Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

explorerx4

At least no other teams had the Patriots QB's, 16 TD passes, 21 INT's.

Sandman6472

Got to drive a couple of Mini Cooper Countryman's today and liked them...just not sure I liked them enough to purchase one. Keep thinking about that Bolt 1LT and after speaking with the kids in Orlando, seems I've also got them interested in one also. Just wish I could get the Bose sound system in the 1LT model & I'd be down there signing the paperwork! I know it's an issue which can be addressed in the aftermarket but I've gotten used to better factory units. And I still have to go test drive one to see if it'll fit our needs. But think I'm the perfect candidate for a 260 mile range vehicle. And since our company building has the chargers already in place, really is a no brainer truthfully. But...just not sure if I really want to pull the trigger quite yet. The Golf is behaving and it really fits on y side of the garage very nicely, as would the Bolt though.

explorerx4

If the EV adoption mandates don't change, used ICE vehicle values should go way up as time goes on.

venture

Saw somewhere:

Electric vehicle owners should ONLY be allowed to charge their cars using solar and wind power, otherwise it's just pretend.

corvette

Ya'll are forgetting the obligatory signature line:
Sincerely,
A V8 Owner Against EVs

tjc78

@venture said:
Saw somewhere:

Electric vehicle owners should ONLY be allowed to charge their cars using solar and wind power, otherwise it's just pretend.

Why stop there … may as well cool your house, cook, and dry your clothes too.

Ridiculous

jmonroe1

tjc78 said:

@venture said:

Saw somewhere:

Electric vehicle owners should ONLY be allowed to charge their cars using solar and wind power, otherwise it's just pretend.

Why stop there … may as well cool your house, cook, and dry your clothes too.

Ridiculous

————————————————-
OK.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

corvette said:

Ya'll are forgetting the obligatory signature line:
Sincerely,
A V8 Owner Against EVs

————————————————-
I never signed anything like that.

jmonroe

tjc78

@jmonroe1 said:
————————————————-
OK.

jmonroe

Ok what?

fintail

Fun coincidence with the recent cold weather/battery talk. Went into work today for the first time since last Wednesday, I am pretty sure I hadn't driven the car since then too. I was quickly greeted by a "pull over, charge battery" warning, but kept driving, as I figured driving the car would charge it more than idling. I let the car idle for maybe 45 mins when I got to work, and when I came back out (isolated lot, locked car, no worries about leaving it running), the message was gone. However, when I drove home, the message re-appeared. I drove home and let it idle for another 45 mins - then only getting the usual low battery alert (this one usually comes on when leaving doors open for long periods when cleaning car, etc). I wonder if the cold spell is pushing the 5 year old battery to its expiry date.

corvette

Sounds like time for a night or two on the battery maintainer.

jmonroe1

tjc78 said:

@jmonroe1 said:

————————————————-

OK.

jmonroe

Ok what?

————————————————
Trying to get all of your power from clean energy producing sources like wind and solar. I realize that’s not really practical today but I keep getting mail from a few companies trying to make me feel guilty for not buying power from them.

It’s kinda funny that they’re wasting a lot of trees with all of those mailings. I guess they haven’t thought that out, yet.

jmonroe

explorerx4

Trees are considered to be a renewable, so burning wood is OK.

jmonroe1

explorerx4 said:

Trees are considered to be a renewable, so burning wood is OK.

————————————————
Still have pollution when burning wood. Which, so they say, is a big contributor to Global Warming.

jmonroe

qbrozen

The Sprinter kills its battery sitting for about 5 days. Seems to happen more in the warm weather. Dealer did a bunch of updating last time, claiming they found a couple of weird charging problems. It didn’t help. I think I may have mentioned here previously how I’ll go out to the van sometimes and hear the rooftop AC fan running. If I unlock and relock the van, it will stop. Anyway, rather than continue chasing ghosts, I installed a battery tender under the hood and now keep it plugged in.

jmonroe1

qbrozen said:

The Sprinter kills its battery sitting for about 5 days. Seems to happen more in the warm weather. Dealer did a bunch of updating last time, claiming they found a couple of weird charging problems. It didn’t help. I think I may have mentioned here previously how I’ll go out to the van sometimes and hear the rooftop AC fan running. If I unlock and relock the van, it will stop. Anyway, rather than continue chasing ghosts, I installed a battery tender under the hood and now keep it plugged in.

————————————————
You could always install a kill-switch for the fan until you want it on. If you don’t get anymore drain I guess you will have found the problem. If not, you should insist that the dealer correct the problem.

Doing what I just recommended is a lot easier than the inconvenience of constantly being hooked up to a charger which has to be even more inconvenient when traveling overnight.

jmonroe

roadburner

The Wrangler has been running on the IC motor a bit more since temperatures have remined below 15F, but I've yet to see FORM. I drove the C43 tonight and it took a bit longer to warm up but otherwise was fine, returning a bit over 23.5 mpg- which I thought was excellent considering the weather.

Sandman6472

That Chevy Bolt is still at the Miami Lakes Auto Mall. It's a 2023 Bolt EV 1LT with a price of $27,790 after the last price reduction. Basically all that's missing is the Bose audio system that I did want. It's the dark gray color with black cloth interior, want cloth this time around. Figure I can always add a sub-woofer down the road if I want some more kick to the audio, which I'd probably have done sooner then later, truth be told. Just surprised at the low price and not sure where the $7500 federal tax reduction would come into play here. The length is 163.2" and the width is 69.5" w/o mirrors. Perfect specs for our garage and I'd only be losing a little over 5" in length. I remember driving the Tesla & the Polestar at work last year, so the learning curve wouldn't be much at all. It felt like I was driving with one foot and using the accelerator more then the actual brakes.

Have a friend in California who has had a Nissan Leaf & is now on his second Bolt and he's a huge fan. Ever since last Friday when were down at the auto mall, I've been thinking about the possibility of finally doing something. Just really need to take a test drive & see how all the numbers play out as I'd like to put $5000 on my credit card and use the trade-in amount plus maybe an extra $2000 in cash, financing the rest. Really think it makes sense for the amount of miles I drive a year...according to my calculations, am right at about 3K/month, give or take. And since we do have charging stations at work, think there's seven of them, which are hardly ever used. Being there three days a week, could always charge it up once a week, or possibly twice. Can honestly say I'm really thinking of doing this. Just would have to see what the finance rates would be as I can't pay all in cash this time, wouldn't make sense to screw around with my portfolio. Between what I make at Enterprise and the monthly dividends that come in, think I could pay it all off within 3 or 4 years depending if I pay a bit extra each month. Makes total sense now that I'm still working at Enterprise as really have no time table about when I plan to retire again...for good.

So, lots to think about here and being it's about 12:50 a m right now, my brain is definitely working overtime here. But I tend to do this when I'm about to make a large purchase as I don't want to make another blunder like I did with the Tucson. Totally sure the other half will tell me to wait a bit longer but right now, no lights are on and it's behaving itself. I'd really like to get around $9K as a trade but might not be possible since there is an accident on the Carfax report. I can't tell where the work was done but betting a good body work guy would see it. Think it'll all come down to the numbers and if I feel I can put up with the different way of driving. Think it's going to come down to the Chevy Bolt or the 2024 Hyundai Kona at this point, as I really do want "cheap to keep" this time around and don't think the Mini Cooper Countryman will fall into that category. It is funny that we had to move a bunch of vehicles from the BMW/Mini Cooper store today and the lead gave me a Mini Cooper to drive each time. Maybe it was a sign from above that the time has come to finally do it already and to take the Countryman off my short list. Honestly think the smaller model that Mrs. Breld had would just be a bit too small for me, especially in the egress/ingress department. Got a feeling this next purchase could be my last as don't want to lease since I drive so little now. Just makes no sense at all, even with a 39 month lease. Looks to be a sleepless night in Coral Springs as I'm considering going down to take a test drive tomorrow...maybe!

tjc78

@jmonroe1 said:
————————————————
Trying to get all of your power from clean energy producing sources like wind and solar. I realize that’s not really practical today but I keep getting mail from a few companies trying to make me feel guilty for not buying power from them.

It’s kinda funny that they’re wasting a lot of trees with all of those mailings. I guess they haven’t thought that out, yet.

jmonroe

Ok - you realized I was being sarcastic

oldfarmer50

tjc78 said:

@venture said:

Saw somewhere:

Electric vehicle owners should ONLY be allowed to charge their cars using solar and wind power, otherwise it's just pretend.

Why stop there … may as well cool your house, cook, and dry your clothes too.

Ridiculous

Laugh all you want but the day may be coming when that’s all you’re allowed to do.🥶

oldfarmer50

jmonroe1 said:

explorerx4 said:

Trees are considered to be a renewable, so burning wood is OK.

————————————————
Still have pollution when burning wood. Which, so they say, is a big contributor to Global Warming.

jmonroe

Years ago there were outside wood fired boilers available for rural people who had an abundance of trees but not a lot of money for oil or other fuels. New York regulated them out of business over pollution concerns. I know this because the guy who sold me my Lincoln Mark VIII was a salesman for these systems and lost his job when the state restricted those systems. Ironically, many of those rural wood boiler users went back to using fireplaces which caused more pollution because they were less efficient.

explorerx4

I was referring more to this:
https://findenergy.com/power-plants/wood-wood-waste-solids/

corvette

The Maverick manages to warm up enough to produce heat after only one ten minute remote start cycle. I'm pretty impressed with that. The giant V8s in the Tundra and Tahoe were barely tepid after a single remote start cycle, and on colder days, required two to barely get warm.

nyccarguy

"I'd only be losing a little over 5" in length"

And this ladies and gentleman is why they call him "stick" on the job. It isn't because he uses a cane!

laurasdada

A very close second was the play calling. Not just deplorable, but predictably deplorable. We could actually watch and say “what is the smart play right here? OK, now they will do the opposite.” 3rd and short? Deep shot. 3rd and 15? Run up the middle.

Perhaps after his successful run as OC in NE, Matt Patricia was making the offensive play calls, too?

laurasdada

jmonroe1 said:

explorerx4 said:

Trees are considered to be a renewable, so burning wood is OK.

————————————————
Still have pollution when burning wood. Which, so they say, is a big contributor to Global Warming.

jmonroe

So are cows.

fintail

corvette said:

Sounds like time for a night or two on the battery maintainer.

I don't have one I ordered a battery tender yesterday evening with my remaining Bezosmart gift card, hoping it would be here by the weekend - and now it is slated for delivery a week from today. Some days we live in 2024, some days we live in 1974

oldfarmer50

explorerx4 said:

I was referring more to this:
https://findenergy.com/power-plants/wood-wood-waste-solids/

explorerx4 said:

I was referring more to this:
https://findenergy.com/power-plants/wood-wood-waste-solids/

NY doesn’t allow those. I think there was one remaining in 2023 that was slated to close. Heck, you can’t even buy a gas stove in this state any more.

ab348

The somewhat tenuous theory on biomass being burned to generate power is that the CO2 released will be recaptured by the trees being replanted to replace those that are immolated.

jmonroe1

tjc78 said:

@jmonroe1 said:

————————————————

Trying to get all of your power from clean energy producing sources like wind and solar. I realize that’s not really practical today but I keep getting mail from a few companies trying to make me feel guilty for not buying power from them.

It’s kinda funny that they’re wasting a lot of trees with all of those mailings. I guess they haven’t thought that out, yet.

jmonroe

Ok - you realized I was being sarcastic

————————————————-
Really?

jmonroe

jmonroe1

explorerx4 said:

I was referring more to this:
https://findenergy.com/power-plants/wood-wood-waste-solids/

————————————————-
Have you or anyone other than tree huggers verified that?

As my first lead engineer said to me one day, when I was still wet behind the ears, when he saw me engulfed in reading a report from another group, “be skeptical of lengthy reports that try to dazzle you with volume. It’s not a novel it’s a report”.

To this day I’d still like to know what that guy forgot.

jmonroe

corvette

oldfarmer50 said:

Heck, you can’t even buy a gas stove in this state any more.

When the weather allows, and even sometimes when it doesn't, I cook on my (outdoor) gas grill whenever I can, even if I'm not grilling. Want to sautee something? Use the side burner. Want to bake a pizza? Raise the pan a couple inches above the grill grates and keep the temp at 350.

jmonroe1

corvette said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Heck, you can’t even buy a gas stove in this state any more.

When the weather allows, and even sometimes when it doesn't, I cook on my (outdoor) gas grill whenever I can, even if I'm not grilling. Want to sautee something? Use the side burner. Want to bake a pizza? Raise the pan a couple inches above the grill grates and keep the temp at 350.

————————————————-
As I’ve said before, “I’ve shoveled a path to my grill more times than I can count to grill a steak.”

I can’t remember the last time I did a steak using the oven broiler. That’s the best way to ruin a good rib eye that I know of.

jmonroe

pensfan83

We got rid of our propane grille at the end of Summer 2022 and we honestly we haven't missed it as much as I thought we would.

nyccarguy

oldfarmer50 said:

explorerx4 said:

I was referring more to this:
https://findenergy.com/power-plants/wood-wood-waste-solids/

explorerx4 said:

I was referring more to this:
https://findenergy.com/power-plants/wood-wood-waste-solids/

NY doesn’t allow those. I think there was one remaining in 2023 that was slated to close. Heck, you can’t even buy a gas stove in this state any more.

They have been trying to pass a law in NYC making all new residential construction electric only by a certain date

kyfdx

pensfan83 said:

We got rid of our propane grille at the end of Summer 2022 and we honestly we haven't missed it as much as I thought we would.

Buy an expensive grill, and then you can't bear to throw it away. You just keep repairing it. lol

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

oldfarmer50 said:

explorerx4 said:

I was referring more to this:
https://findenergy.com/power-plants/wood-wood-waste-solids/

explorerx4 said:

I was referring more to this:
https://findenergy.com/power-plants/wood-wood-waste-solids/

NY doesn’t allow those. I think there was one remaining in 2023 that was slated to close. Heck, you can’t even buy a gas stove in this state any more.

They have been trying to pass a law in NYC making all new residential construction electric only by a certain date

No more wood fired pizza for you.

jmonroe1

laurasdada said:

jmonroe1 said:

explorerx4 said:

Trees are considered to be a renewable, so burning wood is OK.

————————————————
Still have pollution when burning wood. Which, so they say, is a big contributor to Global Warming.

jmonroe

So are cows.

————————————————
That’s why we cook them on the grill.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

fintail said:

corvette said:

Sounds like time for a night or two on the battery maintainer.

I don't have one I ordered a battery tender yesterday evening with my remaining Bezosmart gift card, hoping it would be here by the weekend - and now it is slated for delivery a week from today. Some days we live in 2024, some days we live in 1974

————————————————-
That’s why when I want and especially need something I go to the store to get it. I think the last time I bought something on line was a few months ago. Furnace filters that no one had in stock.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

nyccarguy said:

oldfarmer50 said:

explorerx4 said:

I was referring more to this:
https://findenergy.com/power-plants/wood-wood-waste-solids/

explorerx4 said:

I was referring more to this:
https://findenergy.com/power-plants/wood-wood-waste-solids/

NY doesn’t allow those. I think there was one remaining in 2023 that was slated to close. Heck, you can’t even buy a gas stove in this state any more.

They have been trying to pass a law in NYC making all new residential construction electric only by a certain date

No more wood fired pizza for you.

————————————————
Just so happens the sports bar I get my pizza from has wood fired pizza but I’ve read the real way to go is using coal. Lots more heat but also a lot more money for the oven. So I’ve been told that’s what is used mostly in Italy.

jmonroe

xwesx

fintail said:

I don't have one I ordered a battery tender yesterday evening with my remaining Bezosmart gift card, hoping it would be here by the weekend - and now it is slated for delivery a week from today. Some days we live in 2024, some days we live in 1974 Alaska.

Revised that for ya, fin!

fintail

jmonroe1 said:

fintail said:

corvette said:

Sounds like time for a night or two on the battery maintainer.

I don't have one I ordered a battery tender yesterday evening with my remaining Bezosmart gift card, hoping it would be here by the weekend - and now it is slated for delivery a week from today. Some days we live in 2024, some days we live in 1974

————————————————-
That’s why when I want and especially need something I go to the store to get it. I think the last time I bought something on line was a few months ago. Furnace filters that no one had in stock.

jmonroe

I didn't want to traipse around in the cold and snow looking for the right one. Now I see my nearby Wally World has the same one for the same price. Oh well, too late now, it shipped (on slow boat to China UPS ground, apparently).

explorerx4

I can get a 3 pack of furnace filters delivered from Home Depot for about $15.

jmonroe1

explorerx4 said:

I can get a 3 pack of furnace filters delivered from Home Depot for about $15.

————————————————
I don’t know what size you use but mine is 6X25X16 and two from Home Depot’s web site just cost me about 35 bucks with free shipping.

They are a pretty good quality and I’m ashamed to say I forgot to change the old filter for about a year and a half. The air flow from the new one is quite dramatic. I have to mark the calendar to prevent that from happening again.

jmonroe

explorerx4

@jmonroe1,
My filters are 20 x 24 and only 1 inch thick. I don't buy the high number filters, they say they make the system work too hard. I replace on 1st of every odd month.

kyfdx

Every HVAC tech I’ve spoken with says the cheap filters are the best.

corvette

Costco has the fancy high filtration ones pretty cheap.

One of the disadvantages of relying on FordPass for remote start, it’s been unavailable for most of the day.

jmonroe1

kyfdx said:

Every HVAC tech I’ve spoken with says the cheap filters are the best.

————————————————-
I’ve never heard that. I never buy the highest filtration ones, usually middle of the road but never the cheapest ones either.

What I’d really like to have is the one like my first house had. It was 1 1/2 inches thick and made of a green mat hairy type material that was washable. I thought it would eventually fall apart but when we moved 20 years later it was still intact. Even though I washed that thing twice a year at least. It came with the Carrier furnace.

jmonroe

kyfdx

I had one of those, too. I’d rather buy disposable. 🙂

Sandman6472

Our a/c filters are a very odd size and only Ace Hardware carries it. I like to change it every month in the hotter months and in our winter, every other month. The bad thing is our crazy builder put the air return contraption about 9 feet up so every time I change them out, I need to get help bringing the tall ladder in & then have that person spot me as I go up there, swap out the filters and then use a damp rag to clean the accumulated dust on the outside grating. An awful design to say the least! At our daughters house, the filter goes in in a special closet where the air handler is...the filter has a location at one's hip, so it's real low and easy to install. Ours is a potential safety hazard for me as climbing a ladder is hard for me. Stupid design really done by folks with no common sense. Similar to the issue we're having with our Genie garage opener. Spoke to a rep at Genie last week and he basically told me to "get lost" which kind of surprised me. Also said to get a surge protector but it would have to be super small to fit into the area where it plugs into the ceiling. Wish we still had our Sears units as they never had this power outage issue. Am a very unhappy customer right now!