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"...not much call for a SMART car..."
Woman at work had one. Got totaled out by a pick up that couldn't see her.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
So far (a week) the Jetta has been fine. Seems to have good build quality. And the dealer experience for sales and delivery was top notch. Hopefully we don't have to find out about the service department any time soon!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Oh....I really like that. But, I am a sucker for new and different designs. I thought the 300s looked good when new, same with the new Dart.....now, ....hmmmm....not so much
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That Chrysler 200 sure does look nice....and they say that will be the new look for most of the Chrysler lineup...headlights integrated into the grill. Also, like the interior too!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
...says the man who owns two anonymousmobiles.
Well the criticism of the 200's styling is that it's pretty much an evolution of the Dart.
Out of the 3 which 2 are anonymousmobiles? Just curious. In my opinion, all 3 of our cars are anonymousmobiles because they all have classic styling that looks good for many years - often look better than newer models. That is one thing I like about European styling,,,,,although not too flashy or novel, it usually holds up over time. One guy who was in sales and liked flashy cars loved getting really old Jaguars, he could buy 10 or 12 year old one's really cheap and his clients never knew he was driving an older car.
The Passat is kind of anonymous, and maybe the 535 - just guessing. But, what is really daring? I really liked the first Intrepids and Concordes when they came out....but, after awhile that got boring.
I liked the 86 Taurus when it came out but then got tired of the jelly bean look.
I liked the new Sonata and Fusions, even our A4, but I like the previous models even more. I think the 1995 model was about the nicest looking Escape made;
But, what do I know?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I thought you only had the 5 series and the Passat. Now I recall you have an Audi as well.
I just chuckled at your saying you like new and different designs yet own 3 vehicles with pretty staid, conservative styling. Not a dig - just an observation.
I agree completely....I am really boring when it comes to choice of cars. I like the flashiness of a new design, like the new 200, but, I know I will get bored with it fairly quickly. So, I like to be very conservative in my choice of cars. The Fusion looks a lot more glamorous than the Passat...but, I wonder which one will hold it's looks 10 years from now. The 4 door coupe look is in for bmw, audi and MB, but, will it look better than a staid old 4-door in 10 years - I like the 4 door coupe look, but, the look may be a fad. I don't think I want to compromise on window area and on headroom, so the classic 4 door look may win out after 10 years.
One car I really wish we had kept was the 1999 Mercedes C Class....I see them and like them today.
Good classic styling never gets tiring....new flashy styling sometimes fades quickly.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Question for Mike, and of course anyone else who wants to chime in.
I know you have a condo, if you don't mind my asking, what should you have for property insurance?
Just realized my mother doesn't have any and I want her to have some. Not having ever owned one, I want to be somewhat knowledgeable, or least not completely ignorant, when talking to an agent.
Thanks in advance.
wouldn't it be similar to renter's insurance? I had a townhouse at one point, but it was our first place, and I honestly don't recall exactly what we had.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
lol!
I had a bad experience with a VW too. I've also vowed: never again. And I had a 2000 Ford Focus. Yikes.
Both of those brands still make cars that seem vaguely appealing, and then I remember, shake myself, and am soooooo glad I own Hondas.
Condo insurance covers the inside of the unit and your personal property. The condo association covers the outside. You really should review the policy the association has to ensure you know what you need to buy.
Over the weekend, I went over there with my roof rake to take off some of the snow.
There were some guys removing the snow from the building next door.
When I asked my mother if she knew anything about it, she said they had knocked on her door and asked if she wanted the snow removed.
I went out and asked them who hired them, it was the association. I wanted make sure they weren't going to come back and demand some money after cleaning the roof.
The Smart makes more sense in a heavily congested area where its small size is an asset where it can maneuver at slow speeds around obstacles and its low horsepower is not a liability. Get into a more open area and its small size is no longer an asset and its low horsepower is a liability then it's not really a good car to have. If I lived in that area where I drove it I would seriously consider the car, but living in the far off suburbs with far more wide open roads I wouldn't consider it.
On a related note Smart has come up with an electric bicycle. But at the price and performance that it is supposed to have I would say that there are better options out there if you want an electric bike. Plus Smart is coming out with an electric scooter, however it has a governor on it limiting it to 28 MPH.
Well then let me welcome you to our city and the winter that has no end (seriously the next three nights are supposed to have lows below zero). Chicago does have a very good theater scene and you should enjoy your show. If you want any tips on what else to do just let me know.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I believe it was Robert Heinlein who once said "say no and be rude about it if necessary" when talking about life's leeches.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
The architectural river cruise is one of the best things you can do in Chicago......but, only in the nice weather - not reccommended for this time of year.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I love that one....I wish I had known that at the time. Good memory, it was Heinlein who said it...really referring to people who sap you of your time. But, I think it works well for relatives who want you to give them money.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Rob said it very well; Condo insurance covers the inside of the unit and your personal property. The condo association covers the outside.I have lived in a few condos and generally insurance is just needed on your possessions and anything inside as Rob said. The condo association will cover any insurance matters on the outside of the unit and covering common areas. They will also usually maintain all exterior features, such as painting, roofing, possibly cleaning outside windows. Unless it is a free hold condo they will remove snow and/or look after lawn and garden. Basically you want insurance to cover possessions - clothes, furniture, but also inside walls and cabinets, sinks, etc. in case of a flood or fire. You may roughly figure out a value such as $50k to $100k worth...it shouldn't be expensive.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
It's probably a winter olympics event now being done on ice skates on a frozen river.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Yes, I'm afraid that you missed my response. I would love to meet you, but we're taking my BIL to Florida to see his vacation home for the last time. We've always had so much fun with them there. Though I dread it this time, my wife and I want to do this for him....and for my sister. As I'm sure you know, it's not easy being brave. We're trying very hard to keep things light and positive. Hope you have a safe trip, and thanks for asking.
Richard
And, yes, you are still family. I've got too many years invested in putting up with you. You're about the only friend that I have who never agrees with me; but you disagree in a nice way.
Richard
Thanks for the ideas and offers snake and imid. Trying to talk her into going to Chicago on St Patrick's Day so she can see them turn the River green. She doesn't believe they actually do that. Still cold, then. We'll see!
After reading all of those posts about coffee, I was beginning to think that I was the only one who didn't drink it. My wife doesn't either. While I was at the beach with friends not long ago, my wife had some girlfriends over to the house. The old Mr. Coffee wouldn't heat up so she ran to Walmart and bought a new Mr. Coffee. She claims the girls said that it made great coffee---and the machine was only $35. The old Mr. Coffee was 22 years old. I guess it was time that it went to the trash. Then again, we only used it when we had company.
Richard
What about a landominium where the condo owner also owns the small patches of land front and back.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Another non coffee drinker here. I tried it once many years ago, didn't like it, so never again.
I have had a Keurig for 4 or 5 years, and use it daily to make tea. Between that, and Diet Snapple, I'm good to go. And the Keurig is great for when family or friends come over. I always keep a good selection of K-Cups, so it's a snap to make them whatever they want.
That isn't an accurate description of Son #1. In fact it's far from it. He is more than willing to help people. So much so he drags me into the act too. Like I said in my original post, it's not as bad as it used to be but it's not over either.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
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2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
It's probably a winter olympics event now being done on ice skates on a frozen river.
lol
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Not sure if the river will be flowing. The Great Lakes are almost completely frozen over.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I did mention "freehold" townhomes which is probably the same as landominium...and there are other names for what you describe. These aren't usually called "condominiums". In those cases there are fees that cover certain items, possibly just maintaining common areas. Usually if a person says their unit is a condominium then they just have to look after what is inside their walls.
Good idea though to make sure the unit is a "condominium" unit though, and not a landominium/freehold or other hybrid.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I am really surprised at the proportion of people here who don't drink coffee. 54% of Americans over 18 have at least a coffee a day according to one website.
Then I found this:
Overall coffee consumption jumped by five percentage points this year, according to the NCA National Coffee Drinking Trends (NCDT) market research study. With this increase, 83% of the U.S. adult population now drinks coffee. At the same time, daily consumption remained strong and steady at 63%, while those who drink coffee at least once per week was up slightly to 75%.
foodmanufacturing.com/news/2013/04/consumer-trends-83-percent-americans-drink-coffee
I don't know what it all means, but it seems there are more people who don't drink coffee than one's who do around here. They shouldn't call it a coffee break, that's discrimination against those who don't drink coffee. If you want to meet someone, and you don't drink coffee, what do you say instead of "Let's get together for a coffee". Some of my best business deals were done over a coffee or at a coffee shop.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
The Chicago river in and of itself is one of the great engineering wonders of the world as over 100 years ago they reversed the flow of the Chicago River. Yes it flows backwards.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Thank you everybody for such an entertaining thread - I don't post often, but when I need 20 minutes to take my mind off of "life" I duck in hear and catch up!
So chiming in on may different and varied topics.
Anyway - thanks to all of you for keeping this thread going.
M-Dog
Hope you enjoy the new Fusion. There is something to be said for peace of mind. If you felt that the Escape needed to go, then it needed to go. Happy miles to you.
Richard
I can appreciate your frustrations in trying to keep on tract with the new posts. I finally decided to keep a little pad by my computer. When I finish reading posts, I jot down the page # and just return to it the next time. I'm 5 pages behind now, so I have to remember where I am. There is another thing that I miss from the old system. Each post listed all of those who responded to it. You could even click on their names and read what they had said. It was so easy to do that, and then you could return to the original post. It was quick and efficient. These quotes within quotes seem confusing to me---especially now that I'm at the age of confusion anyway.
Richard
I really enjoyed your analysis of the new models at the car show. You always write such a nice recap of your experience. I'm glad that you liked the new Cadillac models. I'm really leaning toward the CTS----beauty power, and performance all rolled into one. The Jeep Grand Cherokee sounds very nice as well. Still, I'm really looking for a sedan on the next purchase. I was looking at pictures of the new Mustang and found it disappointing. The grill looks so much like the open jaws of a shark. What is it with grills these days? So many of them look ugly. Thanks again for the report.
Richard
Thanks for sharing that info with Fezo. I posted to him again today.
Richard
@richard, if my daughter ends up picking S. Carolina for college, I will stop by to see you when I have to drive down. That is a nice long haul from up here (Philly). 620 or so miles.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
NOTE: Richard and Verdugo. I am not sure if I am understanding your problem, but the guys here showed me how to find where I left off. See if this helps;
I think I explained it if that is the problem. There are others much better at this than I am so if I got it wrong just change what I wrote.
Richard, if you don't want to quote a complete post (you can save some cyberspace and be environmentally friendly) try hi-liting the part you want to quote....copy it, then when you click on quote, paste it right next to the person's name from the post you are quoting.
Good luck all!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Thank you Richard.
I really liked the new CTS. Very nice, inside and out. Seems to be the right size (the size I feel suits me best). The one I sat in was the turbo 2.0 4 cyl. From everything I've read, that's the one to have. I've driven that motor in the ATS. Nice drivetrain.
Sticker on the one I drive was in the $56K range. Might just be me, but $56K for a car with a 4 cyl? I know it's a good one, and that BMW, Audi, etc are doing the same thing for fuel economy reasons. I'm just having a hard time rectifying it.
The "booth babe" came over to me as I was sitting in the CTS and asked me if I wanted a $50 test driver Visa gift card. "Sure, if you're giving them out". I have to go to the dealership to get it validated.
As mentioned, the 2015 Mustang looks worlds better in person than the pics I saw.
Thank you for posting M-Dog. At least there4 is one other person who likes Keurig coffee and who knows how to get it for a reasonable price. Also liked your remarks re: a 2015 C-Class, I think I'll be watching for that a bit too. But with the drive to and from Florida, and carrying around people a lot - we are retired and most people prefer not to drive and I would rather drive than be a passenger - I think we need the larger car. Not to mention the way people drive down here it is best to have a little extra protection.
Your 2008 with 36K miles on it sounds like it would make a nice car for someone. You can check out the trade in value pretty easily - it's usually less than you hope for though.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
@sterlingdog
You can also click on the "Participated" link that is located on the right side of the page under your screen name. That will bring up all of the topics you have posted in with a yellow highlight containing the number of new posts. If you click on the topic it will take you to the first new post, as driver said.
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Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
M-dog - don't know about the mini-transplant but my maxi one has worked wonders. In theory I'd be back to what for me passes as normal but I had two unrelated complications and I look and feel fine but my b and t cells need to come up.. My hemoglobin, which for years was lucky if it got into the 9s getting transfusions every two weeks (which on its own will eventually kill you) is now never less than the mid 14s.
Just because you understand some of the workings about how these things work doesn't make them any less miraculous.
Richard - understood. I am hoping to be down in the area having my wife and the two younger daughters down at my (well, my wife's) nephew's place in Apex sometime in the summer. Maybe we could work something then.
You aren't the only one whose politics are almost diametrically opposed to mine. One of my best friends is to the right of Attila the Hun and we get along great. We even talk politics. I also have an off the board conversation going with another one of the gang here. The whole key is civility. The lack of it in public discourse isn't new but has become exponentially worse.
Now to see about killing that CEL in the Mazda without paying the mechanic I just had do 3 synthetic oil changes for..... (it wouldn't be the end of the world to pay him - he's good, reasonable and entertaining as hell.)
Oh oh!
Just heard that Ford came in second to last in Consumer Reports quality survey. I guess this My Touch gizmo is pretty bad. Don't know what that is but I won't order it on my Mustang.
Multiple factors contributed to Ford's significant decline in Consumer Reports rankings. Consumer Reports has shown no love for Ford's MyFord Touch technology and its survey participants obviously agree. Several of Ford's new vehicles -- including the Explorer, Fiesta, and Focus -- had more problems than normal according to Consumer Reports. Another significant contributing factor to Ford's decline in the rankings is three of its historically reliable models, the Escape, Fusion, and Lincoln MKZ are not included in the current analysis because they were all redesigned for 2013.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
It's true, and there seems to be a very strong rumor Ford is going to drop Microsoft and use Blackberry's QNX Software System technology which is used by BMW, Audi, and VW.
More info at: autonews.com/article/20140222/OEM06/140229953/ford-expected-to-drop-microsoft-use-blackberry-qnx-in-next-gen-sync#
From the article;
The Ford and Lincoln brands ranked No. 26 and No. 27 out of 28 brands in Consumer Reports' annual reliability survey released in October. While the Lincoln luxury line matched the industry average in J.D. Power's Initial Quality study in June, the namesake finished 27th out of 33 brands
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That's the thing that will probably keep me from pulling the trigger on a Fiesta ST- well, that and the fact that I have absolutely no confidence in my local Ford dealers' service departments. My other favorite-the 500 Abarth-doesn't get high marks either, but at least the local Fiat dealer is a part of the same group as my BMW dealer, and I have heard no complaints about its service department.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
What do you say instead of coffee break if you don't drink coffee? Well, you could say "Let's have a Coke break." or, in my case, "Let's have a smoke break."
Richard
Glad to hear that your dad is doing better. Cherish each moment that you have him here with you. Thanks for posting. We've missed you.
Richard
Sounds great. I'll look forward to seeing you. Good luck with her choice. I know that it's a tough decision when so many good schools are available to her.
Richard
Thanks for the advice. I think that I'm too challenged to do any of it. Now I have to worry about saving cyberspace? Good grief. It's all I can do to recycle my garbage. As for being environmentally friendly, I didn't realize that I was chopping down more trees when I use too much cyberspace. I look at it this way. The universe has tons of space. Surely, it can hold my Edmunds postings. Besides, at my age, how much more cyberspace can I use?
Richard