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Comments
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
Which gives me an idea - I could put a homemade stop sign up anywhere and as the autonomous cars learn to recognize the unmapped ones, I could do a lot of traffic calming. Gridlock baby.
Recognizing unmapped stop signs shouldn't be too hard, the cars already recognize speed limit signs (perhaps because they are mapped - my Garmin "recognizes" them too, although sometimes it gets the actual limit wrong).
And apparently Google's cars can recognize hand signals from a bicycle, which is a lot of code for nothing since bikers rarely signal.
I sure wouldn't step out in front of one to find out, as the technology now sits. Or for a stop sign, which is often hidden by trees, trucks, buses, etc.
What has to happen is for the streets to be so thoroughly networked and "closed" that you won't even have stop signs and traffic lights.
I bet Tesla is envious of that strategy but it doesn't have the critical mass (yet) to dent the dealer protection laws much.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Re: traffic calming, I thought the brave transportation engineer warriors we so gratefully defer to were accomplishing that via negligent traffic controls and poor road conditions. Of course, not a word about the extra pollution caused by choking traffic. Bikes and buses for the masses, a private car for me!
@jmonroe while the car wax tip for the snow blower is brilliant, I wonder why those parts aren't teflon-coated from the factory? Maybe you need to go beyond a Sears unit for that, maybe an Ariens or Toro. Or maybe nobody has thought of that yet? If so, take the idea with my compliments.
I think that the new shower that will hopefully be under construction here this winter will get the wax or Rain-X treatment for sure.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Easy sell to me for some things. One being changing the trans fluid on a regular basis. Maybe that was from owning 2 Honda V6 ATs at the same time!. Cheap insurance. Same for replacing the brake fluid. Both get done roughly 3 years or 30,000 miles.
other stuff like plugs or T-belt, that would get done when the manual calls for it.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Enjoy this one for a while. Go for that year and see what an oil change at BMW is like. Hey, at least it will be free!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
An incredibly low price for an oil change.......there has to be a catch somewhere.
There is an ad I have seen on TV and in the newspaper, forget who it is for, but it says, Red warning light on - Let us Check it Out for Free".....yeh, I bet!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Congratulations though on the new car Mike, always like to see a new car bought around here, this may be the last one for 2016!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
My Acura dealer always has some coupon. But even the regular price for an oil change service is only around $40. Probably $60 "rack rate" for a full oil change, multi-point inspection, and tire rotation. I normally pay below $40 for the full boat. No appointment even needed! They also wash it, though the quality is crappy. I only do it when the weather is bad to get some road salt off.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I take a propane torch and a large candle and heat up the wax and rub it on as much of the chute area as possible. Snow doesn't stick at all and the wax lasts most of the winter. I do my plow and shovels the same way. It's WAY cheaper then FF
Then there is WD 40 and I am sure some guy has tried Vaseline.
I would LMAO if there is a warning on the machine, use of any slippery materials on your snowblower shute could cause spontaneous combustion!
MORE IDEAS
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Things are not going well with my insurance company from the basement flood. They issued me a check that is basically going to cover what it cost ServePro to clean up. I've got to come out of pocket for the rest of the money to waterproof, then refinish the basement. It might be a good time to cash out of my Pilot. If I can make the numbers work (depending on what @qbrozen says), then I'll do what I have to do
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
As for Fluid Film, I looked it up and it says, "Powerful corrosion protection for all metals and superior lubrication for all moving parts". Since my snow chute is plastic, it won't rust and since it doesn't have any moving parts, that is a misapplication of a product that is probably more expensive than my car wax. So that is out too.
Some wannabee genius's just gotta make things more complicated than they have to be.
Like I have said before, "if I tell you a cow..."
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
one way or another we would be getting a "nice" car with a lot of goodies on it, and more cost effective to have a lot less $ invested in what is effectively the spare/2nd car that hardly gets used.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
doesn't always work, but sometimes you fall into a deal like that. I think Breld did it a few years back with his Passat.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
That's pretty much snowblower 101.
Our snow is usually wet instead of powdery.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
That said, it's none of my business what you do with your cars, but couching it as a smart financial move doesn't make sense to me. I hope this doesn't come across as an a** comment.
That said, it's none of my business what you do with your cars, but couching it as a smart financial move doesn't make sense to me. I hope this doesn't come across as an a** comment.
The said asset is fully paid off. I know the smart thing to do is keep the paid off asset. Especially since I have been completely OCD about maintenance. Thank-you for your input. I appreciate it. I never said it was a smart financial move, @driver100 did.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
So, I purchased a 3-year, 36,000 mile maintenance plan from BMW. It covers every conceivable maintenance item on the car including brake rotors and pads, wipers, all filters, hoses, belts, etc. Quite extensive. It cost me $600.00 which I feel is worth the cost. It is transferrable to the next owner of the car.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Some people say never lease, but, there are times when it makes good sense. Leasing may cost you more in the long run, but in this case it helps you to achieve your goals.
What Driver should have said was it depends on your priorities and your needs. If the Pilot looks like it could get costly, it may be better to sell it now, use that money to do the repairs, and lease a car to get through the next 3 years. In Sticks case, similarly, if car is going to get costly, may be better to sell, and lease, use the money for education.
I have a tennis friend who was a CEO for a large company and he considers himself to be very knowledgeable about finances. But he will do things to try and save money, and it costs him more in the long run. Like he switches cable companies and doesn't notice the rates go up after 6 months. He rents out his Florida home and takes back the cable box when a renter leaves, and he has to hook it and unhook it each time...he could put it on vacation stop. Then he buys a Phone-Jack or whatever it is called and his phone doesn't work properly.
Dollars and cents it would be better to get a line of credit and do the home repairs or finance school, but if those cars are going to be costly, it may be worth freeing up some money and leasing for awhile.
Driver knows little about actual finance.....just tries to do what can work out best overall and get you to your goals.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Last night, when I left the dealership, they were adamant on a selling price of $48,xxx out the door for the 740i. That included a $2500 certificate from USAA as a fleet discount. After working all the number several times, it seemed to me there was more than enough room to ask for $45,000 out the door in order to make the deal work for me. All I heard was that it couldn't be done. After sitting at the dealership from 10:00 AM this morning until almost 2:00 PM, with me about to walk out the door, the young man (who as one of their "Genius" personnel) made one last effort with management and presented me with $45,000 out the door.
As we have discussed on this forum and others, this approach to buying a new car works beautifully. MSRP was 91,495 with invoice being $85,570. Edmunds shows that the average buyer paid $86,712 for this car, or about $1200 over invoice. I assumed that I should be able to get this car for invoice less the $2500 USAA discount, or $83,070. Manheim showed $58,000 for 2 cars like my trade - but they were only offering me $54,000. I probably would have been a bit skiddish offering $58,000 for my CLS if I was still a sales manager and appraising cars. So, I figured I should be getting $56,500 for the trade. As it turned out, even though they showed only $55,000 for the trade value, they actually dug into their holdback to come up with the $45,000 out the door - so I basically got the $56,500 I wanted for the trade - just subtracted in another column on the buyers order. Remember, there are dealer fees here - their's is $699 which was added as well as title and tag (license plate) transfer fees.
So, all in all, I think I made a great deal - after all, it's the game one plays with a dealer that is the exciting part of the transaction. The idea of this game is to win - and I think I won the game - they met my price out the door.
Now for the vehicle. It's a 740iL (all 7 series BMW's are now built on the "L" or "Long" chassis/wheelbase). As I mentioned, it is Alpine White with Cognac Dakota leather seats and side panels and black leather dash, black carpet, and black headliner (it has a very small amount of headliner because of the dual stationary moonroofs in the car. Each moonroof (front and rear) has a full shade covering the glass. One just manually moves the shades and you can see outside the car above. It also has power rear and power rear-sidewindow shades which helps with the strong sun down here.
What I was most startled at was the ability to increase and decrease the volume on the audio system by simply rotating your finger in front of the front main panel/screen. To answer a Bluetooth phone call, you just point your finger at the screen. To not accept a call and have it go to the phone's voicemail, you just move your open hand to the right like brushing the call aside and it goes to voicemail. The audio system is Harman Kardon and is amazingly impressive in it tonal quality. It has base and treble functions, but it also has a huge graphic equalizer to fine tune hi's and low's and midrange sound.
This is a huge car that handles as well as my Mercedes did, however it is much easier to get in and out of which was a major concern I had with the Benz. Since my surgery, I have difficulty getting in and out of low stance cars and low seats, which the CLS had. There are 3 driving settings - Sport, Comfort and Extra Comfort. It has air suspension so you can raise or lower the vehicle.
I've driven the S Class Mercedes several times and was not as impressed with the ride and handling as I am with the 7 series. The chassis and many parts of the body are made out of carbon fiber - there is even a medallion on each of the B pillars when the door is open that indicates the heavy use of carbon fiber in the construction of the vehicle. But, to repeat, this is one huge vehicle.
I like the 3-D Cameras that show the vehicle in relation to other vehicles when you are pulling into a parking space. Either forwards or backwards, you can put the car right between the parking lines and you can see the parking pillars in front of the car so you can stop the car before scraping the underneath of the front bumpers.
There is really too much to go into, and I have probably overdone it here, but I just wanted to describe, as best I could, the deal and negotiations as well as my first impressions of the car.
One more thing - there is a hand held object that you can use to check the status of the vehicle. It is currently in its cradle in the car charging. It has a screen that gives readouts of data and info. I have to try that thing out when I get a chance.
Finally, just like Apple has a Genius Bar staffed with "techies", BMW also has this same concept. The car was delivered by a Genius Techie and they make an appointment for you to bring the car back in a few days to spend another hour or so answering your questions and showing more features of the vehicle. Really impressive.
Thanks for allowing me to post the above - I hope you found it interesting.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
That said, it's none of my business what you do with your cars, but couching it as a smart financial move doesn't make sense to me. I hope this doesn't come across as an a** comment.
Ha! 35 years in business finance, and that makes you an expert on car buying eh? Come on man, you are trying to apply rational thinking to an irrational act. Lucky you didn't suggest this over on the car buyers anonymous board ! You would have been drummed out of the Corps.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I seem to recall being surprised when you went back to the coupe style, since that seemed to have been an issue with your previous one.
but it sounds like a really cool car. Gonna be a long learning curve though.'
and yes, I have to laugh at you getting a prepaid brake replacement package.
and FYI, Roadburner now has a gig as one of those BMW geniuses!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
And keeping a paid off car is not "free". That is going to continue to depreciate too, along with having running costs. And when you have a lot of money tied up in what is effectively a spare car, that is also a waste. Say I own a car I will put 3K miles on, worth $20,000. And I could sell it, and buy a suitable replacement for $5,000. I still have my extra car for light duty, but I no longer have $15,000 tied up in something I am not getting full value out of.
different discussion entirely about whether it is financially smart to buy a new car when your old one still works!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Congrats on the new car. Sounds very hi tech.
How about giving us your phone # and we'll see who gets the 'point' or the 'wave'?
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
FWIW, I also did not think anyone in here could dissuade you from getting a new car. It's hard to ignore hot pants even for someone your age given that you have had a life full of them.
Just curious, with you track record, how many oil changes do you think your new baby will get. Also, do you get weekly complementary car washes with it like you did with your old MB?
Keep us posted about how you like it.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I asked the "Genius" techie about that. He said that anytime I am in the area, just give him or one of the Genius Techies a call prior to coming in to the dealership and they will run it through the wash rack for me. He said they do that for 7 Series owners on the sly. So, yes, I can get car washes if I like, but I am not going to have as many as I did with Mercedes. The BMW dealership is 30 miles away - I think it would be just as economical to have the car hand washed at one of the car wash facilities closer to home considering that the price of gas down here has been climbing exponentially.
My brother asked if I would like to drive up to his place for a few days and kind of kick back a little. I said I would let him know next week as I don't think I have the strength right now to make the round trip. But it would be a great opportunity to break in the car for a 600 mile round trip. We shall see.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger