Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

isellhondas

abacomike said:

Wasn't it Chrysler that went to alternators - 1961?  I had a used 1961 Chrysler Newport Coupe and it had an alternator.

Plymouth Valiant's came with alternators when they were introduced in 1960. By the following year I believe all Chrysler products had them.

Mr_Shiftright

PF_Flyer said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

I"m putting mud flaps on my Mini Cooper. Does that interest anyone.....



..........no, I didn't think so...............

Well you see, it's like this. When you have a hatchback with a wing + wide tires, you end up with a blanket of road grime on your back window in about 15 minutes.

Is that for your Mini off road adventures?

Actually I do occasionally take it on some pretty nasty roads. You gotta go where your clients are, after all, and if some northern California hillbilly has his '53 Chevy truck stashed in a tin barn on the back 40, that's where you go. Lots of farm country and forest roads up here.

sda

Is Stever on vacation? I haven't seen his comments lately.

stickguy

maybe searching the country for a Soul?

abacomike

sda said:

Is Stever on vacation? I haven't seen his comments lately.

"...come back little steeva!"

jmonroe

abacomike said:

jmonroe said:

abacomike said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Those *look* like real bagels but do they have the hard crust and chewy innards?

Indeed they DO

I am a certified Bagel Authenticator, so be careful. I have been known to diss some bagels with a dismissive wave of the hand, not unlike a French king.

Do you use baking soda instead of baking lye?

I always keep a dozen or so bagels in my freezer.  I buy them at the Deli in the casino where they make them fresh every morning.  They use water and an oven - I see them making them when I pass by in the window.  I usually buy sesame bagels.  Once I made the mistake of buying poppy seed bagels - had those little black seeds all over the place.  Sesame seeds aren't that much less messy - but their bagels can't be beat.

I take them from the freezer and put them in the microwave for 40 seconds.  Then, I slice them and put them in the toaster for a few minutes.  Then it's cream cheese or margarine - mmmmmm good!  

I also like Bagels. There are so many types today I could not name them all. I'm more traditional, I like egg, garlic, onion and everything. As far as I'm concerned, when you add blueberry's, it's no longer a Bagel, it's a pastry. :@

FWIW, I put my frozen Bagels in the microwave for 2 minutes on Power Level 2. I think 40 seconds, if you are using the high setting, is too long.

jmonroe

You reheat your bagels the way you like them and I'll continue doing it my way - that's what makes the world go round - diversity in reheating bagels!!! 

Hey Mike please take this personally:

Please try to understand people like me who are always right. It's hard for us to grasp an understanding of the common everyday bagel defroster.

jmonroe

jmonroe

andres3 said:

snakeweasel said:

andres3 said:

If they lose the case, and don't get the fine reduced, then I'll be stressed! On the bright side, I haven't received any new pending citations (knock on wood!).

Well just keep it slow you'll live longer (before responding think about that and what you said that I am responding to).

Errrr.... the pending ticket isn't for speeding. Bad assumption. I rail against speeding tickets for purposes more benevolent than my own self-interests.

This one is a red light with a seemingly short yellow. I have been less reluctant to slam the brakes when the timing is bad on yellow lights, but I hate having to slam the brakes, but I may hate paying the fine even more.

HINT: Slow down as you approach intersections with lights. You won't have to run a light or "slam on the brakes".

Both your car and wallet will thank you for doing this.

jmonroe

jmonroe

driver100 said:

jmonroe said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

LONG: they maintain a more stable current flow at low idle speeds, which is necessary for cars using numerous electrical accessories.

SHORT: They just DO!

Your LONG explanation could have just said, "more output for a given size".

And everyone knows that a cars alternator is a 3 phase electrical thingy.

@driver100 is going to have a ball looking this up.

jmonroe

I can't look it up now....my wife has scheduled me going out for dinner. But, I will look it up, if I was to guess I'd say an alternator is more efficient and produces more electricity faster..

JM, I should have been your life coach...I could have added 5 years to your useable lifetime, making briefer posts, heating bagels for less time, waxing your car less often.

I don't need outside help. I've already gotten 5 years on my own.

I'm now trying to eek out another 5.

jmonroe

jmonroe

abacomike said:

houdini1 said:

LONG: they maintain a more stable current flow at low idle speeds, which is necessary for cars using numerous electrical accessories.

SHORT: They just DO!

Your LONG explanation could have just said, "more output for a given size".

And everyone knows that a cars alternator is a 3 phase electrical thingy.

@driver100 is going to have a ball looking this up.

jmonroe

I can't look it up now....my wife has scheduled me going out for dinner. But, I will look it up, if I was to guess I'd say an alternator is more efficient and produces more electricity faster..

JM, I should have been your life coach...I could have added 5 years to your useable lifetime, making briefer posts, heating bagels for less time, waxing your car less often.

You must be going out for the early bird special.

I live in what used to be called the "EARLYBIRD CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!"  I have not seen an early bird menu in a restaurant or an ad in the newspaper advertising early bird specials in many, many years.  I wonder why that is?  What happened to them?  Did they all bypass South Florida and fly to Bolivia for the winter (early birds, that is)?  

When I visited my Delray Beach SIL last year they had a few of them in that area. I'm not against saving a buck but if they don't offer what I want, what good are they? But, I will admit, most of the time I can squeeze something in.

jmonroe

explorerx4

I'm still trying to get my head around the idea of freezing a bagel.
My favorite method for toasting a bagel is to butter it first, then put it in the toaster.
Put the shmeer on when done toasting. Yum!

suydam

They freeze quite well. They stay fresh that way.

jmonroe

isellhondas said:

jmonroe said:

isellhondas said:

jmonroe said:

isellhondas said:

sda said:

stickguy said:

my Hondas (Accord and Odyssey) both had lousy OEM batteries that did not last all that long (4 years max, one might have been 3).

one problem is that sometimes it is not a gradual fade out that gets you (so you get warning). Rather, something just lets go internally (I guess a cell failing) and you go from good to dead like flipping a switch. No real way to predict that.

That has been my experience as well. Battery lasted 4 years on the Civic and 3 on the Accord. No warning at all with the Civic. Started up just fine and went to Publix. Came back less than 10 min later and it hardly made a clicking noise when I tried to start it. I hadn't started the Accord for about 3 days and it cranked slowly, started, stalled (a first) and then was completely dead. I had to pry the cover near the shifter off so I could stick a key and manually override the Park lock out to get the car in neutral. I drafted my wife to help push it out of the garage so I could position the Pilot to jump it off. Fun times!

I sold our next door neighbors a new Accord in 1996 and the original battery lasted 13 years! that has GOT to be a record!

My experience is that OEM batteries are better than aftermarket batteries.

My first car, a 1956 Chevy that I got used in 1961, had a 6 volt Delco battery that was literally tortured and was still in the car in 1963 when I sold it.

That is a looooong story. Nobody would read all of that so I'm not going to even try. I get tired of just thinking about what that battery went through.

jmonroe

Ah...not to be nitpicky but Chevy went to a 12 volt system in 1955.

Yes, you are correct. I was going to correct it but let it go since it was past the EDIT period and I didn't want to repost the correction. What I do remember for sure is that my '56 Chevy had a generator not an alternator. I'm not sure when GM made that change but I think my '62 Chevy that replaced the '56 had an alternator but since I never had to do any charging system work on the '62, I'm not positive about that.

jmonroe

OK, a little Chevrolet history...

1963 was the first year ALL Chevys came with alternators. EXCEPT if a 1962 full sized Chevy had factory air conditioning these came with a one year only (hard to find!) alternator.

Thanks.

A/C in '62? You probably had to be on the high income side for that. I was still in the Navy in '63 when I got my '62 so that explains why my '62 did not have A/C.

The first car that I had with A/C was a '75 Grand Prix that I bought used in '77. I was really living by then.

jmonroe

suydam

First car with AC? An '86 Plymouth Voyager

jmonroe

suydam said:

First car with AC? An '86 Plymouth Voyager

If you are my age, I guess you weren't "really living" but you are probably younger than me. Even @abacomike is

jmonroe

abacomike

jmonroe said:

jmonroe said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Those *look* like real bagels but do they have the hard crust and chewy innards?

Indeed they DO

I am a certified Bagel Authenticator, so be careful. I have been known to diss some bagels with a dismissive wave of the hand, not unlike a French king. Do you use baking soda instead of baking lye?

I always keep a dozen or so bagels in my freezer.  I buy them at the Deli in the casino where they make them fresh every morning.  They use water and an oven - I see them making them when I pass by in the window.  I usually buy sesame bagels.  Once I made the mistake of buying poppy seed bagels - had those little black seeds all over the place.  Sesame seeds aren't that much less messy - but their bagels can't be beat.

I take them from the freezer and put them in the microwave for 40 seconds.  Then, I slice them and put them in the toaster for a few minutes.  Then it's cream cheese or margarine - mmmmmm good!  

I also like Bagels. There are so many types today I could not name them all. I'm more traditional, I like egg, garlic, onion and everything. As far as I'm concerned, when you add blueberry's, it's no longer a Bagel, it's a pastry. :@ FWIW, I put my frozen Bagels in the microwave for 2 minutes on Power Level 2. I think 40 seconds, if you are using the high setting, is too long. jmonroe

You reheat your bagels the way you like them and I'll continue doing it my way - that's what makes the world go round - diversity in reheating bagels!!! 

Hey Mike please take this personally: Please try to understand people like me who are always right. It's hard for us to grasp an understanding of the common everyday bagel defroster. jmonroe

I've never been called a "commoner" before, but you said it so nicely, no matter how hard I try, I can't get upset or angry.  Coming from you, being a "commoner" is a compliment!  Thanks mate - I'm floating on air.  

abacomike

jmonroe said:

First car with AC? An '86 Plymouth Voyager

If you are my age, I guess you weren't "really living" but you are probably younger than me. Even @abacomike is jmonroe

I respect my elders!!!  

fintail

I should try to find out when MB switched over. It was no earlier than 1965. My fintail has a generator, which works well enough as the car has very little drawing off the system.

isellhondas said:

Plymouth Valiant's came with alternators when they were introduced in 1960. By the following year I believe all Chrysler products had them.

imidazol97

First car with AC..., Mustang Grande 1970 with houndtooth checked cloth seats and a half vinyl roof, front half. I cannot remember what color the car was. I think it was dark blue. It was a luxury car, according to the brochures.

tjc78

Our local diner has an Early Bird menu, and I'm sure other diners here do too.  

Bagels,
Nothing better than a true NY bagel.  Most of NJ you can get a good one, but not the same.  

houdini1

imidazol97 said:

First car with AC..., Mustang Grande 1970 with houndtooth checked cloth seats and a half vinyl roof, front half. I cannot remember what color the car was. I think it was dark blue. It was a luxury car, according to the brochures.

We were pretty close. My first car with a/c was a 1968 Chevy Impala. Red, black vinyl interior and black vinyl top. Living high on the hog !!!

Michaell

sda said:

Is Stever on vacation? I haven't seen his comments lately.

stickguy said:

maybe searching the country for a Soul?

abacomike said:

sda said:

Is Stever on vacation? I haven't seen his comments lately.

"...come back little steeva!"

Steve retired from Edmunds.

stickguy

really? I thought it was like the hotel California, and you could never leave!

Good luck to him then in actual retirement.

Mr_Shiftright

sda said:

Is Stever on vacation? I haven't seen his comments lately.

Steve has left the building, and has officially retired, although I'm not sure if that means from working in general or just his computer work. Says he wants to spend more time on his projects and less in front of the screen. He sends his regards to all of you.

jmonroe

Michaell said:

sda said:

Is Stever on vacation? I haven't seen his comments lately.

stickguy said:

maybe searching the country for a Soul?

abacomike said:

sda said:

Is Stever on vacation? I haven't seen his comments lately.

"...come back little steeva!"

Steve retired from Edmunds.

WOW. I was wondering what was going on. As long as he's happy, I'm happy for him.

Always appreciated the levity of his posts. He will be missed.

So, when is his replacement going to be introduced to us? You know you, @Mr_Shiftright and @PF_Flyer can't handle this crew by yourselves.

jmonroe

sda

Michaell said:

sda said:

Is Stever on vacation? I haven't seen his comments lately.

stickguy said:

maybe searching the country for a Soul?

abacomike said:

sda said:

Is Stever on vacation? I haven't seen his comments lately.

"...come back little steeva!"

Steve retired from Edmunds.

I enjoyed his contributions and humor. Happy retirement Steve!

Mr_Shiftright

I'm afraid you're stuck with us for now. We had someone in mind but he decided he'd rather defuse land mines.

explorerx4

I will miss Stever's pictures with the Edmunds chair.
He didn't mention retirement.

fintail

Wow, that was abrupt. I hope he's in good health and is able to find that perfect Soul for SW desert cruising.

jmonroe

Mr_Shiftright said:

I'm afraid you're stuck with us for now. We had someone in mind but he decided he'd rather defuse land mines.

Well, we didn't think you'd offer the job to a scaredy cat. Should have offered him a better medical plan.

jmonroe

Mr_Shiftright

He took a little time off to think it through and then made his decision. He seems content with it. He's always busy with projects and guests as you may recall.

houdini1

I understand driver is available.

jmonroe

houdini1 said:

I understand driver is available.

OH NO, say it ain't so. Somebody, anybody, PLEASE.

jmonroe

driver100

houdini1 said:

driver100 said:

jmonroe said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

LONG: they maintain a more stable current flow at low idle speeds, which is necessary for cars using numerous electrical accessories.

SHORT: They just DO!

Your LONG explanation could have just said, "more output for a given size".

And everyone knows that a cars alternator is a 3 phase electrical thingy.

@driver100 is going to have a ball looking this up.

jmonroe

I can't look it up now....my wife has scheduled me going out for dinner. But, I will look it up, if I was to guess I'd say an alternator is more efficient and produces more electricity faster..

JM, I should have been your life coach...I could have added 5 years to your useable lifetime, making briefer posts, heating bagels for less time, waxing your car less often.

You must be going out for the early bird special.

Everyone over 55 in Florida eats by 5 p.m. at the latest....home and in bed by 7:30!

driver100

explorerx4 said:

I'm still trying to get my head around the idea of freezing a bagel.
My favorite method for toasting a bagel is to butter it first, then put it in the toaster.
Put the shmeer on when done toasting. Yum!

Reminds me of a philisophical debate I have had for many years with a good friend.

Do you slice your muffins horizontally or vertically. He does them horizontal so he can spread butter, jam etc on the larger parts.

I cut them vertically so that both halves are equal and they will warm up more evenly.

Anyone else want to "weigh" in?

driver100

imidazol97 said:

First car with AC..., Mustang Grande 1970 with houndtooth checked cloth seats and a half vinyl roof, front half. I cannot remember what color the car was. I think it was dark blue. It was a luxury car, according to the brochures.

You can't remember the color of your Mustang? That is sacrilegious!

jmonroe

driver100 said:

explorerx4 said:

I'm still trying to get my head around the idea of freezing a bagel.
My favorite method for toasting a bagel is to butter it first, then put it in the toaster.
Put the shmeer on when done toasting. Yum!

Reminds me of a philisophical debate I have had for many years with a good friend.

Do you slice your muffins horizontally or vertically. He does them horizontal so he can spread butter, jam etc on the larger parts.

I cut them vertically so that both halves are equal and they will warm up more evenly.

Anyone else want to "weigh" in?

I never thought I'd say this but I agree with you.

This really hurts me. :@

jmonroe

abacomike

jmonroe said:

I'm still trying to get my head around the idea of freezing a bagel. My favorite method for toasting a bagel is to butter it first, then put it in the toaster. Put the shmeer on when done toasting. Yum!

Reminds me of a philisophical debate I have had for many years with a good friend. Do you slice your muffins horizontally or vertically. He does them horizontal so he can spread butter, jam etc on the larger parts. I cut them vertically so that both halves are equal and they will warm up more evenly. Anyone else want to "weigh" in?

I never thought I'd say this but I agree with you. This really hurts me. :@ jmonroe

It hurts all of us!!!  

graphicguy

Happy for Stever and his retirement. Will miss him....quite a lot!

driver100

jmonroe said:

houdini1 said:

I understand driver is available.

OH NO, say it ain't so. Somebody, anybody, PLEASE.

jmonroe

Don't worry I will keep JMonroe under control......50 words or less. If you can't say it in 50 words it ain't worth saying.

Where do I apply?

btw.......I will miss the old stever. Were you guys seeing if we would notice?

houdini1

Maybe we can get Kirsty back.

graphicguy

Anyone driven a '17 Golf R around here? Impressions?

abacomike

Too bad about stever - I will miss him very much. 

As for driver's method of bagel preparation after they are frozen, to each his own.

As for driver being a moderator - "...good GOD!" 

Bagel freezing is great.  Even after 2 months in the freezer, I put one whole on a paper plate and zap it for only 35-40 seconds at 70% power.  I then take a serrated knife and slice it "The Normal Way" and pop it in the toaster oven until it's just starting to brown.  I then "schmeer" it (To use an explorer term) with margarine or cream cheese and after each bite, it's like being in heaven.

I have trouble getting salted bagels anywhere - they are the best - but with all the warnings about salt intake, it's just as well.

jmonroe

houdini1 said:

Maybe we can get Kirsty back.

She had no problem keeping us in line.

I vote for someone else. Like the guy who wanted to defuse land mines. He gives up easily.

jmonroe

abacomike

driver100 said:

LONG: they maintain a more stable current flow at low idle speeds, which is necessary for cars using numerous electrical accessories. SHORT: They just DO!

Your LONG explanation could have just said, "more output for a given size". And everyone knows that a cars alternator is a 3 phase electrical thingy. @driver100 is going to have a ball looking this up. jmonroe

I can't look it up now....my wife has scheduled me going out for dinner. But, I will look it up, if I was to guess I'd say an alternator is more efficient and produces more electricity faster.. JM, I should have been your life coach...I could have added 5 years to your useable lifetime, making briefer posts, heating bagels for less time, waxing your car less often.

You must be going out for the early bird special.

Everyone over 55 in Florida eats by 5 p.m. at the latest....home and in bed by 7:30!

That's an over exaggeration driver.  Even 80 year olds stay up to watch Jeopardy and Homeland.  Retired folks "nap" during the day to be able to eat out and catch a movie.  We are not as tired as you would think driver.  

houdini1

I'm sticking with Kirsty. I am pretty sure she had a crush on me.

berri

My best to Stever. Retirement is always a tough decision, but doesn't sound like it will be a tough transition for him. He was able to be an Edmunds facilitator while also easily relating to us. Good luck Stever, will miss you , but am happy for you too!

abacomike

houdini1 said:

I'm sticking with Kirsty. I am pretty sure she had a crush on me.

The essential word in your comment is HAD!  

Mr_Shiftright

Kirstie is busy excelling in another department so I don't think even bagels will bring her back.

So....This is as good as it gets. Grief counseling is available.

jmonroe

houdini1 said:

I'm sticking with Kirsty. I am pretty sure she had a crush on me.

NO, NO. You forget how it was, she always crushed you. Remember now.

jmonroe

jmonroe

Mr_Shiftright said:

Kirstie is busy excelling in another department so I don't think even bagels will bring her back.

So....This is as good as it gets. Grief counseling is available.

I hope you have a loooong sign up sheet.

jmonroe