Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

berri

Yeah, technology does lead to purchases before an old item is used up. But really if you look at a TV for example, in the old days there was the transition from tubes to transistors, from the old detent tuning to electronic tuning, continual enlargement of screen size, or the change to black matrix TV Picture tubes. (btw, traditionally smaller screen size TV's tended to last longer than larger ones)

As for cars, one of the ironies may be that it is actually the technology that will make them have a shorter life.

jmonroe

isellhondas said:

jmonroe said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

I used to shop at Sears all the time, and hang out in the Tool Dep't. It's nothing like it was then.

It seems like a lot of posters here have a Sears Tool Dept. story, but not to out do you guys, I have 2 that are my favorites, one in particular.

A little background first:

The company that I worked for when I transferred to the division that I eventually retired from was renting space in a few high rise buildings in a business/commercial area before they build the building that was to be our permanent home. This was in the very late '60's/early '70's.

There was a very large Sears Store in this area and it had a cafeteria that a lot of the employees went to for lunch because our company did not have a cafeteria in the rented space. Believe it or not the cafeteria was not bad at all and we could walk to it rather than drive a few miles away to a restaurant. After we ate lunch we usually walked around the store and of course we ended up in the Tool Dept.

Story No. 1

Before the sales people in the various departments got to know us, they would come up to us and say, "can I help you or do you work for XXX. Soon they knew who we were and didn't even approach us since they knew we were killing time after lunch. This was especially true in the Tool Dept.

Fast forward to when the Tool Dept. sales people got to know some of us by name.

Story No. 2 (my favorite)

One day the Tool Dept. was doing a bang up business (probably on a Monday due to the advertised sales in the Sunday paper). They had 3 registers going and each one had at least 7 people waiting to be rung up. There was a guy (not a fellow employee) that seemed to be a little agitated because of the lines so he excuses himself and walks to the head of one of the lines and says almost pleadingly, "I just have a question can you give me an answer". I was not in line, I was about 6 or 7 feet away and the guy at the register says, "jmonroe, can you help this gentleman since I'm pretty swamped". The guy wanted some info about a tool box with tools and he wanted to know what size ratchet wrenches the tool kit included. I took him to the display and showed him everything that was in the tool box (had to be 80 some pieces) and specifically the 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive ratchets he was interested in. The guy was amazed that for $39.95 Sears had a tool box with that much in it. Being the good sales person that I was I showed him a larger tool box that had to have at least 120 tools in it for $59.95. The guy liked that deal better and bought the larger tool box. I guess you can say I bumped him up a little and I'll bet he was never sorry for allowing me to do it.

You just could not beat those Craftsman tool box deals that Sears offered back in those days and the best part was, the tools were guaranteed forever.

jmonroe

Craftsman hand tools and tool boxes are of decent quality but you generally won't see professional mechanics using them in shops. I spent nearly 20 years with one of the professional tool companies leaving as a Regional Manager. For the life of me I don't know how the techs can afford them now! I read of a guy paying something like 240.00 for a 3/8 drive bent handle ratchet!

I agree that the tool companies charge an arm and a leg if not more for their tools under the guise that they are much better than what a mechanic can buy at Sears and other stores that cater to the every day consumer. Since so many professional mechanics buy from these tool companies, I guess that at least some of that is true.

Since you were in the tool biz, maybe you can confirm what I heard. That is, the same tool is not sold at the same price to all pro mechanics. I was told that the price varies due to the mechanics credit rating with the tool company. If you miss so much as one payment your tool cost goes up from that point on until you become credit worthy again and it takes months and months to do that. A shop owner told me a few years ago that these tool companies are border line predatory lending hucksters today. In fact, he said he won't allow any of them to pull onto his lot and has warned his young techs not to go near those trucks.

True or not?

jmonroe

stickguy

cars last longer these days though. especially functionally. They used to need rebuilds, etc. at lower miles. Yeah, might have been cheaper to do, but hard to really compare them! you can hope in a 15 YO car with 150,000 miles on it, and drive across country if you want.

verdugo

murphydog said:

I just installed an outdoor nest cam. Camera cost ~ $199 and rolling 10 days of video storage is $100/year.

I have both indoor and outdoor nest cams. My parents have indoor and outdoor ones at their house and over Christmas my brother installed an outdoor one.

I highly recommend them.

driver100

verdugo said:

murphydog said:

I just installed an outdoor nest cam. Camera cost ~ $199 and rolling 10 days of video storage is $100/year.

I have both indoor and outdoor nest cams. My parents have indoor and outdoor ones at their house and over Christmas my brother installed an outdoor one.

I highly recommend them.

Why does video storage cost $100 a year? Is there much of a reason to store? How long can a loop last...1 or 2 days or 30 days? I have no idea!

driver100

Might be of interest...poster in Texas:

graphicguy

imidazol97 said:

graphicguy said:

OK....need some advice (again) from the peanut gallery. Called the dealership yesterday about the status of my CTS. Seems the wiring they need for it is still on back order. Doesn't make much sense to me...how can wiring be so difficult to get. Dealer service manager doesn't think I should drive it as it may be a safety hazard.

I don't recall the origin of this problem. BUT the dealer is waiting for a part that Cadillac may have changed specifications on and needs many units produced. I wonder who supplies the harness since I used to go by the Yazaki Headquarters in Canton frequently and suppose they have plants in MI as well as around the world back to Japan.

The dealer is giving you great loaners. If this were another brand of upscale vehicle people would be urging you to be patient, so that's my 2 cents worth. This dealer is taking good care of you unlike previous problem dealer that sent you back out with your own car that was still stalling, losing steering assist, etc.. Wonder whatever happened to those two previous exemplars? We know one went to WI--is it still on the books there?

What do you think of the CT6?

If I were younger and more prone to conspicuous consumption I would do some shopping, especially when sedans aren't selling as well as SUVs. Do a GG or Jipster offer on something they have on the lot. I actually still love my 14 Malibu. It has a lot of premium features on it that most people would not expect, perhaps because it's an LT2 .

Imid....as always, you make perfect sense. Could be right about the change in parts and susequent unavailability.

THIS DEALER is indeed taking good care of me.

CT6 can compete with any other high end lux car out there IMHO. It's quick. It handles smaller than it is (that's a good thing). Surprising how easy it is to "fling" around. Suspension, which is always my first impression, is really good. Materials and build are as good (maybe better) than any high end lux car I've ever been in (S/7/A7, etc). Lots of soft leather, the one I'm driving has lots of carbon fiber and aluminum trim. Controls all feel expensive and work well.

It has all the goodies....laser cruise, self park, big sun roof (over front and rear passenger compartment), good stereo, sensors everywhere, Apple Car Play (a must). A huge LCD control screen mid dash and another one between the speedo and RPM guage. One tank of gas so far and am getting about 21 MPG around town (on regular). It makes expensive sounds.

No sticker, but given the high level of equipment, I'm thinking it has to be in the $70s or maybe even the $80s.

My CTS handles better, but it's a smaller car. Low end torque of the 2.0T can't be matched by the CT6 V6 (although the CT6 makes really nice and expensive sounds). CT6 IS NOT going to be for the Cadillac traditionalist. It's a far cry from even the XTS. So, they're seeking a different buyer.

Not sure what it is with Cadillac (or at least the ones I get). They're really good cars, but these crazy situations that seem like a lack of detail planning and implementation seem to sabotage my ownership experiences.

graphicguy

jipster said:

tjc78 said:

Pat was very nice. I had gotten a few of her emails as well. I don't remember the poster's name, but there was someone who bought and grossly overpaid on an old Dodge Stealth and everyone was all over it.

GG, I'd give them a little time and see where it goes. In saying that, if it were me this would be the last straw. If the car gives any more BS it would be time to move away from Caddy for awhile.

I believe that was ttbaxxon that bought the Dodge Stealth. He was bragging at length over the car and deal. It had a lot of new parts. When he finally told the amount of money he paid, he was razzed a bit for overpaying.

I remember that guy. He would chastise salespeople an some of us posters for not knowing how to deal on a car. Come to find out, he bought the Stealth you mentioned. Not even the good one. He got a base car. He overpaid for it, tried to justify overpaying saying it had some new parts (lind of like putting lipstick on a pig) and we did razz him a bit over his "expertise".

RoadBurner up to this point, I had no idea you were "div2". Who says you can't learn anything here?

Only had one run in with "Pat". It was so trivial, I don't even remember what my alleged transgression was.

I'm liking the CT6 (I even enjoyed driving the XT5). We'll see where it goes. Dealership is treating me well, so no complaints there.

graphicguy

Mike....you did well on the TV. Vizios provide good "bang for the buck". You'll like it.

This is mainly for RB...

Got the OPPO BDP 203 4K player hooked up to the LG OLED last night......got this pic from Life of Pi.....

abacomike said:

https://cdn-ssl.vizio.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/small_image/320x200/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/m/-/m-editorschoice-font_5.jpg

Here's a picture with details of what I got.

imidazol97

jmonroe said:

That is, the same tool is not sold at the same price to all pro mechanics. I was told that the price varies due to the mechanics credit rating with the tool company. If you miss so much as one payment your tool cost goes up from that point on until you become credit worthy again and it takes months and months to do that. A shop owner told me a few years ago that these tool companies are border line predatory lending hucksters today. In fact, he said he won't allow any of them to pull onto his lot and has warned his young techs not to go near those trucks.

Interesting.

abacomike

I'm driving home from the dentist the morning and stop off to pick up an Rx.  I put my hand in my pocket and my house and mailbox keys are missing.  I call the dentist since I am sure they slipped out of my shorts pocket and ask them to look for them.  No dice - they can't find them.  I move the driver's seat all the way forward in the car, but no keys underneath.

I call security at my Condo complex and ask them to meet me at my apartment to let me in - explained to them I lost my keys. As I'm walking to the elevator, my downstairs neighbor stops me and hands me my keys.  He said he found them inserted into my mailbox earlier this morning.  Then it dawned on me that I had gotten yesterday's mail before leaving this morning for the dentist.  Thank goodness for my neighbor finding them.

This brings to mind some concerns I have about my body and my mind.  Ever since the surgery and rehab, I have been misplacing things and forgetting things.  I am seeing my doctor next Monday about this and some persistent pain.  I have a feeling that the 6 days after surgery when I was in a coma have had some residual effects on my memory and mental processing.  Whatever is causing these issues and lapses, at least I am alive to talk about it!

nyccarguy

@imidazol97 - they traced the problem with my Dad's Tahoe back to a faulty wheel speed sensor. It was replaced under GM Major Guard Extended Warranty.

nyccarguy

Question for the experts. I'm having 4 snow tires mounted on the Legacy tomorrow. The car tracks lasrer straight. Should I have an alignment performed?

berri

Mike, sometimes stuff like that happens to a lot of people, but when it happens to you it feels like you are going nuts. There is a reason that pilots go through a written checklist with each other before departure and during approach. Good to talk to your doctor if you are concerned, but chances are you are alright. You also haven't been back that long from the hospital. Hang in there!

jipster

nyccarguy said:

Question for the experts. I'm having 4 snow tires mounted on the Legacy tomorrow. The car tracks lasrer straight. Should I have an alignment performed?

They should CHECK the alignment at no cost. My dealership checks alignment every time I bring it in.

graphicguy

nyccarguy said:

Question for the experts. I'm having 4 snow tires mounted on the Legacy tomorrow. The car tracks lasrer straight. Should I have an alignment performed?

Sounds like it's aligned fine already, unless the snows need to be balanced (which I would do, anyway)!

graphicguy

nyccarguy said:

@imidazol97 - they traced the problem with my Dad's Tahoe back to a faulty wheel speed sensor. It was replaced under GM Major Guard Extended Warranty.

Said it before....my Tahoe was one of the best vehicles I ever owned. Oil changes, filters, tires, I think a couple of sets of wipers. That was it.

jmonroe

@abacomike

Hang in there Mike, you are just fine.

It sounds like you are just like the rest of us. Now you know how we feel.

Hell of a let down , huh?

jmonroe

jmonroe

nyccarguy said:

Question for the experts. I'm having 4 snow tires mounted on the Legacy tomorrow. The car tracks lasrer straight. Should I have an alignment performed?

As others have said, by all means get the alignment checked.

4 new snow tires cost waaay too much to risk not getting an alignment check. This is exactly why I got the lifetime alignment from Firestone when I got Mrs. j's Legacy new tires a few years ago. It doesn't make any difference who I buy tires from, I'm covered because the alignment is with the car not the tires.

A little extra up front but I am way ahead now. I can get an alignment twice a year of every 5K miles. Yep, one of the best things I did.

jmonroe

murphydog

driver100 said:

verdugo said:

murphydog said:

I just installed an outdoor nest cam. Camera cost ~ $199 and rolling 10 days of video storage is $100/year.

I have both indoor and outdoor nest cams. My parents have indoor and outdoor ones at their house and over Christmas my brother installed an outdoor one.

I highly recommend them.

Why does video storage cost $100 a year? Is there much of a reason to store? How long can a loop last...1 or 2 days or 30 days? I have no idea!

The storage is on the Nest Camera server - I purchased the 10 day play, so at any time I can review the last 10 days of footage from my camera, and I can mark and save any "clips" if I need to. Given that I can access the video from anywhere I did not see the need to save 30 days worth.

When the hood ornament went missing off the wife's BMW I reviewed the video to see if anybody walked up the drive way in the middle of the night.

berri

Just saw in the Chicago papers confirmation that Sears its selling its Craftsman tools to Stanley Block and Decker. Also closing 150 more stores.

driver100

murphydog said:

driver100 said:

verdugo said:

murphydog said:

I just installed an outdoor nest cam. Camera cost ~ $199 and rolling 10 days of video storage is $100/year.

I have both indoor and outdoor nest cams. My parents have indoor and outdoor ones at their house and over Christmas my brother installed an outdoor one.

I highly recommend them.

Why does video storage cost $100 a year? Is there much of a reason to store? How long can a loop last...1 or 2 days or 30 days? I have no idea!

The storage is on the Nest Camera server - I purchased the 10 day play, so at any time I can review the last 10 days of footage from my camera, and I can mark and save any "clips" if I need to. Given that I can access the video from anywhere I did not see the need to save 30 days worth.

When the hood ornament went missing off the wife's BMW I reviewed the video to see if anybody walked up the drive way in the middle of the night.

Maybe a ghost stole it.

Thanks murph, good info.

imidazol97

berri said:

Just saw in the Chicago papers confirmation that Sears its selling its Craftsman tools to Stanley Block and Decker. Also closing 150 more stores.

Just heard on radio about sale to Black and Decker. That'll ruin the quality of Craftsman tools real quickly as they try to trade on the brand name and lower the quality for maximum profit on inferior products. I won't buy anything that says B&D and Stanley has turned Chinese.

jipster

jmonroe said:

Question for the experts. I'm having 4 snow tires mounted on the Legacy tomorrow. The car tracks lasrer straight. Should I have an alignment performed?

As others have said, by all means get the alignment checked. 4 new snow tires cost waaay too much to risk not getting an alignment check. This is exactly why I got the lifetime alignment from Firestone when I got Mrs. j's Legacy new tires a few years ago. It doesn't make any difference who I buy tires from, I'm covered because the alignment is with the car not the tires. A little extra up front but I am way ahead now. I can get an alignment twice a year of every 5K miles. Yep, one of the best things I did. jmonroe

You get the alignment checked twice a year or the actually alignment? Shirley a dealership won't perform an alignment if test indicates its not needed??


Also, did a bit of research on the Legacy awhile back. Looks and sounds like a good car, but  decided to keep the Mariner. Will probably be on my shopping list when I'm ready for a new(er) vehicle. Let me have first crack at that car when you're ready to sell, and don't worry... I won't use the "Jipst Method of Used Car Buying" against you. 

PF_Flyer

nyccarguy said:

Question for the experts. I'm having 4 snow tires mounted on the Legacy tomorrow. The car tracks lasrer straight. Should I have an alignment performed?

No real reason to check the alignment just because you're having new tires mounted. In my non-expert opinion anyway

berri

Jipster - I still see more than a few of those original Escape/Mariner and I forget the name of the rebadged Mazda on the road these days.

stickguy

abacomike said:

I'm driving home from the dentist the morning and stop off to pick up an Rx.  I put my hand in my pocket and my house and mailbox keys are missing.  I call the dentist since I am sure they slipped out of my shorts pocket and ask them to look for them.  No dice - they can't find them.  I move the driver's seat all the way forward in the car, but no keys underneath.

I call security at my Condo complex and ask them to meet me at my apartment to let me in - explained to them I lost my keys. As I'm walking to the elevator, my downstairs neighbor stops me and hands me my keys.  He said he found them inserted into my mailbox earlier this morning.  Then it dawned on me that I had gotten yesterday's mail before leaving this morning for the dentist.  Thank goodness for my neighbor finding them.

This brings to mind some concerns I have about my body and my mind.  Ever since the surgery and rehab, I have been misplacing things and forgetting things.  I am seeing my doctor next Monday about this and some persistent pain.  I have a feeling that the 6 days after surgery when I was in a coma have had some residual effects on my memory and mental processing.  Whatever is causing these issues and lapses, at least I am alive to talk about it!

tie a string around your finger. It won't help you remember things, but at least you will always have a string if you need one.

abacomike

jmonroe said:

@abacomike

Hang in there Mike, you are just fine.

It sounds like you are just like the rest of us. Now you know how we feel.

Hell of a let down , huh?

jmonroe

Let down? More like a disaster! When they transferred me from the Boca Rehab to the Boca Regional Hospital due to a 102.7 F fever and severe abdominal pain, they gave me 10 mg of morphine IV which put me into a "Code Gray" (neurological code)! I lost consciousness and the next thing I remember was waking up in ICU with this full mask on my face which was blowing pure oxygen into my lungs. It seems the CO2 level in my blood was extremely high which caused the Code and unconsciousness. I was out for 2 days. Similar thing happened at the Hospital where I had the surgery weeks before - waking up in ICU after being unconscious for 4 days.

So, I think maybe there is something more going on here - more than just getting older and/or less sharp. Don't have the strength or stamina I had prior to surgery. I walk every day and I am getting further without a rest than a few weeks ago, but still weak and dizzy at times. I know I am on lots of medications which could also be causing this. Additionally, I noticed that I am losing a lot of hair on my head - like every day. So, it could be mediations or something worse. Hopefully I will find out after they get me in for the CT-Scan and they read the results.

jipster

berri said:

Jipster - I still see more than a few of those original Escape/Mariner and I forget the name of the rebadged Mazda on the road these days.

The Tribute...I believe. Not sure of their relationship now, but Ford use to put a lot of those Duratec 200hp engines in Mazdas. Had the Duratec in our now extinct 2004 Mazda MPV, have the same engine in my 2008 Mercury Mariner.

abacomike

stickguy said:

abacomike said:

I'm driving home from the dentist the morning and stop off to pick up an Rx.  I put my hand in my pocket and my house and mailbox keys are missing.  I call the dentist since I am sure they slipped out of my shorts pocket and ask them to look for them.  No dice - they can't find them.  I move the driver's seat all the way forward in the car, but no keys underneath.

I call security at my Condo complex and ask them to meet me at my apartment to let me in - explained to them I lost my keys. As I'm walking to the elevator, my downstairs neighbor stops me and hands me my keys.  He said he found them inserted into my mailbox earlier this morning.  Then it dawned on me that I had gotten yesterday's mail before leaving this morning for the dentist.  Thank goodness for my neighbor finding them.

This brings to mind some concerns I have about my body and my mind.  Ever since the surgery and rehab, I have been misplacing things and forgetting things.  I am seeing my doctor next Monday about this and some persistent pain.  I have a feeling that the 6 days after surgery when I was in a coma have had some residual effects on my memory and mental processing.  Whatever is causing these issues and lapses, at least I am alive to talk about it!

tie a string around your finger. It won't help you remember things, but at least you will always have a string if you need one.

Very funny, stickguy, very funny! I guess I could use the string to hang myself - but my 240 lb frame would be too much for the string, dontcha think?

suydam

It takes a long time to recover from what you went through. GO easy on yourself.

qbrozen

PF_Flyer said:

nyccarguy said:

Question for the experts. I'm having 4 snow tires mounted on the Legacy tomorrow. The car tracks lasrer straight. Should I have an alignment performed?

No real reason to check the alignment just because you're having new tires mounted. In my non-expert opinion anyway

I agree. If the tires on there are wearing unevenly, or unless you have changed any suspension components or hit some massive potholes or some other reason that may have whacked out the alignment, then do so, but simply new tires is not a reason.

laurasdada

I've been around since I bought my '99 Chrysler 300M. My first new car after getting laid off from my sales job, bought the '95 Dodge Intrepid from my company as the layoff was a bit of a surprise and immediate. So, needed a car quick, and I knew the good care I took of the Intrepid. A good car, reliable, but poorly screwed together and a bit noisy. The 300M was an improvement, totally reliable, good looking, nice to drive. But, not exceptionally well screwed together either (body panel alignments mostly, but no squeaks or rattles. Just didn't look as good as German/Japanese/British cars to come). The 300M was the first new domestic car I had ever bought. But, after about 5+ years and nearly 70k miles, I figured the Chryco tranny was going to to go, so time to move on!

Been posting/lurking here ever since, I remember a lot of the names mentioned recently in this thread. When I visit LA family, I look to the Malibu Hills and know that Tagman lives somewhere up there. Heartbreaking to hear of posters who have passed on.

Since I've joined (and the 300M), I've bought for myself and ex:

'02 Lexus RX300 (Still in service!)
'05 Acura TL (pre-BEAK!)
'09 Jaguar XK (Still gorgeous)
'11 BMW 535xi (ex's car, chosen over E and A6/7)
'13 Jaguar XF (4 door XK, I tell myself)
(advised on recent '16 328xi)

Wow, ich nicht bin eine chronic car buyer! I'd like to be, darn New England frugality...

sda

This confirms what I remember about the Tribute, that it was primarily designed by Mazda and used the Ford V6. When they came out I really liked the ES model, test drove several and decided I still liked a sedan better. The interior of the Mazda was nicer with more soft touch materials than Ford.

Ford released the original model in 2000 for the 2001 model year—a model jointly developed and released with Mazda of Japan—who took a lead in the engineering of the two models and sold their version as the Mazda Tribute. Although the Escape and Tribute share the same underpinnings constructed from the Ford CD2 platform (based on Mazda GF underpinnings), the only panels common to the two vehicles are the roof and floor pressings. Powertrains were supplied by Mazda with respect to the base inline-four engine, with Ford providing the optional V6

berri

Mike - you had very major surgery. When I had cancer surgery I was told upfront it would be 18 months to 2 years before I'd be back to where I was and that was pretty accurate for me at least. Smart to see your doctor, but also good to understand you are not superman. But forgetting keys in the mailbox once, heck I think I left them in the front door once back in my 40's (maybe it was having teenagers!)

berri

Yeah it was called Tribute. Mazda and Ford were doing a lot of cross engineering back in those days. I think the Escape was more Ford and the Probe and Escort more Mazda back then.

thebean

berri said:

Sears always had the best Christmas catalogs. Kind of ironic that stores that grew up on catalogs then lost to the internet. Their catalog experience should have been an advantage with internet shopping operations. Retail is just tough. Sears was always a big hard lines power, but not so much in soft lines like clothing which generally had higher margins. Specialty stores and big box stores hit them on one side, while upscale discounters like Target came from the other direction. Wasting big money on buying things like K-Mart and Lands End didn't make matters any better for them. Now Amazon and the internet seem to be taking over. One thing concerns me as all these different store chains are being beaten out of markets; the potential problem becomes a loss of competition if internet operations from others can't beat Amazon. Long term the results may be the same as airline consolidation. Once Delta pushed most competition out of Cincinnati it quickly had one of the highest per mile air fair structures. Long term, consolidation is not always your friend. People in Seattle better hope Alaska stays in the game because otherwise it will become owned by Delta. Same goes for all these retailers cutting back or folding. Doesn't seem to matter which industry, the government seems to be letting our economy become dominated by oligopolies or duopolies. Ultimately the consumer will end up on the short end of the stick. Another thing that irritates me is this media lack of understanding in economics. Sure, something like Mike's TV is cheaper than they used to be. BUT, that TV will maybe last 7 or 8 years, while the old TV's could go close to 20. So given the more frequent purchase turnover, are TV's really all that cheaper over a buyers lifetime? Of course the government inflation indices overlook this matter because it keeps down wage earner COLA's and increases to things like Social Security.

I nominate this as Post of the Month.  I heartily agree with all points made here.  Great job!

imidazol97

graphicguy said:

< CT6 IS NOT going to be for the Cadillac traditionalist. It's a far cry from even the XTS. So, they're seeking a different buyer.

I read a review comparison of a CT6 and g80 or 90. I forgot which they preferred but the result didn't mean much to me because I felt it was just to have an article to write, to sell. BUT it was interesting to read the comparison. Do you feel this is the market to which CT6 is directed now by Caddy?

I think the reviewers want to make GM's cars match up against one of the others which the reviewers having in their mind as the checkpoint for greatness. But I think GM has to make their cars fit into the spot where there is no real competitor. Is there a spot for the CT6 that's unoccupied now? Otherwise, the media types use any little thing to beat down the new competitor.

imidazol97

@abacomike If you're in discomfort as you've described from the tightness of the surgery and on various medications, I'd consider some forgetfulness a minor thing. Look up the medications on google and use some of the side effects of the lists for the drugs to see if any may cause loss of short term memory. There probably is a medical term for it, so look up some of the side effect description words to see if that's what they mean.

If you forget for a few seconds which floor your condo is on when you get in the elevator, that's a little more. Or you forget where you are driving to after a couple of blocks from home. Or you forget where the kitchen is in the condo.

abacomike

imidazol97 said:

@abacomike If you're in discomfort as you've described from the tightness of the surgery and on various medications, I'd consider some forgetfulness a minor thing. Look up the medications on google and use some of the side effects of the lists for the drugs to see if any may cause loss of short term memory. There probably is a medical term for it, so look up some of the side effect description words to see if that's what they mean.

If you forget for a few seconds which floor your condo is on when you get in the elevator, that's a little more. Or you forget where you are driving to after a couple of blocks from home. Or you forget where the kitchen is in the condo.

A year is what I was told after my surgery, 6 mos to a year, and it was much less intensive than your surgery. And the relapse is important because it affects your condition.

Thanks for your insight, imid, it is much appreciated. I guess that's why my primary care physician said I was a very lucky human being to be alive after what I went through. I know the doctors told my brother at the time of the surgery that I might not make it through post-op - it was a very risky surgical procedure. My brother and I did not communicate frequently prior to this - now we talk every day - he is always concerned about me. I appreciate this happening to me just for the opportunity to regain communications with my twin brother.

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

PF_Flyer said:

nyccarguy said:

Question for the experts. I'm having 4 snow tires mounted on the Legacy tomorrow. The car tracks lasrer straight. Should I have an alignment performed?

No real reason to check the alignment just because you're having new tires mounted. In my non-expert opinion anyway

I agree. If the tires on there are wearing unevenly, or unless you have changed any suspension components or hit some massive potholes or some other reason that may have whacked out the alignment, then do so, but simply new tires is not a reason.

Tires seem to be wearing evenly. The only suspension modification I've made is swapping out the stock rear anti-roll bar (16 mm) for one from an Outback (19 mm). The rear tires have gotten incredibly noisy during the last 5K miles or so.

abacomike

berri said:

Mike - you had very major surgery. When I had cancer surgery I was told upfront it would be 18 months to 2 years before I'd be back to where I was and that was pretty accurate for me at least. Smart to see your doctor, but also good to understand you are not superman. But forgetting keys in the mailbox once, heck I think I left them in the front door once back in my 40's (maybe it was having teenagers!)

There's one other thing that's been bothering me - I have lost my "need" to buy a new car!  Don't even want to visit new car dealerships any more.  I tell you - that's scary!!! . Wait A minute - I forgot I just bought a new car last month.  That's why I've lost interest in searching for new cars!  Whew - that's a relief - thought I was losing it for a while there!!!

imidazol97

abacomike said:

But that purchase was a necessity to be able to get in and out with less discomfort. Don't worry,
in a couple more months your "urges" to car shop will return. LOL

roadburner

Another bit of Edmunds nostalgia- anyone remember the over-zealous moderator Bonnie Rick? I used to call her Bonnie Reich.

driver100

stickguy said:

abacomike said:

I'm driving home from the dentist the morning and stop off to pick up an Rx.  I put my hand in my pocket and my house and mailbox keys are missing.  I call the dentist since I am sure they slipped out of my shorts pocket and ask them to look for them.  No dice - they can't find them.  I move the driver's seat all the way forward in the car, but no keys underneath.

I call security at my Condo complex and ask them to meet me at my apartment to let me in - explained to them I lost my keys. As I'm walking to the elevator, my downstairs neighbor stops me and hands me my keys.  He said he found them inserted into my mailbox earlier this morning.  Then it dawned on me that I had gotten yesterday's mail before leaving this morning for the dentist.  Thank goodness for my neighbor finding them.

This brings to mind some concerns I have about my body and my mind.  Ever since the surgery and rehab, I have been misplacing things and forgetting things.  I am seeing my doctor next Monday about this and some persistent pain.  I have a feeling that the 6 days after surgery when I was in a coma have had some residual effects on my memory and mental processing.  Whatever is causing these issues and lapses, at least I am alive to talk about it!

tie a string around your finger. It won't help you remember things, but at least you will always have a string if you need one.

Nah, it will make you ask....why do I have this string around my finger?

jmonroe

imidazol97 said:

berri said:

Just saw in the Chicago papers confirmation that Sears its selling its Craftsman tools to Stanley Block and Decker. Also closing 150 more stores.

Just heard on radio about sale to Black and Decker. That'll ruin the quality of Craftsman tools real quickly as they try to trade on the brand name and lower the quality for maximum profit on inferior products. I won't buy anything that says B&D and Stanley has turned Chinese.

I'm with you, Black and Decker used to be a good brand but that was probably 40 years ago; pure JUNK now. Isn't even good enough for an apartment dweller's use. When I lived in SC, around 1996, I bought a De Walt cordless 14.4 volt drill and at the time even though De Walt was a division of Black and Decker, De Walt was still a pretty good product. I still have that drill today and it works fine.

Fast forward to the Spring of 2015 when Son #1 was building a game room in his basement. He wanted another cordless drill and he saw a De Walt kit at Home Depot for around $250. Since I could get a 10% Veterans discount, I bought it and gave him the bill. Three days later he said it started to grind when he was driving a screw and 5 seconds later it quit completely. From that experience it looks like I can cross off De Walt tools now.

FWIW, he replaced it with Home Depot's Ridgid brand and he has beat the hell out of it and it still keeps going. The funny part of this is he didn't want to go with Ridgid at first since it was not a "name" brand and he trusted the De Walt name more. Now it's no more De Walt's for him either.

jmonroe

driver100

abacomike said:

berri said:

Mike - you had very major surgery. When I had cancer surgery I was told upfront it would be 18 months to 2 years before I'd be back to where I was and that was pretty accurate for me at least. Smart to see your doctor, but also good to understand you are not superman. But forgetting keys in the mailbox once, heck I think I left them in the front door once back in my 40's (maybe it was having teenagers!)

There's one other thing that's been bothering me - I have lost my "need" to buy a new car!  Don't even want to visit new car dealerships any more.  I tell you - that's scary!!! . Wait A minute - I forgot I just bought a new car last month.  That's why I've lost interest in searching for new cars!  Whew - that's a relief - thought I was losing it for a while there!!!

If you buy a new car in the next 6 months I think you will really need to see a doctor..........a psychiatrist doctor

jmonroe

jipster said:

jmonroe said:

nyccarguy said:

Question for the experts. I'm having 4 snow tires mounted on the Legacy tomorrow. The car tracks lasrer straight. Should I have an alignment performed?

As others have said, by all means get the alignment checked.

4 new snow tires cost waaay too much to risk not getting an alignment check. This is exactly why I got the lifetime alignment from Firestone when I got Mrs. j's Legacy new tires a few years ago. It doesn't make any difference who I buy tires from, I'm covered because the alignment is with the car not the tires.

A little extra up front but I am way ahead now. I can get an alignment twice a year of every 5K miles. Yep, one of the best things I did.

jmonroe

You get the alignment checked twice a year or the actually alignment? Shirley a dealership won't perform an alignment if test indicates its not needed??


Also, did a bit of research on the Legacy awhile back. Looks and sounds like a good car, but  decided to keep the Mariner. Will probably be on my shopping list when I'm ready for a new(er) vehicle. Let me have first crack at that car when you're ready to sell, and don't worry... I won't use the "Jipst Method of Used Car Buying" against you. 

I get it checked twice a year because that is the deal. If it needs aligned they align it. There were two times when it was still in spec (they showed me the printout). Maybe it was from another car, I didn't watch them. I am more than happy I paid for the lifetime alignment. It costs a little more than 50% for a one time alignment but if you know you are going to keep your car for a few years, IMO it's worth it.

I doubt that you could pry the Subie away from Mrs. j anytime soon. But, I'll be glad to pack a Jipster type lunch and watch you try. You better get some body pads on your way over.

jmonroe

driver100

thebean said:

berri said:

Sears always had the best Christmas catalogs. Kind of ironic that stores that grew up on catalogs then lost to the internet. Their catalog experience should have been an advantage with internet shopping operations. Retail is just tough. Sears was always a big hard lines power, but not so much in soft lines like clothing which generally had higher margins. Specialty stores and big box stores hit them on one side, while upscale discounters like Target came from the other direction. Wasting big money on buying things like K-Mart and Lands End didn't make matters any better for them. Now Amazon and the internet seem to be taking over. One thing concerns me as all these different store chains are being beaten out of markets; the potential problem becomes a loss of competition if internet operations from others can't beat Amazon. Long term the results may be the same as airline consolidation. Once Delta pushed most competition out of Cincinnati it quickly had one of the highest per mile air fair structures. Long term, consolidation is not always your friend. People in Seattle better hope Alaska stays in the game because otherwise it will become owned by Delta. Same goes for all these retailers cutting back or folding. Doesn't seem to matter which industry, the government seems to be letting our economy become dominated by oligopolies or duopolies. Ultimately the consumer will end up on the short end of the stick.

Another thing that irritates me is this media lack of understanding in economics. Sure, something like Mike's TV is cheaper than they used to be. BUT, that TV will maybe last 7 or 8 years, while the old TV's could go close to 20. So given the more frequent purchase turnover, are TV's really all that cheaper over a buyers lifetime? Of course the government inflation indices overlook this matter because it keeps down wage earner COLA's and increases to things like Social Security.

Sure, something like Mike's TV is cheaper than they used to be. BUT, that TV will maybe last 7 or 8 years, while the old TV's could go close to 20 years

I nominate this as Post of the Month.  I heartily agree with all points made here.  Great job!

Yes, it was a good post, lots of good points.

Don't know about post of the month as it is only January 5th.

I don't think it matters if TVs last more than 5 or 6 years. The technology is changing so fast it is better to buy a cheaper set and then get a newer one with all the enhancements. Our 3 year old VIZIO had very poor wi-fi compared to the newer Samsung that replaced it. Plus the Samsung has LED/LCD picture, much better operation and easier set up, gets updated better and is more sophisticated in every way....but cost the same.

And, think of the entertainment value for about $225 a year for 3 years, about 65 cents a day!

jmonroe

PF_Flyer said:

nyccarguy said:

Question for the experts. I'm having 4 snow tires mounted on the Legacy tomorrow. The car tracks lasrer straight. Should I have an alignment performed?

No real reason to check the alignment just because you're having new tires mounted. In my non-expert opinion anyway

You are right, that is a non-expert opinion.

jmonroe