Ranger's goaltending hasn't been good. I'll be watching the Bruins. They are at home so they have a chance. They just don't compete when playing at Carolina.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
Mine too. Having to come out of pocket to restore & repair my flooded basement in September with money I had earmarked for the driveway was a tough pill to swallow. I hope to have the driveway done this coming summer.
I might have driveway work in my future, too. For the first time in over twenty years (when we originally installed it), our driveway is a muddy mess this spring. I'm not sure what tipped the scales on it, but I imagine there has just been a bit of detritus, dust, etc., that accumulates every year, and this is the year when it all sort of reached a tipping point where it all went to mush.
It's just no fun to deal with a couple inches of slippery mud every time I step out of the door.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
I probably won't scrape it down. I'll just add some 2"- to it to firm up the fines. If I take the fine stuff out first, well, that's a helluva lot of work (plus I have to find some place to put it), and then it takes a long time to get the gravel to lock in properly (e.g., you don't catch it when you plow, shovel, drive, jack, etc.).
MAYBE we will put a finishing topping of D1 on it afterward, if my wife gets her way, but I'm good with the just larger stuff.
When we originally put it in, it included three layers: 6"- followed by 2"- followed by D1. The layers were necessary to stabilize the silt substrate that is very effective at swallowing rocks when it gets wet. Honestly, now that I'm thinking about it, it is very possible that the original drive has simply settled far enough into the silt that it is oozing its way out now. I hope that's not the case, because my goodness, we put in a lot of rock the first time!
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
My neighbor had a current-gen RAV4 with a lease ending and was able to get cash out by trading it in. Bought a Model 3 (RWD I think, not sure whether new or used but I think used), and got an offer to sell the Model 3 at a very attractive price, so he just got a Wrangler (I don't think it's a 4xE, though).
We have an offer of $53k on my wife’s Model 3 RWD (MSRP $45k). Nothing to replace it with as neither the Jeep nor Model Y are anywhere close to here yet.
2025 Jetta GLI Autobahn, 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xE
@qbrozen said:
Which one? The Celtics were rough to watch in the 4th quarter. Still keeping my fingers crossed for a 6ers-celtics series.
But you may be talking about Hockey. Or maybe baseball. lol.
I have zero point zero interest in basketball.
That’s always been my position, but my son is making me watch
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Pretty much zero interest in any sports here... I will sometimes watch a UK basketball game if they make it to the Final Four (because I'm a UK alum). I would go to a Chicago Cubs home game or similar because of the historic venue and atmosphere, but wouldn't care that much about the game itself. (Aside: Wrigley Field offers tours, which are pretty cool on their own, without having to stay for a game.)
OF, my co-worker who moved to Myrtle Beach in March had his interview at Enterprise yesterday as he's still an employee. They are a smaller outfit up there and only work 5 days a week. Unlike us, they have to put in a request to work the following week, 3 days, and not stuck in a schedule like we are here down south. I like the idea of working different days week to week depending on one's schedule outside of work. We weren't given that choice as our boss asked us what days we wanted to work & he did his best giving us them. Our lead is no longer working on Wednesdays so have no clue what group I'll be with next week. Not sure how your outfit works, but we're open 7 days a week with the weekend crew being very small. I let my boss know I'd like to pick up one of those weekend days, Sundays, but not sure if it's going to fly. Did work last weekend and wasn't too bad. 4 days a week would be great so we shall see how that pans out as they'd probably have to make me full time which I think they are reluctant to do. Still, for a retiree who wants to get out of the house a few days a week and make some extra income, it really is the perfect gig. Luckily our boss is pretty flexible and we can usually take as much time off as we need.
Up here we’re a little unusual in that we work 2 days a week on a regular schedule but no limit on hours per day if you’re willing. For example, last Thursday my group worked 15 hours, this week it was 13. Our boss has been sending us to the airport every Monday which guarantees us 12 hours. We can volunteer to work the airport an additional day on the weekend. Yes, the company is very flexible as many of our people basically say “I’m going to Florida…see you in the spring”. Never had a job like that before. As I understand it they don’t want you to go over 30 hours a week average or else they have to pay benefits which would double the cost to employ us. My goal is to get between 20 and 25 hours.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
@qbrozen said:
Which one? The Celtics were rough to watch in the 4th quarter. Still keeping my fingers crossed for a 6ers-celtics series.
But you may be talking about Hockey. Or maybe baseball. lol.
I have zero point zero interest in basketball.
That’s always been my position, but my son is making me watch
My interest in basketball has waned quite a bit from when I was in college.
1997 Honda Prelude Base - 2022 Acura MDX Type S Advance - 2021 Honda Passport Sport - 2006 BMW 330Ci ZHP
Pretty much zero interest in any sports here... I will sometimes watch a UK basketball game if they make it to the Final Four (because I'm a UK alum). I would go to a Chicago Cubs home game or similar because of the historic venue and atmosphere, but wouldn't care that much about the game itself. (Aside: Wrigley Field offers tours, which are pretty cool on their own, without having to stay for a game.)
I follow college basketball and Tottenham Hotspur- that's it for anything non-automotive.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
@qbrozen said:
Which one? The Celtics were rough to watch in the 4th quarter. Still keeping my fingers crossed for a 6ers-celtics series.
But you may be talking about Hockey. Or maybe baseball. lol.
I'll take as many hours as they'll give me at this point. I'd love 4 days a week but then I wouldn't be part time and they don't want that even though I don't want the benefits. We've done a few 12 hour days but not the norm, which is around 9 or less. Never have had a job so flexible which I like. Hard to believe that come next January, I'll have been in the rental car business 10 years! Seems a lot less and was so happy to have found this Enterprise gig in Indeed.com when I did. I was so burned out at Hertz that I was very close to quitting, it was a hard place to work at plus the distance made it that much worse. Having to go into Miami almost everyday sucked, for some reason I've always hated to drive in the Miami area. I was so ready to quit and I was able to just before the end of 2019. Definitely enjoy Enterprise a whole lot more!
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
@qbrozen said:
Geico already issued payment straight to my bank account. I hope they keep my rates reasonable because I’ll be with them for life if so.
I had Geico for years and out of nowhere they really raised my rates. No claims, tickets or anything. Went with Liberty for a while and then switched to Progressive when we moved (Realtor’s agent hooked us up with super aggressive home owners policy too). Progressive handled my windshield well with their partnership with Safelite. I did it all online.
Coincidentally, I got a call from my insurance agent yesterday. I’m with a local regional company (Erie Insurance). I must be living right because I was told they can lower my rate $300 and I’ll have no deductible for comprehensive (currently $100). Also, since I’ve been with them for over 25 years, with only 2 windshield claims, if I can stay out of an accident for the coming year (I may have just jinxed myself) my rate will go down $100 next year and a guarantee of no rate increase for the next year.
There must be a catch somewhere but I’m signing up for that deal. They’ll be sending the paperwork today to make it official.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis Ultimate just like jmonroe's. '18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
Mrs.iluvmysephia1 and I took a drive to Tucson yesterday and stayed at a hotel in Benson, AZ, which is about an hour from Tucson. We spent the night at the hotel and drove to Tucson this morning, taking off for there about 8:00AM. We drove around Tucson, ate and started heading back to New Mexico around 10:00AM. The newest iteration of Kia Soul is such an improved highway cruiser and withstands the strong southwest winds better than our last one, which was a 1st-gen Kia Soul.
My takeaway from this roadtrip is...man! I can't believe all the semitrucks that bound down I-10 constantly! And with all those goods they transfer are we still having empty shelves at the nation's stores? I can't help but think that more and more dudes (and some dudettes, yes) are driving truck than say, oh, 8 months ago. I had to keep on the speed to 75 - 80mph, and, if found blabbing to the Mrs. too much and zoning out, they will get up and on your tail in a nanosecond.
This southwestern retired dude is kind of tired tonight typing on here. I don't sleep as well in hotel rooms as I did as a 30 year old and that doesn't help much. I drank two 20-oz. coffees from a couple of Love's along I-10 and hit the Gatorade a lot to keep hydrated. I wanted an Impossible Whopper at Burger King in Tucson and ordered it at 10:05AM. The lady said OK, "you'll have ta wait."
"How long?"
"About 4 minutes." Tee-hee she didn't even ask my "Do you want to wait for that?" I was down with waiting and the wait wasn't even 2 minutes - they were Johnny on the spot with our order. Mrs. iluvmysephia1 got a 2 for $4 breakfast sandwich order.
My Impossible Whopper was steaming hot, filled with the standard vegetables and the regular fries that came with the Whopper were good. I went with ranch sauce and tartar sauce to dip the fries in to and my meal was rated a 100 out of 100. At Burger King! Good old Burger King! I wolfed it down and off we went eastward toward New Mexico.
Tucson's Broadway Ave. (I used to work as a Respiratory Therapist at the 25-bed hospital in Willcox, AZ, which is 80 miles east of Tucson, hence the Tucson connection for us) was still being paved and patched back together - the City of Tucson has been working on this piping and street paving project for probably 2 years now. It's just starting to resemble a complete city street again! The locals are driving as harried as ever. We lived in Willcox from 2006-2010 and I bought the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS with paddle shifters in March of 2007 as a 2008 model. I would punch and pull away from the bunched traffic in that car with the greatest of ease. I got as much distance as possible before coming up to the next light in that city. It really helped relieve stress driving in that southwestern city.
I bought my now 14 y/o Chow Chow from a breeder in the south Tucson district of Valencia. Anyhoo - the Mrs. says "I want an In-N-Out burger!"
"Ya do? Well...I don't even know where an In-N-Out burger is from where we are right now." We were approaching the Park Place Mall in what is pretty much around the central to east central part of the City of Tucson.
The Mrs. said out of thin air "There's a Burger King!" And the rest if history. I think my Impossible Whopper came out so good because my burger was probably the first burger of the day for them as it wasn't yet 10:30AM, the switch time from breakfast to lunch.
I chowed the burger and fries down and off we went eastward on I-10. The I-10 was rockin' like Foghat in May of '78 at the Seattle Center Coliseum. Rod Price was screamin' throughout the fretboard today on the I-10. I saw some serious moving of cargo today. To me (someone definitely not in the trucking industry but was at one time 10 years ago interested in becoming a trucker) there were so many trucks on I-10 my head was starting to spin. I told the Mrs. "I'm gonna do another Love's or Flying J stop and get me another 20-oz. coffee because today I think I'm gonna need it!"
And so I did and so we drove the 348 mile trip back home to Alamogordo, NM. I think I'm gonna sleep like a baby tonight. Since I retired in August 2021 I have woke up and got up out of bed at anywhere from 3:00AM to 7:30AM. Saturday morning rise will not be early like 3:00AM. I've been wrong before but...I don't think so. I read that Wal*Mart is hiring beginning truckers and paying them $110,000 a year. Wow. That's not going to cause me to re-join the workforce, but, and it is a big butt, that's decent pay for a year of trucking. I saw scads of Wal*Mart trucks on the I-10 today, and, really, I only saw one CR England truck, and they were gassing up at one of the truck centers along I-10.
So we had fun and the tone of the southwest along the I-10 corridor is "move it along at a nice clip or we'll shove you out of the way like an Earnhardt!"
So...I did. And the little Kia that could did just that. What a fun day - if it involves driving for several hours it's usually a fun day.
I can't imagine anyone accepting Burger King over In-n-Out.
Funny thing is is the Mrs. spotted an In-N-Out and I spouted out "Where?" and kept driving. She didn't say anything so I kept driving. It's city driving so you know how it goes - if you're out of position you're screwed - and that applied here. Within a minute or two she spotted a Burger King.
This morning it was really a good Whopper - mainly because they made it fast and it was correct. I no longer eat real meat - I'm a vegetarian who tries to be vegan but slips up and eats cheese now and then so ends up at the end of the day being vegetarian.
And like a good wife she caters to my needs that way. McDonald's is dragging their feet so long to introduce the McPlant burger or I'd be going there. I grew up eating Big Mac's and Whopper's and I've noticed that McDonald's has a very strict way of doing their burger business. They are the most clean burger shop out there and the most disciplined. They won't take on the McPlant if it means holding up the kitchen to prepare it. It has to be made on the spot - it can't sit under a warming light, and McDonald's takes all that in to account. They won't introduce it if it doesn't trial successful enough. And word is out that they're selling about 20 McPlant's a day at test spots in the U.S. And they want to sell more like 60-80 McPlant's a day.
Hence the slowness to introducing Mr. McPlant. I hope to see them bring it on so I can eat at McDonald's again. I just have a feeling I'd like the McPlant. I remember the Big Mac tasting great in the glorious rockin' 70's but then, Yukko Schmirnoff...I don't know what McDonald's did but the Big Mac started tasting like quinine water. I read that that's because of their process of cleaning and preserving the lettuce and pickle on the Big Mac. But the Big Mac lost it's luster for me by the 80's and/on. I would love to at least like the McPlant burger at McDonald's.
Yeah, the Mrs. loves In-N-Out and I loved them when I ate meat, too. So far no vegetarian entries for In-N-Out. Get wid it In-N-Out burger!
Funny that you are all so familiar with these fast food places. I am pretty sure I've never eaten at this in & out place, and I cannot recall the last time I ate at a Burger King. It was probably in the last century though.
Edit: My son is thinking we stopped at one in southern Ohio, just crossing over from West Virginia, on our way to visit some friends in Athens a few years ago. Memory like a trap, that one!
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
20-minute comparison test between a new loaded GTI and the new Civic Si. Although they really liked the GTI, the controls were annoying on it, plus the msrp was 10k more than the Si. The Si was rated a bit more fun to drive, even though it wasn't as as fast. If they'd compared a base GTI with the Si this might have come out differently, because the base GTI is only a thousand or so more than the Si.
Got called in to work both today & tomorrow. Luckily it's only 6 hours today and maybe 6 tomorrow. Time I'd be wasting anyways so why not get paid for it! Speaking of Honda Civics, I was driving a Honda Accord yesterday and pulled up to a light. Next to me was a new 2022 Civic & in the lane next to that but one car in front was a last generation Civic. Was surprised how much better the new 2022 looks as compared to the older one. I can see Honda selling every one they make once this chip situation is sorted out. Think if it were a bit shorter, I'd get one myself honestly. And the Civic hatch is still on my short list so in a couple of years, who knows! Even my lead driver yesterday said to me why am I even looking as my Golf is the perfect vehicle for you! And think he's right, it does everything I need my d d to do. Guessing this current situation is a blessing in disguise as doing nothing is probably the best course of action. Watching what everyone else does in here is good enough for me at this point.
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
11 in stock with 4 in transit at one South Jersey dealer. It amazes me the manufacturers are still in this mess. Most every other industry has recovered in some way.
On another note, I have a theory that change is coming…. For the first time in over a year, my GCs have actually lowered pricing and two came to me asking for more bids and time to sharpen their pencil. Typically I’ve had to on board more because they were all so busy and pricing was out of control.
Going to a Cars and Coffee sponsored by Hagerty tomorrow morning. The Heritage Museum in Sandwich (going over the bridge not too far!), free coffee and donuts, thank you! It's been a while since I've been to a C & C, looking forward to it! Greenwich Concourse in three weeks, now a Hagerty joint, too. They've revamped it, certainly made it a bit more expensive. I went to the first Hagerty iteration last fall, still enjoyable. But, I think I preferred the prior format; domestics on Saturday, imports Sunday. Now both on Sunday, with a Radwood and Lemons on Saturday. Made Sunday very crowded vs. years prior. Always nice to return to the childhood home area, only to be escorted out due to the wrong colored credit cards in my wallet (That's what's in my wallet, Julia and Samuel L!).
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Would it be insane to trade my '21 A7 PHEV for an '18 Panamera PHEV (certified)? Lose my 0% financing and 3 years of warranty for 2 years of certified? I may go test drive the Panamera, thinking in spite of its heft, a more fun drive than the A7. And, of course, wrong audience to discourage this kind of thinking...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
@laurasdada said:
Would it be insane to trade my '21 A7 PHEV for an '18 Panamera PHEV (certified)? Lose my 0% financing and 3 years of warranty for 2 years of certified?
I may go test drive the Panamera, thinking in spite of its heft, a more fun drive than the A7. And, of course, wrong audience to discourage this kind of thinking...
Isn’t it the same vehicle?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Yeah, quite similar. But, from all I've read, Porsche (naturally) a better drive. We'll see, I fear my "good sense," will prevail. As it so often has...don't know why I deny myself...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
@tjc78 said:
It amazes me the manufacturers are still in this mess. Most every other industry has recovered in some way.
Call me cynical, but maybe they want the mess to continue? The dealers are grossing far more on every deal, have likely laid off a lot of sales staff due to the lower volume, and I’m assuming the manufacturers are paying out a lot less in CSI bonuses because the customers who are able to get a new car tend to be less happy with the dealer experience. Plus, to the extent they can get parts to build new cars, the manufacturers can tweak their production to build mostly higher end and more profitable trim levels, since they are selling all they can build, and don’t have to offer incentives.
Comments
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
I have zero point zero interest in basketball.
Pro, yes and have not had any in years.
I can still work up some interest for college when March Madness starts.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
Welcome to convertible world!
Started good, I think the goalie has hit his expiration. We'll be at game 6...2 of us anyway.
I'll be watching the Bruins. They are at home so they have a chance. They just don't compete when playing at Carolina.
It's just no fun to deal with a couple inches of slippery mud every time I step out of the door.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
MAYBE we will put a finishing topping of D1 on it afterward, if my wife gets her way, but I'm good with the just larger stuff.
When we originally put it in, it included three layers: 6"- followed by 2"- followed by D1. The layers were necessary to stabilize the silt substrate that is very effective at swallowing rocks when it gets wet. Honestly, now that I'm thinking about it, it is very possible that the original drive has simply settled far enough into the silt that it is oozing its way out now. I hope that's not the case, because my goodness, we put in a lot of rock the first time!
————————————————-
Now you’ve done it. You’ll pay for that.
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
We have an offer of $53k on my wife’s Model 3 RWD (MSRP $45k). Nothing to replace it with as neither the Jeep nor Model Y are anywhere close to here yet.
That’s always been my position, but my son is making me watch
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Brother has confirmed he is taking the Escape this weekend.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
My interest in basketball has waned quite a bit from when I was in college.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
The Hawks are currently in 3rd place in the Western League.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Well.. that’s not gonna happen after last night.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Geico already issued payment straight to my bank account. I hope they keep my rates reasonable because I’ll be with them for life if so.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I still can’t believe they covered that.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I had Geico for years and out of nowhere they really raised my rates. No claims, tickets or anything. Went with Liberty for a while and then switched to Progressive when we moved (Realtor’s agent hooked us up with super aggressive home owners policy too). Progressive handled my windshield well with their partnership with Safelite. I did it all online.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
I’m with Allstate again now. If we finally move I’ll shop again in the new state.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Coincidentally, I got a call from my insurance agent yesterday. I’m with a local regional company (Erie Insurance). I must be living right because I was told they can lower my rate $300 and I’ll have no deductible for comprehensive (currently $100). Also, since I’ve been with them for over 25 years, with only 2 windshield claims, if I can stay out of an accident for the coming year (I may have just jinxed myself) my rate will go down $100 next year and a guarantee of no rate increase for the next year.
There must be a catch somewhere but I’m signing up for that deal. They’ll be sending the paperwork today to make it official.
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
Well, title signed and cash in hand. Another one down. Driveway lookin lonesome these days. Lol.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
My takeaway from this roadtrip is...man! I can't believe all the semitrucks that bound down I-10 constantly! And with all those goods they transfer are we still having empty shelves at the nation's stores? I can't help but think that more and more dudes (and some dudettes, yes) are driving truck than say, oh, 8 months ago. I had to keep on the speed to 75 - 80mph, and, if found blabbing to the Mrs. too much and zoning out, they will get up and on your tail in a nanosecond.
This southwestern retired dude is kind of tired tonight typing on here. I don't sleep as well in hotel rooms as I did as a 30 year old and that doesn't help much. I drank two 20-oz. coffees from a couple of Love's along I-10 and hit the Gatorade a lot to keep hydrated. I wanted an Impossible Whopper at Burger King in Tucson and ordered it at 10:05AM. The lady said OK, "you'll have ta wait."
"How long?"
"About 4 minutes." Tee-hee she didn't even ask my "Do you want to wait for that?" I was down with waiting and the wait wasn't even 2 minutes - they were Johnny on the spot with our order. Mrs. iluvmysephia1 got a 2 for $4 breakfast sandwich order.
My Impossible Whopper was steaming hot, filled with the standard vegetables and the regular fries that came with the Whopper were good. I went with ranch sauce and tartar sauce to dip the fries in to and my meal was rated a 100 out of 100. At Burger King! Good old Burger King! I wolfed it down and off we went eastward toward New Mexico.
Tucson's Broadway Ave. (I used to work as a Respiratory Therapist at the 25-bed hospital in Willcox, AZ, which is 80 miles east of Tucson, hence the Tucson connection for us) was still being paved and patched back together - the City of Tucson has been working on this piping and street paving project for probably 2 years now. It's just starting to resemble a complete city street again! The locals are driving as harried as ever. We lived in Willcox from 2006-2010 and I bought the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS with paddle shifters in March of 2007 as a 2008 model. I would punch and pull away from the bunched traffic in that car with the greatest of ease. I got as much distance as possible before coming up to the next light in that city. It really helped relieve stress driving in that southwestern city.
I bought my now 14 y/o Chow Chow from a breeder in the south Tucson district of Valencia. Anyhoo - the Mrs. says "I want an In-N-Out burger!"
"Ya do? Well...I don't even know where an In-N-Out burger is from where we are right now." We were approaching the Park Place Mall in what is pretty much around the central to east central part of the City of Tucson.
The Mrs. said out of thin air "There's a Burger King!" And the rest if history. I think my Impossible Whopper came out so good because my burger was probably the first burger of the day for them as it wasn't yet 10:30AM, the switch time from breakfast to lunch.
I chowed the burger and fries down and off we went eastward on I-10. The I-10 was rockin' like Foghat in May of '78 at the Seattle Center Coliseum. Rod Price was screamin' throughout the fretboard today on the I-10. I saw some serious moving of cargo today. To me (someone definitely not in the trucking industry but was at one time 10 years ago interested in becoming a trucker) there were so many trucks on I-10 my head was starting to spin. I told the Mrs. "I'm gonna do another Love's or Flying J stop and get me another 20-oz. coffee because today I think I'm gonna need it!"
And so I did and so we drove the 348 mile trip back home to Alamogordo, NM. I think I'm gonna sleep like a baby tonight. Since I retired in August 2021 I have woke up and got up out of bed at anywhere from 3:00AM to 7:30AM. Saturday morning rise will not be early like 3:00AM. I've been wrong before but...I don't think so. I read that Wal*Mart is hiring beginning truckers and paying them $110,000 a year. Wow. That's not going to cause me to re-join the workforce, but, and it is a big butt, that's decent pay for a year of trucking. I saw scads of Wal*Mart trucks on the I-10 today, and, really, I only saw one CR England truck, and they were gassing up at one of the truck centers along I-10.
So we had fun and the tone of the southwest along the I-10 corridor is "move it along at a nice clip or we'll shove you out of the way like an Earnhardt!"
So...I did. And the little Kia that could did just that. What a fun day - if it involves driving for several hours it's usually a fun day.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Stand by.
Funny thing is is the Mrs. spotted an In-N-Out and I spouted out "Where?" and kept driving. She didn't say anything so I kept driving. It's city driving so you know how it goes - if you're out of position you're screwed - and that applied here. Within a minute or two she spotted a Burger King.
This morning it was really a good Whopper - mainly because they made it fast and it was correct. I no longer eat real meat - I'm a vegetarian who tries to be vegan but slips up and eats cheese now and then so ends up at the end of the day being vegetarian.
And like a good wife she caters to my needs that way. McDonald's is dragging their feet so long to introduce the McPlant burger or I'd be going there. I grew up eating Big Mac's and Whopper's and I've noticed that McDonald's has a very strict way of doing their burger business. They are the most clean burger shop out there and the most disciplined. They won't take on the McPlant if it means holding up the kitchen to prepare it. It has to be made on the spot - it can't sit under a warming light, and McDonald's takes all that in to account. They won't introduce it if it doesn't trial successful enough. And word is out that they're selling about 20 McPlant's a day at test spots in the U.S. And they want to sell more like 60-80 McPlant's a day.
Hence the slowness to introducing Mr. McPlant. I hope to see them bring it on so I can eat at McDonald's again. I just have a feeling I'd like the McPlant. I remember the Big Mac tasting great in the glorious rockin' 70's but then, Yukko Schmirnoff...I don't know what McDonald's did but the Big Mac started tasting like quinine water. I read that that's because of their process of cleaning and preserving the lettuce and pickle on the Big Mac. But the Big Mac lost it's luster for me by the 80's and/on. I would love to at least like the McPlant burger at McDonald's.
Yeah, the Mrs. loves In-N-Out and I loved them when I ate meat, too. So far no vegetarian entries for In-N-Out. Get wid it In-N-Out burger!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Edit: My son is thinking we stopped at one in southern Ohio, just crossing over from West Virginia, on our way to visit some friends in Athens a few years ago. Memory like a trap, that one!
Speaking of Honda Civics, I was driving a Honda Accord yesterday and pulled up to a light. Next to me was a new 2022 Civic & in the lane next to that but one car in front was a last generation Civic. Was surprised how much better the new 2022 looks as compared to the older one. I can see Honda selling every one they make once this chip situation is sorted out. Think if it were a bit shorter, I'd get one myself honestly. And the Civic hatch is still on my short list so in a couple of years, who knows! Even my lead driver yesterday said to me why am I even looking as my Golf is the perfect vehicle for you! And think he's right, it does everything I need my d d to do. Guessing this current situation is a blessing in disguise as doing nothing is probably the best course of action. Watching what everyone else does in here is good enough for me at this point.
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
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11 in stock with 4 in transit at one South Jersey dealer. It amazes me the manufacturers are still in this mess. Most every other industry has recovered in some way.
On another note, I have a theory that change is coming…. For the first time in over a year, my GCs have actually lowered pricing and two came to me asking for more bids and time to sharpen their pencil. Typically I’ve had to on board more because they were all so busy and pricing was out of control.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
Greenwich Concourse in three weeks, now a Hagerty joint, too. They've revamped it, certainly made it a bit more expensive. I went to the first Hagerty iteration last fall, still enjoyable. But, I think I preferred the prior format; domestics on Saturday, imports Sunday. Now both on Sunday, with a Radwood and Lemons on Saturday. Made Sunday very crowded vs. years prior. Always nice to return to the childhood home area, only to be escorted out due to the wrong colored credit cards in my wallet (That's what's in my wallet, Julia and Samuel L!).
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
I think he’s tried that already and was kicked out for over use.
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
I may go test drive the Panamera, thinking in spite of its heft, a more fun drive than the A7. And, of course, wrong audience to discourage this kind of thinking...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Isn’t it the same vehicle?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Call me cynical, but maybe they want the mess to continue? The dealers are grossing far more on every deal, have likely laid off a lot of sales staff due to the lower volume, and I’m assuming the manufacturers are paying out a lot less in CSI bonuses because the customers who are able to get a new car tend to be less happy with the dealer experience. Plus, to the extent they can get parts to build new cars, the manufacturers can tweak their production to build mostly higher end and more profitable trim levels, since they are selling all they can build, and don’t have to offer incentives.