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Comments
I'm no slouch, Houdini, but honest - never heard of that term before. And yes I have driven across Kansas and if I didn't have a map to show me it was Kansas, I might have missed it. Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, etc., all look the same to me - corn, corn, corn, a little wheat and lots of soybean. How can you tell the difference if you didn't have a map or GPS?
Not much in the way of distinguishing features between and among those States. Tornado alley comes to mind and then there's Dorothy, Toto, Auntie Em, and of course the Wizard.
"I guess we're not in Kansas any more" is another memorable quote.
Just kidding, Houdini, but not about the woolgathering! You got one up on me with that one!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I do actually get sick from flu shots which is why I stopped getting them but, no, I didn't get the flu from the shot. This flu is way worse than when I used to get sick from the shots. I feel like I fell off the physical cliff.....
Must not be a very knowledgeable reviewer. I don't think a 6 could be shoehorned into the Verano.
Great play on words, fezo. Hope you feel better soon!
Didn't you get this flu from your kid? I thought that's what you told me a few posts ago. Just get better quickly!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Well, at least you didn't lose your sense of humor.
Stay away from the physical cliff and for that matter, the fiscal cliff too.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I think you are right, but, he mentioned adding a turbo charger might be an option too....and that sounds quite possible.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
The Verano 4 has a turbo option.
I think you might be mis-remembering and grasping at straws!!
Maybe you needed an exterminator to get rid of the "bug", or a plumber to help you with your "plumbing" problem!
Just get better, already!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I read the review a while ago and it was probably referring to a 2012 model, that was before the turbo model came out....I believe.
I said I was just going from memory, and I tried to do the best I could, but, I don't have any reason to make this stuff up.
Then again, the memory isn't what it used to be too, so that is a possibility, or maybe I just dreamed it, or woolgathered it.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
You better hope your wife never reads the forum. :P
Here is the online definition (I always like teaching teachers);
wool·gath·er·ing
/ˈwo͝olˌgaT͟H(ə)riNG/Noun
Indulgence in aimless thought or dreamy imagining; absentmindedness.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
wool·gath·er·ing
*driver, no matter how hard you try, you can't get me to say that I either knew that metaphoric word or have heard it used before. I just have never heard that term used before. There is nothing I can do about that - I must have been too sheltered or my education in the gifted program in New York City, Stuyvesant High School, New York University, Roosevelt University and the University of Chicago, was lacking in some way.
What can I say - I just had a poor education!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Here's a question for both you and Isell. Which domestic model was the easiest resale on your lot? We all hear about Hondas and Toyotas being popular but I'd like to know which domestics were in demand as well.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Mike beat me to asking about it. I've never heard it either. You learn something new every day.
And happy birthday!!!
We didn't keep many domestics on our lots because we were import dealers and most people looking for domestics would not bother coming to an import dealer. But, from my recollection, pre-owned Lincoln Towncars were the most popular. I had a guy who owned a limousine business who would buy just about every Towncar I could get my hands on if it had under 30,000 miles on it. He always paid me top dollar for those cars. He would then put 300,000 - 500,000 miles on every one of them. He told me that so long as he changed the oil frequently, they would last forever. He even had his own upholsterer to replace leather and interiors.
That was the only domestic that sold well. Next most popular domestic was the Mercury Marquis followed by Cadillac Sedan DeVilles. Most of the other cars I had on my lot were Toyotas, Mazdas, Suburu, Lexus, Infiniti, Nissans, to name a few.
Remember, demand for pre-owned cars is dependent on the local clientele and what they looked for. Remember, this is South Florida where big cars were in demand by the old timers who were used to soft, cushy rides.
On another part of Florida, demand for Fords and Chevys would be higher.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Mike this is for you and verdugo...it might be more information than you wanted to know., but, is actually somewhat interesting;
The origin of the word "woolgathering";
The origin and meanings of this still-popular expression lie in the rural fields and farms of old England.
Sheep moving and grazing freely in open fields will typically brush up against bushes that tear off and keep bits of wool from the animals. It was once common among the rural poor in England to wander about the countryside, including private farms, collecting those pieces of wool.
The act of gathering those tufts was simply known as woolgathering. This literal use of the word was recorded in the 16th century, though the practice itself, of course, must have gone back considerably further.
Because that practice required erratic movements and produced very little of value, the word woolgathering came to be used in the figurative phrases to be woolgathering, to go woolgathering, and to run woolgathering. They all meant to indulge in wandering fancies or purposeless thinking, or to be in a dreamy, absentminded state.
* * * *
There, I did some good today!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
It's like the old adage - "...you can lead a horse to water, but you can't force him to drink!" You can pair all the phones you want to the Bluetooth technology, but you can't force them to use it!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
My music shuts off and it rings thru the car speakers. Touch one button on the
steering wheel and you're talking. It works great for me because my phone is
always in my front pocket where I can't hear it or reach it with the stereo on.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Thanks to you, *driver, I finally know more than I ever wanted to know about anything. I'm soooo interested in this subject that I've decided to take up knitting as soon as I get back from my wool gathering escapades in Christchurch, New Zealand where one can gather as much wool as one ever wanted to. I'll let everyone know when I get back from down-under on my Qantas 747-500 jet. I'll need the entire cargo area for my "balls" (of wool)!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Thanks to all you guys who have wished me a happy B Day. It is much appreciated.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
My music shuts off and it rings thru the car speakers.
Good point. The dealers set the system up in the Audi and Passat, and it is rather startling to have the radio go off and the voice of a caller come in through the speakers....esp the first few times.
But, what a great system! They say it still diverts your attention as much as a cell phone, but at least one hand isn't holding a phone. I really think bluetooth is much safer than holding a cell phone.
A while ago I saw a woman making a left turn while she was holding a cell phone in her left hand up to her left ear. She was steering with her right hand, and her vision was blocked where the cell phone was....thank goodness there weren't any pedestrians crossing!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Don't forget my 10% cut for giving you this great money making idea.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
My BMW dealer back home said the 535 AWD needed an alignment and it would cost $200.
Prices are usually less here so I called the BMW dealer in St Petes and they said an alignment would be $200.
Should I trust an indie garage to do it? What is a reasonable price to pay for an alignment on an AWD bimmer. Should I even try to save money by not taking it to the dealer? How do I know I really need an alignment, the dealer back home might have been trying to get some business from my free oil change?
Questions, questions?????
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Check the tread on your tires. Do you see blocks that are more worn than others in the same tire?
Can an independent do the work? Without doubt and for less than half the cost. Some will even provide a warranty to re-align as many times as you want in a covered period. If you're hesitant, I'm betting there are German specialists in your area.
The sale of beer might be down in Germany but German luxury auto sales in the U.S were up significantly in December and the year as a whole.
BMW -- 347,583 vehicles, up 13.8% from 2011
MB-USA -- 305,072 vehicles, up 15.4% from 2011
Audi -- 139,310 vehicles, up 18.5% from 2011
By comparison, both Cadillac and Lincoln sales were down 1.7% and 4.1% respectively. By the way, sales of Lexus, Acura and Porsche models were up by 31.2%, 26.7% and 21.0% over 2011 respectively.
The U.S may be in a recession but it does not appear to be affecting the buying habits of the affluent class.
-
I'm proud of you. That's the way to do it.
Richard
BTW, I wear a size large in a sweater. With all that wool, you may as well do some socks and a tam to match.
Richard
We would often wholesale them to domestic stores or if we had bought them cheap enough and they checked out well in our shop we would put them on the lot. Sometimes they sold quickly and other times not.
If I had a used car shopper with a 10,000 budget I would try to steer them to a nice domestic car that I knew was a nice car. Usually I wasn't successful.
I did my best to steer people away from anything european. I didn't need unhappy customers. Worst in my opinion were Audis and Volvos.
I suggest you fly Air New Zealand instead of Australia's Quantas if you're going to Christchurch.
Also, there's no such thing as a 747-500 (sorry, I'm an airplane geek.)
Thanks driver. That was pretty interesting.
Thanks ty, very helpful. Unfortunately, I didn't bring the estimate with me to Florida, but the work sheet said one side was wearing a few millimetres more than the other. They also said that my wiper blades were worn a bit and I could replace them. Well, the car is only one year old and is in Florida for most of the year, so I was thinking they could be over reporting.
I think, as you said, if a good indie would do it for under $100 I would just go for it, but, for $200, I'll take my chances. I don't think I have had an alignment done on at least my last 4 cars which would be over 150k miles.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Just a guess, but two observations;
1) Luxury car sales are up because the people who do have good jobs and money can still afford to buy a luxury car.
2)Lexus and Acura sales are up more than normal because the tsunami (doubt if that is spelled right...and spell check probably won't work) brought the 2011 numbers down.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
BTW, I wear a size large in a sweater. With all that wool, you may as well do some socks and a tam to match.
I should be so lucky as to only need a large in a sweater. I couldn't 't get a large over my fat head, let alone my stomach - you are one fit dude!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I replace my wipers every year. Not sure how much the BMW dealer wants for wipers, but maybe you can buy them yourself.
I order BOSCH Icon's from Amazon (or buy at local store) and install them myself.
No need for the spell checker. You got it right. Richard will give you your gold star.
Also, there's no such thing as a 747-500 (sorry, I'm an airplane geek.)
First of all, to fly to New Zealand without first stopping off in Sydney would be heresy! Secondly, to fly a 747-400 from Sydney to Las Angeles, you need at least another "100" for a nice tail wind (flight attendants usually provide that at no additional cost). Thirdly, I would not want to fly anything other than Qantas to and from the down-under countries. Air New Zealand is OK for the hop from Sydney to Christchurch and back, but not a long haul flight.
Thanks for you feedback - always need help to be sure.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
With a newer BMW, I would have the dealer do the alignment. *driver, is this déjà vu? We had this discussion about your Bimmer months ago and we all agreed that it should be done then by BMW. Are you procrastinating again on decision making? If your dealer back home advised you to get an alignment 4 months ago, why would you wait this long and then start the discussion all over again? Get the damn alignment already and pay the $200.00 for you sake as well as ours.
I guess you didn't 't think we would remember the old conversation!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I disagree with that. Last year I had my first flu shot ever since they highly recommended I take it even though I was about 90% recovered from the flu I had already just had. I very very rarely get the flu, maybe once or twice a decade.
The Flu shot not only gave me the flu again, it doubled down and I basically got sick all over again as bad or worse than I had been before, and I was almost fully recuperated too! Needless to say I was very angry at Kaiser for recommending something that can get you so sick.
Not to mention it destroys your arm inside and out, with armpit and shoulder pain for a week.
Never had it before last year, and I'll never take it again, That was the first and last time!
I am not sure that my wipers aren't working well....it seems pretty good to me.
The BMW dealer wanted a lot for wiper blades, I don't have the estimate with me but I think it was around $60 or $70.
I would definitely look into after markets, and I'll check out Bosch Icons if you find that works. I should order them while I am down here in Florida and then install them when I need them. Thanx for the info verdugo.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I can't argue with you about the arm pain, etc. I take insulin shots twice each day, so you can imagine what my arms look and feel like.
However, the flu vaccine has 2 flu dead viruses within the dosage, but it does not protect you from 2 or 3 strains of the flu that are less prevalent in the US in a given year. As an example, the flu vaccine takes several months to develop and produce, so in order to have sufficient quantities of the vaccine available in an appropriate time range, the CDC tells pharmaceutical companies which 2 flu strains are most prevalent in South America and Europe and Asia and to produce vaccines covering those 2 strains. Unfortunately, people who took the vaccine are still susceptible to the 5 or 6 strains of the flu that were not included in that year's vaccine.
If you get the flu, it is not from the vaccine, but rather a strain you were not protected from. You may remember I was in the hospital last winter because of persistent pneumonia caused by a strain of the flu that I was not protected from by the vaccine I had. They were able to isolate the flu virus I had and it was a rarer form of the flu. Additionally, flu viruses "mutate" all the time and are immune to the antibodies produced by our immune systems to fight off that particular flu strain.
Bottom line is that the flu vaccine WILL protect you from getting the viruses the vaccine was designed to combat, but you still have a 50/50 chance of getting a strain of the flu virus not included in the vaccine. But 50/50 is much better odds than a 75% chance you will get the flu by not taking the flu shot.
I hope I have provided you with some information with which you can adjust your opinion regarding, "...the flu shot gives you the flu" because it does not since dead viruses are used to motivate your immune system to produce that specific antibody. Polio was cured by a vaccine of dead polio viruses that cause your immune system to produce polio virus antibodies. But, as you know, polio vaccine does not cause people to get polio.
I rest my case. BTW, if you research this yourself, you will find my presentation here to be correct.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Mike, I think that discussion could have been about oil changes.....which I definitely would only get done at a bmw dealer or at a very good indie shop that specializes in European cars.
I went back and looked at the alignment discussion, begins on post 83927. The Cdn price was $250 for an alignment and $140 for blades. Alignment would be $200 in the U.S.
If you follow the thread you will see that in posts 83940 (which I think was you), 83951, (tjc) and 84017 (roadburner - the guru of bmws) all thought $250 was an outragious price to pay for an alignment, and $140 for wiper blades sounds ridiculous too. If you rea through roadburner says a good indie shop should have no problem doing an alignment and tjc thought an AWD alignment for a bmw should be about $80.
It seems my memory isn't the best these days, but I am pretty sure no one thought I should get a $250 alignment or get $140 wiper blades. Let me know if that sounds right to you....I think I agreed oil changes should be done at bmw, and I did that.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I was going to reply to Andre but you covered the topic so well I can't improve on what you said. Everything I have read or heard from the experts will say just what you said....the flu shot is made up from dead viruses....it can't give you the flu.
The sore arm is a small price to pay for a vaccine that protects you from a very serious illness that kills 1000s of Americans every year.
Any one who gets the flu, would wish they had gotten the vaccine. And I have talked to 3 people in the last month who just got shingles, and they wish they got vaccinated too.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
You could go to the auto parts store and buy a tread depth gauge for less than $10. That way you can see for yourself if the tires are wearing evenly or not.
Is the car pulling one way or another?
About the wiper blades, replacement is covered for 4 years.
Maybe they are testing you to see if you have a clue.
Several years ago I bought a new set of tires for my car at Sam's Club. Right away I noticed that the car pulled to the right. I assumed the Sam's tech has screwed up my alignment so I went to my indie guy. He told me that there was nothing wrong with the alignment but that sometimes tires just tracked like that.
I thought he was nuts but I let him switch the tires front to back and wouldn't you know it, problem solved. On the rear the tires were fine.
Fast forward a few years and I'm using the same set of tires on my van. This winter I put snows on the back and the tires that were functioning perfectly on the rear were rotated to the front. Bingo, my van now pulls to the right.
I don't pretend to understand it but true story. :confuse:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
My other three brothers are right as rain and that youngest brother is still quite busy with lots of acquaintances to boot.
I've had bouts of this since at least college and we're starting treatment.
I could be mistaken, but it was like deja vu! I thought we covered the alignment before.
At least you have my opinion - if it's a newer car, have the dealer do it - besides, they stand by their work and usually will correct any problems for 90 days thereafter.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
what causes tire pull
Ty
The flu mist is different than the shot, though. That contains a live virus, a weakened one, but live nonetheless. People like Fezo with compromised immune systems should avoid it, and people in close contact with those having compromised immune systems should also avoid it. My daughter is a friend of a sweet little girl who was diagnosed with cancer. During treatment and for two years afterwards my daughter received the shot instead of the mist so she didn't put her friend at risk. I'm grateful to report that little girl is healthy today.
Edit: I'm no expert. I learned just enough to be dangerous. Great class, though.