry company. FWIW I don't remember the last time I saw a ferry that didn't have a large bulkhead up front that doubles as a ramp that drops down to be used as a ramp to load and unload vehicles that would block those waves (see below).
SANTA MONICA, CA — November 14, 2016 — A rising number of car shoppers have negative equity on their trade-ins when they're purchasing their next vehicle, reports Edmunds.com, the leading car information and shopping network. According to Edmunds data, an estimated 32 percent of all trade-ins toward the purchase of a new car through the first three quarters of 2016 were underwater. .
Unbelievable! Budgeting should be taught in school. It makes very little sense to trade cars and be in the hole for $1000s before you even leave the dealers lot.
We are still loving the i3; this month we have only spent $26 on gas- that being for my 2 Series. So far the range extender hasn't fired up once. Now that the weather has cooled off my wife especially likes how the car can be programmed to be warmed up and ready to go by the time she is ready to leave for work- BMW calls this feature "preconditioning" as it allows the car's HVAC to be activated while the car is still plugged in; the advantage to preconditioning is that the battery and cabin can be warmed/cooled without any additional drain on the battery.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Now...is that a road hazard claim, or an insurance claim on the ferry company, or a big "your baby" stamped on your letter from the insurance company?
My guess is that it would be a claim on the ferry company. FWIW I don't remember the last time I saw a ferry that didn't have a large bulkhead up front that doubles as a ramp that drops down to be used as a ramp to load and unload vehicles that would block those waves (see below).
Washington State Ferries are all open double ended Ferries. The loading ramps part of the dock, not the ship. Usually weather is no heavy enough to crash over the bow like that, however in can occur in the late fall on the San Juan island run.
This was not unusual during my commute home.
https://youtu.be/RGwdr0LPup4
They have opened a new bridge, 20 feet above the water so you are no longer hit by white caps on the drive home...
I've been on the 90 bridge right as they were shutting it down due to wind. I found it to be a lot of fun, but I imagine it would be until you get washed into Lake Washington...
2025 Jetta GLI Autobahn, 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xE
PFFlyer - the story behind my Nissan Versa sedan hankering. My bride and I like Hot Springs, AR. Took an unplanned mini-vacatione there around May of 2016 from our Dodge City, KS, home. Took the ride, loved Hot Springs, drove back through the gorgeous Oauchita Mts. on the way home to SW Kansas. On the way back we pulled into the Motel 6 in Russellville, AR. In the morning I took our Chow (Motel 6 is our friend on the road when we have our Pomeranian and our Chow Chow along - they never get pithy about animal boarding for no extra charge) for an early morning walk. There had been a fight overnight - a couple guys fighting over a beautiful girl from the nightclub across the street, or...for some stealthy reason, I'm...sure.
Anyhoo - I glance over towards the big hole in the office window from out in the parking lot and what is that there in the cool metallic blue shade - a shade that my first new car ever - a 1994 Ford Escort wagon had - Ford called it 'Brilliant Blue' - what kind of sedan is that? I tugged on the Chow's leash and led her over to the cute little sedan that was backed in to a parking spot right outside the Motel 6 office - the office that now had a big hole in it's window. I knew it was a Nissan - the latest Nissan design architecture - I'm not remembering it's Corporate design name - but, my brain is a sponge right now for all things - umm, almost all things Nissan.
Nissan Versa it said on the bottom of it's trunklid - just above the taillight area. Humm...I did the walkaround to get it's basic parameters and design language. I like this little pup's look. I like it a lot. Once home I Googled the car, of course, it's what we car nuts do. Pleased to read that it's America's cheapest new car for sale. Cheaper than my beloved Mitsubishi's dinkiest car - the Mirage, by several hundered dollars the Versa S sedan is. Well, the Versa S sedan now must be researched to the hilt - look it up, check the online forums - check it however you can.
I have found a distinct lack of information on the cheapest Nissan sedan, the one I love, the Nissan Versa S sedan, from owner/operators. But I have found some reports - apparently the Versa S sedan can get blown around in the wind a bit. PF - does your Nissan Versa Note hatchback get blown aboot (misspelled intentionally to exhibit writer's free license and will) mercilessly during inclement weather "incidents?" One person who bought the sedan complained of the car's smallish stock tires leading to to an unsteady ride. I have only found a couple consumer reviews online of the sedan. That is it, so far. 27 mpg in the city, 39 mpg on the highway. The 2017 Versa Note will start at $16,XXX. And the brand new Note will no longer be sold with a manual transmission. Disqualified from my possibility list then. The Versa S sedan will be offered in 5-speed stick form for model year 2017. I'm not really in the market, but, I always research a few favorites that could be bought. So for 2017 my two cars that I would throw pennies at are the 2017 Nissan Versa S sedan in 5-speed stick form, and the 6-speed stick Kia Soul. I see that Fenton Nissan of Tiffany Springs, MO, is selling 2017 5-speed stick Versa S sedans for only $12,199. Wow. Cheaper than cheap. My first new car, the '94 Ford Escort wagon, sold for $14,995! Nissan couldn't make much more than about a $1,000 profit on this car, eh?
I'll have to look up 2017 Kia Soul 6-speed base model prices. Our '11 Kia Soul 5-speed base is cruising along like a champ... I love the car at 75,294 miles. Plenty of fight left in her. So fun ta shop da new ones, though! Oh, a really important good attribute of the Nissan Versa S sedan, as well, is its rear passenger leg room. It has been described as being "better than some midsize cars have for rear seat occupant leg room." More wows. Wow.
SANTA MONICA, CA — November 14, 2016 — A rising number of car shoppers have negative equity on their trade-ins when they're purchasing their next vehicle, reports Edmunds.com, the leading car information and shopping network. According to Edmunds data, an estimated 32 percent of all trade-ins toward the purchase of a new car through the first three quarters of 2016 were underwater. This is the highest rate on record, and it's up from 30 percent of all trade-ins toward new car purchases from January to September last year. These "upside down" shoppers had an average of $4,832 of negative equity at the time of trade-in, also a record.
Seems like a lot of people treat car purchases like they happened to see a candy bar they like in a checkout line. But if yoou want to pay to play, whatever floats your boat, I suppose.
Never got that mindset of trading a car that you still owed money on. Unless you had say a physical disability that made it impossible to shift, you pay it off and then go shopping.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Money comes from one pocket or other. So it is largely psychological.
Say trade is 10 and you owe 13, but car is not working for you. Trading then would upset you. But say you have $13k in the bank to pay it off. Now, you have a clean title, so no worries about trading?
And on the right deal, you can make that neg equity disappear. Just ask QB about that!
For some reason, I think we've become conditioned to the fact that owing money on a car (or for real estate, forthat matter) is part of the "American Way". Granted, I've owned 3 houses over the last 30+ years, and only recently could say I owed nothing on the one I'm in currently. But, I go back and forth on paying cash on a new car (I've only paid cash for the used ones I've bought). That's a lot of money to take out of the bank account for something you can be assured will depreciate steeply.
That said, unless you're having a good run playing the market (sometimes I do, sometimes I don't), you're not making much on the money you invest in your car. Plus, car manufacturers LOVE to offer no interest (or little interest) loans on their wares. So, why not take advantage?
Stick, as you say, if the car "isn't working for you", then any new car lot will be more than happy to work a deal to get you out of it and into another, regardless of the reason. Why not take advantage?
Separate subject, and a question for snakeweasle. I won some money in the casino on my last cruise a month ago. Are my tax liabilities the same, even though I was in international waters when I won the money?
PFFlyer - the story behind my Nissan Versa sedan hankering. My bride and I like Hot Springs, AR. Took an unplanned mini-vacatione there around May of 2016 from our Dodge City, KS, home. Took the ride, loved Hot Springs, drove back through the gorgeous Oauchita Mts. on the way home to SW Kansas. On the way back we pulled into the Motel 6 in Russellville, AR. In the morning I took our Chow (Motel 6 is our friend on the road when we have our Pomeranian and our Chow Chow along - they never get pithy about animal boarding for no extra charge) for an early morning walk. There had been a fight overnight - a couple guys fighting over a beautiful girl from the nightclub across the street, or...for some stealthy reason, I'm...sure.
Anyhoo - I glance over towards the big hole in the office window from out in the parking lot and what is that there in the cool metallic blue shade - a shade that my first new car ever - a 1994 Ford Escort wagon had - Ford called it 'Brilliant Blue' - what kind of sedan is that? I tugged on the Chow's leash and led her over to the cute little sedan that was backed in to a parking spot right outside the Motel 6 office - the office that now had a big hole in it's window. I knew it was a Nissan - the latest Nissan design architecture - I'm not remembering it's Corporate design name - but, my brain is a sponge right now for all things - umm, almost all things Nissan.
Nissan Versa it said on the bottom of it's trunklid - just above the taillight area. Humm...I did the walkaround to get it's basic parameters and design language. I like this little pup's look. I like it a lot. Once home I Googled the car, of course, it's what we car nuts do. Pleased to read that it's America's cheapest new car for sale. Cheaper than my beloved Mitsubishi's dinkiest car - the Mirage, by several hundered dollars the Versa S sedan is. Well, the Versa S sedan now must be researched to the hilt - look it up, check the online forums - check it however you can.
I have found a distinct lack of information on the cheapest Nissan sedan, the one I love, the Nissan Versa S sedan, from owner/operators. But I have found some reports - apparently the Versa S sedan can get blown around in the wind a bit. PF - does your Nissan Versa Note hatchback get blown aboot (misspelled intentionally to exhibit writer's free license and will) mercilessly during inclement weather "incidents?" One person who bought the sedan complained of the car's smallish stock tires leading to to an unsteady ride. I have only found a couple consumer reviews online of the sedan. That is it, so far. 27 mpg in the city, 39 mpg on the highway. The 2017 Versa Note will start at $16,XXX. And the brand new Note will no longer be sold with a manual transmission. Disqualified from my possibility list then. The Versa S sedan will be offered in 5-speed stick form for model year 2017. I'm not really in the market, but, I always research a few favorites that could be bought. So for 2017 my two cars that I would throw pennies at are the 2017 Nissan Versa S sedan in 5-speed stick form, and the 6-speed stick Kia Soul. I see that Fenton Nissan of Tiffany Springs, MO, is selling 2017 5-speed stick Versa S sedans for only $12,199. Wow. Cheaper than cheap. My first new car, the '94 Ford Escort wagon, sold for $14,995! Nissan couldn't make much more than about a $1,000 profit on this car, eh?
I'll have to look up 2017 Kia Soul 6-speed base model prices. Our '11 Kia Soul 5-speed base is cruising along like a champ... I love the car at 75,294 miles. Plenty of fight left in her. So fun ta shop da new ones, though! Oh, a really important good attribute of the Nissan Versa S sedan, as well, is its rear passenger leg room. It has been described as being "better than some midsize cars have for rear seat occupant leg room." More wows. Wow.
I think the lines of the back end of the sedan have improved, or at least they're more pleasing to my eye now. The first versions of the Versa sedan just didn't do it for me.
Our Note doesn't get blown aboot any more than I'd expect in heavy winds. Actually, the place I notice it most is when we're sitting in a left turn lane and traffic in the left travel lane comes blasting by and we get to have a little wobble in place.
We've enjoyed the Note through 71,000 miles, although I'm still antsy about the CVT. Would much prefer a manual, but you can't get a stick without giving up power windows, etc.
My oldest daughter is still driving out 2007 Versa at somewhere over 200,000 miles, daughter #2 has the 2010 and has about 110,000. My 2012 is just at 70,000. We also had a 2011 that was identical to my 2012 but that one was totaled when the wife stopped for a car that had stopped for deer and a pickup came over the rise from behind and plowed into her at about 45 mph. It bent the car up pretty good. Driver's seat and passenger seat were visibly unaligned with each other, the roof was buckled, but the wife walked away without a scratch or bruise. Not a test I'd want to run again, but I was impressed.
Money comes from one pocket or other. So it is largely psychological.
Say trade is 10 and you owe 13, but car is not working for you. Trading then would upset you. But say you have $13k in the bank to pay it off. Now, you have a clean title, so no worries about trading?
And on the right deal, you can make that neg equity disappear. Just ask QB about that!
There may be a psychological component, but it seems that you could only go down this path for so long before financial reality would have to set in and nobody would give you the loan to continue changing your mind.
Hey, some of us who drive old man's cars aren't too old yet. I've been driving MBs since I was 18, I just like the brand, and although there are tons of good cars out there, none have been special enough to lure me away yet. The old man part isn't all bad either, I like something subtle rather than flashy. And if you play it right, they don't have to be horribly expensive.
But you have the mentality of a younger person so you will take a chance on a new brand. Us old codgers like the old man's car...a Mercedes....tried and proven suitable for senior citizens.
I never aspired to own a Mercedes, it just happened. I am not a big risk taker about life type things, so I want to go with what has pretty well got a good track record...that is just me.
Thanks for the support, guys. That's one thing in here vs the world of Facebook. You don't have to figure out who your friends and and who are these other people.
My daughter working and being out of the depression is fantastic even as she has an hour and a half commute each way. Eventually she should get assigned to a closer office of the same outfit and once she's got the means will move back out which is fine but am enjoying having her around for as little as I see her.
She drives that 07 Camry that Toyota rebuilt the engine on because of the excessive oil use. It seems like it's doing a little bit again and if it get worse I'll start writing Toyota a fix it again, Tony letter. That said, it's got 191K on it and had my mechanic check it out just because it hadn't been under my control for a while. He says anothe 100K easy. That would be fine. It's dinged up because when you are going regularly to programs with people with mental or addictive folks there are always some careless or in some cases vindictive people. Nothing that a little touch up paint and a friend with more skill than I have couldn't fix and it drives like the day we bought it.
The driver's power window switch on the Miata broke in exactly the right way at the right time. That is to say that with the window up on the last good day I'm likely to see. Mechanic's wife who is the front office says she searched and couldn't find the part. I found a new OEM one on Ebay for $55. Easy enough. I probably get one more year out of it before the "twins" are 17. Even accounting for the fact that the older ones will be off our insurance by then that's still too much on the insurance and I will have had my fun. This switch is the only real repair it's needed.
I think that observation about Toyotas being the new Buicks is spot on. Buick was (and still is) the most reliable GM make which I think attracted a lot of people to them.
Rb- I missed the acquisition of the 13. Do tell. Range, BMWness?
OF - those old Sebrings were fantastic cars for six months of the year and perfectly ordinary driing to up time. But the only thing that ever got replaced on mine were the wheels which were peeling and that gone done under warranty. The other convertible that's fallen into a nice (not as cheap as an old Sebring are the late model Solara convertibles. Gee, now this is just me thinking out loud, but in a couple of years maybe I get the girls the "big enough to carry junk around" car (like maybe an Outback) and go back to a Solara. Not nearly the fun of a Miata but insanely practical for a convertible.
My brother picked up an (I think the year is right) BMW 3251 convertible. Went over to his place (about two hours from here) for game 7 or the World Series and he had to pick up his other car (A6 wagon - maybe an 04) from inspection so I got some quality time driving the BMW. Even with the 4 you could talk me into that one really easily. Flunks the practicality test but hey. He got a great deal and put about $1,500 in it and its perfect. If I could find the same deal the girls will be in an Outback and I'd be there in the BMW.... Will have to hunt at the time but I'll certainly look. If not I'll get a Mazda 3 hatch for them (preferably with a stick so they have to learn),and rotate cars around (they can drive the Prius, my wife the 5 and me the fun car with a stick whtever that is . Lots of possibilities once we clear the hurdle.
I need two years of getting out from under things (manageable now but oy!) when the cars are paid off (unfortunate chain of events landed my wife and I in newer vehicles at the same time so that's two car payments and the mortgage should be gone by then. Just i time for the "twins to head off to college. As long as they don't totally screw over Social Security for those either on it or near it (say people over 55) all will be good.
But enough about me....
Any news I should have out of the gang here since I've basically missed a couple of months. I know we lost mako (the big lost) and isell apparently lost his access and didn't about regaining it. Mike? Richard?
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
Mike had some serious medical issues, and an operation. Last report (someone is keeping in email contact) was IIRC he was moving into rehab for a few months. But, still kicking.
Richard has not been back since his accident trauma, but again someone has checked in with him from time to time.
Money comes from one pocket or other. So it is largely psychological.
Say trade is 10 and you owe 13, but car is not working for you. Trading then would upset you. But say you have $13k in the bank to pay it off. Now, you have a clean title, so no worries about trading?
And on the right deal, you can make that neg equity disappear. Just ask QB about that!
There may be a psychological component, but it seems that you could only go down this path for so long before financial reality would have to set in and nobody would give you the loan to continue changing your mind.
Don't be so sure about that! I've read that perhaps 1/3rd of all current auto loans are sub-prime?
Rb- I missed the acquisition of the 13. Do tell. Range, BMWness?
We assumed a lease from another BMW employee; 2 years, 10,000 miles per year. We have 22 months left on it. It's a lot of fun to drive and it handles much better than you'd expect. It has a very low center of gravity because the battery pack is located under the passenger compartment. The range is around 80 miles on the battery; we have not driven it far enough to hear the Range Extender kick in but total range is probably around 130 miles. My wife was initially dismayed about the lack of a CD player, but the car has a 20 GB hard drive so I'm simply loading her CDs on to that and all is well.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I'm not happy about cd players being phased out. A vehicle will have to be very special for me to forgo that feature. I don't want to have to waste all the time transferring music.
Money comes from one pocket or other. So it is largely psychological.
Say trade is 10 and you owe 13, but car is not working for you. Trading then would upset you. But say you have $13k in the bank to pay it off. Now, you have a clean title, so no worries about trading?
And on the right deal, you can make that neg equity disappear. Just ask QB about that!
Somehow I think the smart financial thinkers you describe aren't the ones rolling over negative equity.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
For some reason, I think we've become conditioned to the fact that owing money on a car (or for real estate, forthat matter) is part of the "American Way". Granted, I've owned 3 houses over the last 30+ years, and only recently could say I owed nothing on the one I'm in currently. But, I go back and forth on paying cash on a new car (I've only paid cash for the used ones I've bought). That's a lot of money to take out of the bank account for something you can be assured will depreciate steeply.
That said, unless you're having a good run playing the market (sometimes I do, sometimes I don't), you're not making much on the money you invest in your car. Plus, car manufacturers LOVE to offer no interest (or little interest) loans on their wares. So, why not take advantage?
Stick, as you say, if the car "isn't working for you", then any new car lot will be more than happy to work a deal to get you out of it and into another, regardless of the reason. Why not take advantage?
Separate subject, and a question for snakeweasle. I won some money in the casino on my last cruise a month ago. Are my tax liabilities the same, even though I was in international waters when I won the money?
I never had the pleasure of a home mortgage. Was always too broke and the thought of owing large sums of money at high interest (early 80s) made me cringe. The only way I could do it and sleep at night was to build it myself.
On car loans, at least in the past ten years, my investments always offered returns higher than the interest on the loans. No reason to borrow otherwise. On one 0% loan I figured I made almost $4000 by keeping the money in investments.
As to taxes. I say what happens at sea stays at sea.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
well, i think it is shocking how large the financially illiterate population is. Really need to teach that stuff in schools.
like the man said, it is expensive to be poor! Being stupid too is a double whammy.
That reminds me of words of wisdom that dad has always said to me:
"Nothing comes easy.."---when I was younger that one always made me mad. I told him he was so negative, only for him to say, I'm realistic." Years later.. I understand.
"Seldom are things as good or bad as they first appear.."
"It is expensive to be poor.."
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
I'm not happy about cd players being phased out. A vehicle will have to be very special for me to forgo that feature. I don't want to have to waste all the time transferring music.
But ... But ... That's not how it works.
If you go here to start your calculations, you will see that at a bit rate of 256k (which gives very good audio quality), you need 115.2 MB for one hour of audio.
A typical audio CD probably holds about 1 hour of music, some more, some less. Blank cds typically have 70 minutes available. But go with one hour as an average.
So, a 16 gigabyte flash drive, which will cost well under $10, will hold approximately 139 music CDs. Do you even own 139 music CDs? And if do own more, pay under $20 for a 32 gigabyte flash drive, which will then hold about 278 music CDs.
And you definitely don’t have to rip them, or load them, over and over. You rip them to the hard drive in your home computer. Then copy to a flash drive as needed. Pretty much any new car made in the last 2 or 3 years is going to have a USB port where you can stick that flash drive. Heck, even this slightly weird 2013 Passat has an SD card slot.
Comments
I briefly ran through the Seattle auto show hoping to look at a few options, but was very limited in time. Glanced at a Camaro and was shocked how little rear leg room there was (uh...none!). No convertible Mustangs to peek at, and the BMW section was jammed with people.
Next I wondered by the Mercedes area and they had a AMG 43 C class convertible - what a looker! Love the interior, small back seats yes, but some leg room for a kid, and even some room in the trunk with the top down.
Did not even check the sticker, I am sure it was north of $65K, which makes zero sense....but wowza I really liked it.
As my son likes to say....maybe next time.....
I changed my planning then, and still keep it in mind.
Genesis is a car for the more established older person, but, once again, not the older MB buyer who grew up always hoping one day to drive a Mercedes. Wild opinion again, but I think a Genesis buyer is not as old and traditional as say a Mercedes buyer.....except in your case compared to me (I'm 69).
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Most of the reviews were terrible, but this one was right on the money for us:
[The Tourist] is very entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable from the very start and doesn't let up until the screen goes black, which is something that very few films are able to pull off nowadays.
It was like an old fashioned mystery with humor, great scenes of Venice, a boat chase for a change, and a clever twisting plot. That is why I always read reviews, but try to see past them. The movie was pure light entertainment, and kept me awake, which counts for a lot!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
FWIW, when I was your age I owned a Genny, I didn't have to grow into it. IF I do buy a real luxo in a few years it won't be because it was a goal of mine, it will be because I want to.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
SANTA MONICA, CA — November 14, 2016 — A rising number of car shoppers have negative equity on their trade-ins when they're purchasing their next vehicle, reports Edmunds.com, the leading car information and shopping network. According to Edmunds data, an estimated 32 percent of all trade-ins toward the purchase of a new car through the first three quarters of 2016 were underwater. This is the highest rate on record, and it's up from 30 percent of all trade-ins toward new car purchases from January to September last year. These "upside down" shoppers had an average of $4,832 of negative equity at the time of trade-in, also a record.
Seems like a lot of people treat car purchases like they happened to see a candy bar they like in a checkout line. But if yoou want to pay to play, whatever floats your boat, I suppose.
You get it snake !!
Even though A Space Odyssey got great reviews I felt it was the same thing. I didn't get it...not intellectual enough. I tried to ask an usher what it all meant.
Most reviews rave about it, but I agree with this one;
A small sphere of intellectuals will feel that Kubrick has said something, simply because one expected him to say something. ... Most moviegoers will only wish that Mr. Kubrick would come back down to earth.
Sort of like the Emperors New Clothes, if you don't see them you're not worthy of your position in life.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
I never aspired to own a Mercedes, it just happened. I am not a big risk taker about life type things, so I want to go with what has pretty well got a good track record...that is just me.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
They have opened a new bridge, 20 feet above the water so you are no longer hit by white caps on the drive home...
2017 Nissan Versa sedan in graphite blue
PFFlyer - the story behind my Nissan Versa sedan hankering. My bride and I like Hot Springs, AR. Took an unplanned mini-vacatione there around May of 2016 from our Dodge City, KS, home. Took the ride, loved Hot Springs, drove back through the gorgeous Oauchita Mts. on the way home to SW Kansas. On the way back we pulled into the Motel 6 in Russellville, AR. In the morning I took our Chow (Motel 6 is our friend on the road when we have our Pomeranian and our Chow Chow along - they never get pithy about animal boarding for no extra charge) for an early morning walk. There had been a fight overnight - a couple guys fighting over a beautiful girl from the nightclub across the street, or...for some stealthy reason, I'm...sure.
Anyhoo - I glance over towards the big hole in the office window from out in the parking lot and what is that there in the cool metallic blue shade - a shade that my first new car ever - a 1994 Ford Escort wagon had - Ford called it 'Brilliant Blue' - what kind of sedan is that? I tugged on the Chow's leash and led her over to the cute little sedan that was backed in to a parking spot right outside the Motel 6 office - the office that now had a big hole in it's window. I knew it was a Nissan - the latest Nissan design architecture - I'm not remembering it's Corporate design name - but, my brain is a sponge right now for all things - umm, almost all things Nissan.
Nissan Versa it said on the bottom of it's trunklid - just above the taillight area. Humm...I did the walkaround to get it's basic parameters and design language. I like this little pup's look. I like it a lot. Once home I Googled the car, of course, it's what we car nuts do. Pleased to read that it's America's cheapest new car for sale. Cheaper than my beloved Mitsubishi's dinkiest car - the Mirage, by several hundered dollars the Versa S sedan is. Well, the Versa S sedan now must be researched to the hilt - look it up, check the online forums - check it however you can.
I have found a distinct lack of information on the cheapest Nissan sedan, the one I love, the Nissan Versa S sedan, from owner/operators. But I have found some reports - apparently the Versa S sedan can get blown around in the wind a bit. PF - does your Nissan Versa Note hatchback get blown aboot (misspelled intentionally to exhibit writer's free license and will) mercilessly during inclement weather "incidents?" One person who bought the sedan complained of the car's smallish stock tires leading to to an unsteady ride. I have only found a couple consumer reviews online of the sedan. That is it, so far. 27 mpg in the city, 39 mpg on the highway. The 2017 Versa Note will start at $16,XXX. And the brand new Note will no longer be sold with a manual transmission. Disqualified from my possibility list then. The Versa S sedan will be offered in 5-speed stick form for model year 2017. I'm not really in the market, but, I always research a few favorites that could be bought. So for 2017 my two cars that I would throw pennies at are the 2017 Nissan Versa S sedan in 5-speed stick form, and the 6-speed stick Kia Soul. I see that Fenton Nissan of Tiffany Springs, MO, is selling 2017 5-speed stick Versa S sedans for only $12,199. Wow. Cheaper than cheap. My first new car, the '94 Ford Escort wagon, sold for $14,995! Nissan couldn't make much more than about a $1,000 profit on this car, eh?
I'll have to look up 2017 Kia Soul 6-speed base model prices. Our '11 Kia Soul 5-speed base is cruising along like a champ... I love the car at 75,294 miles. Plenty of fight left in her. So fun ta shop da new ones, though! Oh, a really important good attribute of the Nissan Versa S sedan, as well, is its rear passenger leg room. It has been described as being "better than some midsize cars have for rear seat occupant leg room." More wows. Wow.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Never got that mindset of trading a car that you still owed money on. Unless you had say a physical disability that made it impossible to shift, you pay it off and then go shopping.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Say trade is 10 and you owe 13, but car is not working for you. Trading then would upset you. But say you have $13k in the bank to pay it off. Now, you have a clean title, so no worries about trading?
And on the right deal, you can make that neg equity disappear. Just ask QB about that!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
That said, unless you're having a good run playing the market (sometimes I do, sometimes I don't), you're not making much on the money you invest in your car. Plus, car manufacturers LOVE to offer no interest (or little interest) loans on their wares. So, why not take advantage?
Stick, as you say, if the car "isn't working for you", then any new car lot will be more than happy to work a deal to get you out of it and into another, regardless of the reason. Why not take advantage?
Separate subject, and a question for snakeweasle. I won some money in the casino on my last cruise a month ago. Are my tax liabilities the same, even though I was in international waters when I won the money?
Our Note doesn't get blown aboot
We've enjoyed the Note through 71,000 miles, although I'm still antsy about the CVT. Would much prefer a manual, but you can't get a stick without giving up power windows, etc.
My oldest daughter is still driving out 2007 Versa at somewhere over 200,000 miles, daughter #2 has the 2010 and has about 110,000. My 2012 is just at 70,000. We also had a 2011 that was identical to my 2012 but that one was totaled when the wife stopped for a car that had stopped for deer and a pickup came over the rise from behind and plowed into her at about 45 mph. It bent the car up pretty good. Driver's seat and passenger seat were visibly unaligned with each other, the roof was buckled, but the wife walked away without a scratch or bruise. Not a test I'd want to run again, but I was impressed.
One reason the Versa is cheap is that it isn't made in a location with first world costs, I think. I think the whole run is built in Mexico now.
My daughter working and being out of the depression is fantastic even as she has an hour and a half commute each way. Eventually she should get assigned to a closer office of the same outfit and once she's got the means will move back out which is fine but am enjoying having her around for as little as I see her.
She drives that 07 Camry that Toyota rebuilt the engine on because of the excessive oil use. It seems like it's doing a little bit again and if it get worse I'll start writing Toyota a fix it again, Tony letter. That said, it's got 191K on it and had my mechanic check it out just because it hadn't been under my control for a while. He says anothe 100K easy. That would be fine. It's dinged up because when you are going regularly to programs with people with mental or addictive folks there are always some careless or in some cases vindictive people. Nothing that a little touch up paint and a friend with more skill than I have couldn't fix and it drives like the day we bought it.
The driver's power window switch on the Miata broke in exactly the right way at the right time. That is to say that with the window up on the last good day I'm likely to see. Mechanic's wife who is the front office says she searched and couldn't find the part. I found a new OEM one on Ebay for $55. Easy enough. I probably get one more year out of it before the "twins" are 17. Even accounting for the fact that the older ones will be off our insurance by then that's still too much on the insurance and I will have had my fun. This switch is the only real repair it's needed.
I think that observation about Toyotas being the new Buicks is spot on. Buick was (and still is) the most reliable GM make which I think attracted a lot of people to them.
Rb- I missed the acquisition of the 13. Do tell. Range, BMWness?
OF - those old Sebrings were fantastic cars for six months of the year and perfectly ordinary driing to up time. But the only thing that ever got replaced on mine were the wheels which were peeling and that gone done under warranty. The other convertible that's fallen into a nice (not as cheap as an old Sebring are the late model Solara convertibles. Gee, now this is just me thinking out loud, but in a couple of years maybe I get the girls the "big enough to carry junk around" car (like maybe an Outback) and go back to a Solara. Not nearly the fun of a Miata but insanely practical for a convertible.
My brother picked up an (I think the year is right) BMW 3251 convertible. Went over to his place (about two hours from here) for game 7 or the World Series and he had to pick up his other car (A6 wagon - maybe an 04) from inspection so I got some quality time driving the BMW. Even with the 4 you could talk me into that one really easily. Flunks the practicality test but hey. He got a great deal and put about $1,500 in it and its perfect. If I could find the same deal the girls will be in an Outback and I'd be there in the BMW.... Will have to hunt at the time but I'll certainly look. If not I'll get a Mazda 3 hatch for them (preferably with a stick so they have to learn),and rotate cars around (they can drive the Prius, my wife the 5 and me the fun car with a stick whtever that is . Lots of possibilities once we clear the hurdle.
I need two years of getting out from under things (manageable now but oy!) when the cars are paid off (unfortunate chain of events landed my wife and I in newer vehicles at the same time so that's two car payments and the mortgage should be gone by then. Just i time for the "twins to head off to college. As long as they don't totally screw over Social Security for those either on it or near it (say people over 55) all will be good.
But enough about me....
Any news I should have out of the gang here since I've basically missed a couple of months. I know we lost mako (the big lost) and isell apparently lost his access and didn't about regaining it. Mike? Richard?
Richard has not been back since his accident trauma, but again someone has checked in with him from time to time.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My wife was initially dismayed about the lack of a CD player, but the car has a 20 GB hard drive so I'm simply loading her CDs on to that and all is well.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
like the man said, it is expensive to be poor! Being stupid too is a double whammy.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
On car loans, at least in the past ten years, my investments always offered returns higher than the interest on the loans. No reason to borrow otherwise. On one 0% loan I figured I made almost $4000 by keeping the money in investments.
As to taxes. I say what happens at sea stays at sea.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
"Nothing comes easy.."---when I was younger that one always made me mad. I told him he was so negative, only for him to say, I'm realistic." Years later.. I understand.
"Seldom are things as good or bad as they first appear.."
"It is expensive to be poor.."
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
If you go here to start your calculations, you will see that at a bit rate of 256k (which gives very good audio quality), you need 115.2 MB for one hour of audio.
http://www.audiomountain.com/tech/audio-file-size.html
A typical audio CD probably holds about 1 hour of music, some more, some less. Blank cds typically have 70 minutes available. But go with one hour as an average.
So, a 16 gigabyte flash drive, which will cost well under $10, will hold approximately 139 music CDs. Do you even own 139 music CDs? And if do own more, pay under $20 for a 32 gigabyte flash drive, which will then hold about 278 music CDs.
And you definitely don’t have to rip them, or load them, over and over. You rip them to the hard drive in your home computer. Then copy to a flash drive as needed. Pretty much any new car made in the last 2 or 3 years is going to have a USB port where you can stick that flash drive. Heck, even this slightly weird 2013 Passat has an SD card slot.