"If you're ever in Hershey, PA, stop by the factory. On a visit there..."
Been there several times on field trips with the Juniors and Seniors when I was administering a private school in eastern PA. The rides are great but the chocolates are better.
They have a great tour that takes you through their factories. The aroma is maddening!
"After four convertibles, I'm not planning on purchasing another one."
Convertibles are delightful to drive in the short-run - but in the long-run, they have many disadvantages.
My recommendation to those of you who love to drive convertibles is to rent one from a car-rental company whenever you get the "itch"! Of course, if you get "itchy" every week, owning or leasing one is the better route.
Renting one is excellent advice. BTW, I need to correct something. I've owned 5 convertibles, not four. I forgot about the Touring car that I owned before I purchased the current one. Also, I thought of another disadvantage. If you're going on a trip, pack lightly. With the top down, luggage room is limited.
@sterlindog
" I think that we are now safely into the warmer days. I'm so glad. It was a hard winter here in North Carolina".
Earlier this year, we went to the Rock and Roll HOF, while we were in Cleveland.
I bought a Beach Boys CD, figuring I would break it out on the first 'spring like' day, instead of my usual Boston CD.
So far, I haven't been even been tempted to take it out of the plastic wrap.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
@oldfarmer50 said:
That's pretty cheap. I've priced Gts on the Ford site with not much more than an automatic as options and came up with a price around $35k IIRC.
I just looked the base GT on True Car and it came up $26,704. Of course the GT Premium is $4K more and these prices are likely stripped versions. Also they are claiming $5K+ off MSRP.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
@abacomike said:
Mid April through mid November is brutal for driver's exposed to the very high UV rays of the sun. Evenings are great, but I find few old timers who drive at night - reduced vision of older eyes. That leaves December - March to drive with the top down without doing harm to your body due to the UV's.
Most of my driving is so short that being exposed to the sun poses little concern. I also always wear a hat and on longer drives I can always put on some sunscreen.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
One reason I have never actually pulled the trigger on a convertible is my wife. She hates having the sun on her, and usually closses the moonroof too if the sun is out (I have it open all the time). So a convert for me would have to be a spare/toy car (she did like riding in her brother's Cobra replica!)
"Most of my driving is so short that being exposed to the sun poses little concern. I also always wear a hat and on longer drives I can always put on some sunscreen."
I've lived in South Florida for 14 years and seeing a convertible with its top down is a rarity. So my guess is that many people have a problem exposing themselves to the UV Rays.
I lived in the San Diego/Los Angeles area for 4 years and convertibles are truly plentiful.
I lived in the Palm Springs area of Southern California for 7 years where it's very hot with no clouds and the only people who drove convertibles were the tourists.
So, people obviously have concerns for over exposure. Of course sun bloc helps and if you don 't drive for long periods of time, that's understandable. But it takes 10 minutes in direct sun at the lower latitudes of the US to begin to burn. So it doesn't take much.
But, life is too short to worry about such things - I guess. I've owned several convertibles - but all of them were driven on the mid-west and northeast coast. Never owned one in CA or FL.
@abacomike said: > But, life is too short to worry about such things - I guess.
I've had Mohs surgery as a result of my misspent youth. It took 4 sessions of removing the cancerous lesion on my cheek then waiting an hour while the specimen was frozen, stained, and examined to see where cancerous cells were spreading to know where to remove the next layer. Then a deeper removal in that area was taken and another hour's wait. I spent the whole day sitting in the surgeon's waiting room reading awful magazines for that process with a pad over the surgery site. The folks should know it can be serious. Mine was thought to be a mixture of squamous and basal. Surgeon had more lab work done and it was only basal. I'll spare the description of the final surgery site: I made the mistake of taking the mirror and looking when the surgeon asked.
The misspent youth was sitting on a tractor working the fields for hours on end on our farm. That exposure in one's youth eventually leads to cancerous mutation due to the early damage, my dermatologist explained. Since that surgery I've had more skin peels to remove actinic keratoses, potentially precancerous spots, than Andrea Mitchell.
@roadburner said:
In that sense 4K is like 3D; the average buyer won't take the plunge unless there is a significant amount of 4K content available- and there won't be much content unless a lot of 4K displays are sold. Unlike 3D however, no extra equipment is required, and a really good 4K display with 4K content is incredibly lifelike. The big question mark is price.
Yes the big question mark is price, if there is anything more than a small price difference 4K will be a slow mover. You eventually get to the point where picture quality is so good that great strides in technology only results in the smallest increases in quality of the picture. It's the law of diminishing returns where every unit of increased quality gets more and more expensive. I think the current HD format is close to that point if not at it. HD is very lifelike and the 4K TV's that I have seen are not that much better than the current HD TV's.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
@abacomike said:
Also, I see drivers on their cell phones in brand new Cadillacs, Mercedes, Jaguars, Lexus's, etc., all of which are equipped with Bluetooth! They are just too lazy to connect their phones when they get in the car.
Either that or they don't know how to do it.
I have my phone set for Bluetooth all the time so as soon as I push the ignition button, it automatically connects.
I keep my Bluetooth off unless there is a reason to use it. Mainly because 1.) it drains the battery and 2.) Stores use it to track you.
It only takes two seconds to turn it on.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
@driver100 said:
may be wrong about Florida, but, back home, if you are in an accident while texting, the insurance company may not cover you......since you were breaking the law while texting.
That would have to be somewhere in the policy or an amendment or rider to the policy. Otherwise they could deny almost any claim if they could show that you were doing something wrong.
On another sad note, we have to head back home tomorrow morning.
Have a safe trip.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
"I keep my Bluetooth off unless there is a reason to use it. Mainly because 1.) it drains the battery and 2.) Stores use it to track you."
I turn my Bluetooth on just before leaving the house each morning, but you are right - I forgot about the tracking in stores.
If I had to remember to turn the Bluetooth on and off each time I grit out of the car, I'd inevitably forget to turn it back on upon entering the car again. So I leave it on.
As for battery drainage, I don't notice it as much on my iPhone, but on my Motorola and Nokia, I did.
@sterlingdog said:
It's too hot in the summer with the top down and too cold in the winter.
My philosophy is that as long as its warmer than say 55 degrees and not raining the top is down, although I have had it down in temps as low as 45. That being said my top is usually up from late October to early April (if the weather forecast is right the top will be down Sunday )
Here's another thing. If I want to crack a window for some fresh air during a period of rain, the water will drip inside from the convertible top onto the arm rest.
Yeah, that's an issue with the tops, they don't have a rain gutter to channel water away from the window if it is open. However I don't drive with my windows cracked open in the rain, I just use the cars HVAC system to bring in fresh air.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Mike, Thanks for the warning about severe weather. I plan on taking it easy, and will be extra careful. I don't mind rain too much, but, it is draining...requires more attention.
Imid, I will wave as we pass by Dayton. That will probably be Sunday when the weather will be much better. Getting through Atlanta is a problem - though much better with HOV lanes now, and nice to go through on a weekend. Cincinatti is another tough one...narrow lanes, and bridges, and going through a city.
Berri, I'll save Phelps and Angells until we're on the east coast one day, but a nice thought.
Sterling Doghard to call you that seriously, Richard, thanks for the kind thoughts. It is about 1500 miles from Tampa to just west of Toronto. It will be 23 hours of actual driving time. If all goes well we can do it with one overnight stop, but, if there is any problem it will take 2 nights.
Tyguy, I will report in when we do get home...you know me. But, if you hear anything on CNN or FOX News about a white 535 on I-75 you'll know it's probably me.
"Other than a cost disadvantage I don't see much in the way of disadvantages that a similar hardtop car would have."
They are much colder inside during winter (I lived in Chicago and New York when I drove them) and quite drafty if memory serves me. I had to have 3 tops replaced on the two I owned due to vandalism in parking lots.
If I owned a convertible, it would have to be a hardtop convertible where the top folds into the trunk - but as Richard mentioned, you end up with little or no trunk space.
I also find sedans and coupes don't rattle and shake as much on the road. But this is just my opinion.
@abacomike said:
"If you're ever in Hershey, PA, stop by the factory. On a visit there..."
They have a great tour that takes you through their factories. The aroma is maddening!
Many years (decades?) ago I interviewed for an accounting position with Fannie May at their (then) headquarters in Chicago. I must have gained 10 pounds just breathing in that place.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
@sterlingdog said:
Also, I thought of another disadvantage. If you're going on a trip, pack lightly. With the top down, luggage room is limited.
That's what I like about mine, the top folds down into the trunk. So on vacations you can leave the top up and have a huge truck to pack things into. Last time we took it on vacation we had the top up going out there and back but since everything was taken out of the car and put in the condo while we were there we had plenty of opportunity to have the top down.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
@imidazol97 said:Since that surgery I've had more skin peels to remove actinic keratoses, potentially precancerous spots, than Andrea Mitchell.
Use sunscreen and wear wide-brimmed hats.
Imid, even if I wanted another convertible you just talked me out of it. That's a lot for anyone to have to go through. There are quite a few guys at the tennis club in Florida who have had similar problems. Many of them also do boating, and they tell me that is really hard on the skin...the glare from the sun off the water magnifies it.
I had my 2008 hardtop convertible and though it could be nice on a pleasant evening, it just isn't worth the inconvenience the other 96% of the time. Once we were driving along sidethe lake on a beautiful evening, and a giant bird...must have been a cousin of Rodan, crapped right in the middle of the windshield. If that bird had been 6 inches more toward us we would have been covered. I guess it was my lucky day! I could have gagged the rest of the way home......
hey, is it OK to interrupt here to mention going to an actual car dealership? Or will that upset people?
anyway, daughter wanted to look at some cars, and, well, she is the princess, so how could I say no? So we stopped in at the Hyundai dealer late this afternoon. Seemed to be quite a few customers, and at least 1 guy getting a delivery. Also stopped at Honda. They had the usual assortment of people wandering around. Odd, but seems like whatever day/time I go there, they have the same # of customers!
oh, the Hyundai place still has quite a few 2013s laying around (including a nice Sonata limited in the showroom, same spot for the last few months). I have to imagine that if I wanted one of them, they would have been real happy to negotiate against themselves!
@abacomike said:
If I had to remember to turn the Bluetooth on and off each time I grit out of the car, I'd inevitably forget to turn it back on upon entering the car again. So I leave it on.
My car doesn't have Bluetooth but my wife's car does. Seeing all the time I talk on the phone it's not such a big deal (talking on phones is something I rather not do).
Thanks for the update on that tracking in stores.
You're welcome, look up iBeacon sometime.
Now for todays trivia question, how did they come up with the name "Bluetooth"?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
"Other than a cost disadvantage I don't see much in the way of disadvantages that a similar hardtop car would have."
>
They are much colder inside during winter (I lived in Chicago and New York when I drove them) and quite drafty if memory serves me. I had to have 3 tops replaced on the two I owned due to vandalism in parking lots.
Mine is 6 years old with about 85K miles so far no drafts and gets toasty warm rather quickly on cold days.
I have never had an issue with vandalism with this car, but I have had issues with other non convertibles.
If I owned a convertible, it would have to be a hardtop convertible where the top folds into the trunk - but as Richard mentioned, you end up with little or no trunk space.
Mine is a soft top that folds into the trunk and with the top up you have plenty of trunk space, with the top down I can still get a weeks worth of viddles in the trunk.
I also find sedans and coupes don't rattle and shake as much on the road. But this is just my opinion.
Not experiencing any so far in mine.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
If I'm driving with the sunroof open on a warm spring or hot summer day, I always have a hat on. I'm overly cautious when it comes to sun screen & nick named myself "the sun block police."
My Grandfather was extremely fair skinned. On his and my Grandma's honeymoon in Miami, he actually got 3rd degree burns from playing Tennis outside without a shirt. He used to sit outside in the back yard for hours on Summer Sundays reading the newspaper & taking a snooze without a shirt on. By the time he saw a spot on his stomach & went to the doctor, the cancer had already spread to his liver. He died 6 weeks later, 2 weeks before my Bar Mitzvah (in 1989).
Because of that I'm super careful outside and pretty much paranoid when it comes to my kids. They always wear hats, shirts, & sunblock that gets reapplied.
Because of this I am hesitant to buy a convertible of any type while they are still young. I'd love a Wrangler, but often wonder exactly how many top down days I'd get a year. My wife doesn't like her hair blowing around either.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Skin Cancer: As a melanoma survivor, I'm the sunblock cop. It was caught early but it really threw me for a loop. I don't avoid the sun (well not anymore) but I'm careful with sunscreen, hats, polo shirt collars flipped up, et al. Due to my over protective nature, my kids are translucent!!
Bluetooth: According to the official Bluetooth engineering society - "The name "Bluetooth" is taken from the 10th century Danish King Harald Blatand - or Harold Bluetooth in English. During the formative stage of the trade association a code name was needed to name the effort. Over an evening discussing European history and the future of wireless technology several felt it was appropriate to name the technology after King Blatand. He had been instrumental in uniting warring factions in parts of what is now Norway, Sweden, and Denmark - just as the technology is designed to allow collaboration between differing industries such as the computing, mobile phone, and automotive markets. The code name stuck."
Been following postings here for maybe 13 years,but haven't posted in so long I didn't remember how to sign in, and have a different Email, anyway. Since some of you must be at least somewhat familiar with the Queen City, I thought I should relate a story from my youth, which was long enough ago that when I hauled livetsock to the Cincy Union stockyards, I had to come in through Cheviot , since I 74 wasn't yet finished clear to 75. Whilst sitting at a stoplight with a load of heifers, I was joined in the lane to my left by a red Mustang convertible with white interior. Unfortunately, the driver learned that pulling up beside a loaded livestock truck with the top down was not a prudent thing to do. I guess this happened a LOT.
Welcome to the crowd. Were the stockyards in the Camp Washington area?
A couple of livestock stories from me:
In my misspent youth I worked for the state highway department in Indiana (maybe there's some sun exposure too) and I was doing the flagging to block a main highway (US36). A local resented having to wait a few minutes while the dredge guy dug goop out of the drainage ditch along the highway which was a creek draining the fields on the north side. One local went past me and when he got next to the dredge and the dump truck, the dredge operator slurped a load into the truck. It splashed onto the criminal's car and into the open driver's window. It was summertime. However, the fields north were from a hog farm and the drainage was rich with hog manure.
So this is what $100K buys you?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-FoLoyCeFo
After watching this video of the MB CLS 550 I'm beginning to think that this is a lot of car for the money. But how does it compare to the S-class 550? For the same money don't you get even more luxury and features in the S-class?
Mike, is this the model model that you now own? Is the salesman right-on or was he over the top with some the techno wizardry he mentioned.
All this referencing of livestock and their "droppings" reminded me of a "meadow muffin" story from my youth - no convertibles involved, though!
When I was a preteen (10-12), my parents used to send my twin brother and me to an 8-week summer camp up in the Catskills (mountain range about 100 miles or so north of NYC on the west banks of the Hudson River). The camp included a self-sustaining dairy farm where we got our daily fresh (pasteurized of course) milk.
At night, usually following the evening camping event up at the main campus, we had a choice of either taking the bus back to the boys' bunkhouses (about 3/4 of a mile by the camp roads) or take a short-cut in groups of 10+ boys through the cow pastures. The bus only held 20 campers so often we had to wait 20+ minutes for the bus to return for another load of campers if we got on the bus line later than others.
One evening, our counselors challenged about 20 of us to a race through the pasture to the bunk houses. I was a pretty good runner on those days, so I joined the group.
The jumped over the pasture fence and I took the lead for the first part of the 1/2 mile run. Part of the shortcut was downhill and I was running so fast that as I approached a slew of meadow muffins (cow excrement for those of you unfamiliar with dairy farms), I could not stop soon enough to avoid them. I skidded through the slushy fresh muffins and landed on my rear end, skidding through at least 5 or 6 of them before coming to a slurping stop.
The rest of the boys passed me by as I waddled on down to the bunk house, dripping of fresh meadow muffins from my shirt, my jeans, and worst of all, from my face and hair.
I had to strip down naked outside the bunk house as I turned on the exterior sprinkler hose to wash the crappola off me before going into the bunk house.
I don't think I need to detail the nicknames I inherited for the rest of that memorable summer!
@explorerx4 said:
oldfarmer
I have a Mustang GT convertible, but it's been around a while. Maybe the newer versions don't start to beat you up with the top down over 65 mph, like mine does.
Put that on your test drive list.
Are you talking about wind buffeting or cowl shake?
When I had the Corvette with the removable roof I noticed some shaking above 65 that wasn't apparent with the roof on.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
"Mike, is this the model model that you now own? Is the salesman right-on or was he over the top with some the techno wizardry he mentioned."
First of all, the $100K is Canadian dollars since the test drive was in Calgary.
Yes, I have all that stuff except for 4MATIC (AWD). Until or unless you get behind the wheel of the CLS 550, you can't truly understand or even believe the outstanding performance of this car. It drives more like a sportscar than a sedan or coupe.
The MSRP of my loaded CLS 550 is $82,210 US dollars. A similarly equipped S 550 runs about $109,000.
@robr2 said:
Bluetooth: According to the official Bluetooth engineering society - _"The name "Bluetooth" is taken from the 10th century Danish King Harald Blatand - or Harold Bluetooth in English.
Congratulations you won the trivial contest. As winner you receive 100 brownie points. Brownie points are totally worthless and can be redeemed at fine stores everywhere.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
@bwia said:
"Mike, is this the model model that you now own? Is the salesman right-on or was he over the top with some the techno wizardry he mentioned."
@abacomike said: First of all, the $100K is Canadian dollars since the test drive was in Calgary.
The MSRP of my loaded CLS 550 is $82,210 US dollars. A similarly equipped S 550 runs about $109,000.
I hope I answered your questions.
Yes and thanks. By the way, the CLS-class is selling very well at this price point. With 8,032 units sold in 2013 and 2014 YTD (two months) 879 units, this volume level is pretty impressive.
"Yes and thanks. By the way, the CLS-class is selling very well at this price point. With 8,032 units sold in 2013 and 2014 YTD (two months) 879 units, this volume level is pretty impressive."
They are not as available as you would believe from total sales. They are in limited production because of demand. It only seats 4 passengers and the rear leg and head room is tight - not a family car, to be sure.
The average dealer stocks only 4-6 of these. There are 3 variations of the CLS line:
*The base RWD CLS 550 (402 hp, 4.7 L V8) *The AWD CLS 63 AMG (550 hp, 5.5 L V8) *The AWD CLS. 63 AMG S Model (577 hp, 5.5 L V8)
Dealers rarely stock the AMG's - usually ordered by customer - 6-7 week delivery.
They are discounting them to invoice or below right now due to $3000 dealer incentives on base model RWD. I paid a little over $71,000 in November thanks to my USAA fleet pricing.
It is eerie when you turn as the left or right seat bolster grabs you so you don't slide in your seat on quick turns. The faster you take a turn, the more bolster you get.
The massager is awesome - from the base of your tailbone to the shoulders. Very relaxing. Ventilated seats are 3-speed fan settings for both front seats.
Boy, you guys are tough to keep up with. Doing my second second birthday party today (actual transplant was two years ago yesterday).
Ive been really resistant to sun protection but now as a survivor that's not an option. I still have the convertible, and like snake said more or less, noise, cowl shake, cold in winter are pretty much things of the past - still no rain gutter, but that means 15 SPF sunscreen and a hat. Ive always done the hat.
Wife got me a nice sapphire earring (well, there are two but I can only wear one) as a present. I'm as sharp looking a dude as I can be at this point. Not that I was one at any point....
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
@genericram said:
Convertibles and aerial bombardment
Been following postings here for maybe 13 years,but haven't posted in so long I didn't remember how to sign in, and have a different Email, anyway. Since some of you must be at least somewhat familiar with the Queen City, I thought I should relate a story from my youth, which was long enough ago that when I hauled livetsock to the Cincy Union stockyards, I had to come in through Cheviot , since I 74 wasn't yet finished clear to 75. Whilst sitting at a stoplight with a load of heifers, I was joined in the lane to my left by a red Mustang convertible with white interior. Unfortunately, the driver learned that pulling up beside a loaded livestock truck with the top down was not a prudent thing to do. I guess this happened a LOT.
LOL!
Good to see more Cincinnatians (or there abouts) around here.
Way off topic....as some of you kind of speculated, I am indeed engaged. Been a long, long time since I've had someone who I was willing to "put myself out there" for. But, that's a testament to how great my new fiance is.
"Way off topic....as some of you kind of speculated, I am indeed engaged. Been a long, long time since I've had someone who I was willing to "put myself out there" for. But, that's a testament to how great my new fiance is."
Congrats GG. Best of times has finally come for you after a long respite. Enjoy life and good luck - CHEERS!
@graphicguy said:
Way off topic....as some of you kind of speculated, I am indeed engaged. Been a long, long time since I've had someone who I was willing to "put myself out there" for. But, that's a testament to how great my new fiance is.
Congrats.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
@graphicguy said:
Way off topic....as some of you kind of speculated, I am indeed engaged. Been a long, long time since I've had someone who I was willing to "put myself out there" for. But, that's a testament to how great my new fiance is.
That was fast. It seemed like only yesterday you were wondering whether you should give flowers on the first date. Oh, that falling in love phase, it is so intoxicating that it turns grown men into a lump of protoplasm. Congratulations! and good luck.
Comments
Safe travels, Driver. Please do post when you return home so we don't worry more about you.
It didn't seem right, but it said what I was wanting. Even a blind dog finds a bone once in a while...
I stumbled onto one. LOL
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
"If you're ever in Hershey, PA, stop by the factory. On a visit there..."
Been there several times on field trips with the Juniors and Seniors when I was administering a private school in eastern PA. The rides are great but the chocolates are better.
They have a great tour that takes you through their factories. The aroma is maddening!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Renting one is excellent advice. BTW, I need to correct something. I've owned 5 convertibles, not four. I forgot about the Touring car that I owned before I purchased the current one. Also, I thought of another disadvantage. If you're going on a trip, pack lightly. With the top down, luggage room is limited.
Richard
@sterlindog
" I think that we are now safely into the warmer days. I'm so glad. It was a hard winter here in North Carolina".
Earlier this year, we went to the Rock and Roll HOF, while we were in Cleveland.
I bought a Beach Boys CD, figuring I would break it out on the first 'spring like' day, instead of my usual Boston CD.
So far, I haven't been even been tempted to take it out of the plastic wrap.
I just looked the base GT on True Car and it came up $26,704. Of course the GT Premium is $4K more and these prices are likely stripped versions. Also they are claiming $5K+ off MSRP.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Most of my driving is so short that being exposed to the sun poses little concern. I also always wear a hat and on longer drives I can always put on some sunscreen.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
One reason I have never actually pulled the trigger on a convertible is my wife. She hates having the sun on her, and usually closses the moonroof too if the sun is out (I have it open all the time). So a convert for me would have to be a spare/toy car (she did like riding in her brother's Cobra replica!)
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
@oldfarmer
Here is a base GT with 1 go fast option, a 3.73 locker rear end.
X-plan price 27,806.
http://www.inventory.ford.com/services/inventory/WindowSticker.pdf?vin=1ZVBP8CF8E5300993&ref=VL
"Most of my driving is so short that being exposed to the sun poses little concern. I also always wear a hat and on longer drives I can always put on some sunscreen."
I've lived in South Florida for 14 years and seeing a convertible with its top down is a rarity. So my guess is that many people have a problem exposing themselves to the UV Rays.
I lived in the San Diego/Los Angeles area for 4 years and convertibles are truly plentiful.
I lived in the Palm Springs area of Southern California for 7 years where it's very hot with no clouds and the only people who drove convertibles were the tourists.
So, people obviously have concerns for over exposure. Of course sun bloc helps and if you don 't drive for long periods of time, that's understandable. But it takes 10 minutes in direct sun at the lower latitudes of the US to begin to burn. So it doesn't take much.
But, life is too short to worry about such things - I guess. I've owned several convertibles - but all of them were driven on the mid-west and northeast coast. Never owned one in CA or FL.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I've had Mohs surgery as a result of my misspent youth. It took 4 sessions of removing the cancerous lesion on my cheek then waiting an hour while the specimen was frozen, stained, and examined to see where cancerous cells were spreading to know where to remove the next layer. Then a deeper removal in that area was taken and another hour's wait. I spent the whole day sitting in the surgeon's waiting room reading awful magazines for that process with a pad over the surgery site. The folks should know it can be serious. Mine was thought to be a mixture of squamous and basal. Surgeon had more lab work done and it was only basal. I'll spare the description of the final surgery site: I made the mistake of taking the mirror and looking when the surgeon asked.
The misspent youth was sitting on a tractor working the fields for hours on end on our farm. That exposure in one's youth eventually leads to cancerous mutation due to the early damage, my dermatologist explained. Since that surgery I've had more skin peels to remove actinic keratoses, potentially precancerous spots, than Andrea Mitchell.
Use sunscreen and wear wide-brimmed hats.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Yes the big question mark is price, if there is anything more than a small price difference 4K will be a slow mover. You eventually get to the point where picture quality is so good that great strides in technology only results in the smallest increases in quality of the picture. It's the law of diminishing returns where every unit of increased quality gets more and more expensive. I think the current HD format is close to that point if not at it. HD is very lifelike and the 4K TV's that I have seen are not that much better than the current HD TV's.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Either that or they don't know how to do it.
I keep my Bluetooth off unless there is a reason to use it. Mainly because 1.) it drains the battery and 2.) Stores use it to track you.
It only takes two seconds to turn it on.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
not always sun exposure. Some people just don't like to sweat!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
"Use sunscreen and wear wide-brimmed hats."
I've had several procedures like your's but the plastic surgeon did a great restoration job immediately following the two surgeries.
My twin brother just had a melanoma taken off his back - took 8 hours before they got it all. He lives in Florida also.
Good advice for all of us to heed!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
That would have to be somewhere in the policy or an amendment or rider to the policy. Otherwise they could deny almost any claim if they could show that you were doing something wrong.
Have a safe trip.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
"I keep my Bluetooth off unless there is a reason to use it. Mainly because 1.) it drains the battery and 2.) Stores use it to track you."
I turn my Bluetooth on just before leaving the house each morning, but you are right - I forgot about the tracking in stores.
If I had to remember to turn the Bluetooth on and off each time I grit out of the car, I'd inevitably forget to turn it back on upon entering the car again. So I leave it on.
As for battery drainage, I don't notice it as much on my iPhone, but on my Motorola and Nokia, I did.
Thanks for the update on that tracking in stores.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
My philosophy is that as long as its warmer than say 55 degrees and not raining the top is down, although I have had it down in temps as low as 45. That being said my top is usually up from late October to early April (if the weather forecast is right the top will be down Sunday
)
Yeah, that's an issue with the tops, they don't have a rain gutter to channel water away from the window if it is open. However I don't drive with my windows cracked open in the rain, I just use the cars HVAC system to bring in fresh air.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Other than a cost disadvantage I don't see much in the way of disadvantages that a similar hardtop car would have.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Mike, Thanks for the warning about severe weather. I plan on taking it easy, and will be extra careful. I don't mind rain too much, but, it is draining...requires more attention.
Imid, I will wave as we pass by Dayton. That will probably be Sunday when the weather will be much better. Getting through Atlanta is a problem - though much better with HOV lanes now, and nice to go through on a weekend. Cincinatti is another tough one...narrow lanes, and bridges, and going through a city.
Berri, I'll save Phelps and Angells until we're on the east coast one day, but a nice thought.
Sterling Doghard to call you that seriously, Richard, thanks for the kind thoughts. It is about 1500 miles from Tampa to just west of Toronto. It will be 23 hours of actual driving time. If all goes well we can do it with one overnight stop, but, if there is any problem it will take 2 nights.
Tyguy, I will report in when we do get home...you know me. But, if you hear anything on CNN or FOX News about a white 535 on I-75 you'll know it's probably me.
Snake, thanks for the good wishes.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
"Other than a cost disadvantage I don't see much in the way of disadvantages that a similar hardtop car would have."
They are much colder inside during winter (I lived in Chicago and New York when I drove them) and quite drafty if memory serves me. I had to have 3 tops replaced on the two I owned due to vandalism in parking lots.
If I owned a convertible, it would have to be a hardtop convertible where the top folds into the trunk - but as Richard mentioned, you end up with little or no trunk space.
I also find sedans and coupes don't rattle and shake as much on the road. But this is just my opinion.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Many years (decades?) ago I interviewed for an accounting position with Fannie May at their (then) headquarters in Chicago. I must have gained 10 pounds just breathing in that place.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
That's what I like about mine, the top folds down into the trunk. So on vacations you can leave the top up and have a huge truck to pack things into. Last time we took it on vacation we had the top up going out there and back but since everything was taken out of the car and put in the condo while we were there we had plenty of opportunity to have the top down.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Imid, even if I wanted another convertible you just talked me out of it. That's a lot for anyone to have to go through. There are quite a few guys at the tennis club in Florida who have had similar problems. Many of them also do boating, and they tell me that is really hard on the skin...the glare from the sun off the water magnifies it.
I had my 2008 hardtop convertible and though it could be nice on a pleasant evening, it just isn't worth the inconvenience the other 96% of the time. Once we were driving along sidethe lake on a beautiful evening, and a giant bird...must have been a cousin of Rodan, crapped right in the middle of the windshield. If that bird had been 6 inches more toward us we would have been covered. I guess it was my lucky day! I could have gagged the rest of the way home......
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
hey, is it OK to interrupt here to mention going to an actual car dealership? Or will that upset people?
anyway, daughter wanted to look at some cars, and, well, she is the princess, so how could I say no? So we stopped in at the Hyundai dealer late this afternoon. Seemed to be quite a few customers, and at least 1 guy getting a delivery. Also stopped at Honda. They had the usual assortment of people wandering around. Odd, but seems like whatever day/time I go there, they have the same # of customers!
oh, the Hyundai place still has quite a few 2013s laying around (including a nice Sonata limited in the showroom, same spot for the last few months). I have to imagine that if I wanted one of them, they would have been real happy to negotiate against themselves!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My car doesn't have Bluetooth but my wife's car does. Seeing all the time I talk on the phone it's not such a big deal (talking on phones is something I rather not do).
You're welcome, look up iBeacon sometime.
Now for todays trivia question, how did they come up with the name "Bluetooth"?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
>
Mine is 6 years old with about 85K miles so far no drafts and gets toasty warm rather quickly on cold days.
I have never had an issue with vandalism with this car, but I have had issues with other non convertibles.
Mine is a soft top that folds into the trunk and with the top up you have plenty of trunk space, with the top down I can still get a weeks worth of viddles in the trunk.
Not experiencing any so far in mine.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
"Now for todays trivia question, how did they come up with the name "Bluetooth"?"
All I know about the history of Bluetooth is that it is Swedish or Norwegian (or some Scandanavian Country) and had something to do with short waves.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Car shopping? It's the last 2 days of the month--the best time to deal for a car on their lot.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Convertibles & Skin Cancer
If I'm driving with the sunroof open on a warm spring or hot summer day, I always have a hat on. I'm overly cautious when it comes to sun screen & nick named myself "the sun block police."
My Grandfather was extremely fair skinned. On his and my Grandma's honeymoon in Miami, he actually got 3rd degree burns from playing Tennis outside without a shirt. He used to sit outside in the back yard for hours on Summer Sundays reading the newspaper & taking a snooze without a shirt on. By the time he saw a spot on his stomach & went to the doctor, the cancer had already spread to his liver. He died 6 weeks later, 2 weeks before my Bar Mitzvah (in 1989).
Because of that I'm super careful outside and pretty much paranoid when it comes to my kids. They always wear hats, shirts, & sunblock that gets reapplied.
Because of this I am hesitant to buy a convertible of any type while they are still young. I'd love a Wrangler, but often wonder exactly how many top down days I'd get a year. My wife doesn't like her hair blowing around either.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Skin Cancer: As a melanoma survivor, I'm the sunblock cop. It was caught early but it really threw me for a loop. I don't avoid the sun (well not anymore) but I'm careful with sunscreen, hats, polo shirt collars flipped up, et al. Due to my over protective nature, my kids are translucent!!
Bluetooth: According to the official Bluetooth engineering society - "The name "Bluetooth" is taken from the 10th century Danish King Harald Blatand - or Harold Bluetooth in English. During the formative stage of the trade association a code name was needed to name the effort. Over an evening discussing European history and the future of wireless technology several felt it was appropriate to name the technology after King Blatand. He had been instrumental in uniting warring factions in parts of what is now Norway, Sweden, and Denmark - just as the technology is designed to allow collaboration between differing industries such as the computing, mobile phone, and automotive markets. The code name stuck."
Convertibles and aerial bombardment
Been following postings here for maybe 13 years,but haven't posted in so long I didn't remember how to sign in, and have a different Email, anyway. Since some of you must be at least somewhat familiar with the Queen City, I thought I should relate a story from my youth, which was long enough ago that when I hauled livetsock to the Cincy Union stockyards, I had to come in through Cheviot , since I 74 wasn't yet finished clear to 75. Whilst sitting at a stoplight with a load of heifers, I was joined in the lane to my left by a red Mustang convertible with white interior. Unfortunately, the driver learned that pulling up beside a loaded livestock truck with the top down was not a prudent thing to do. I guess this happened a LOT.
Welcome to the crowd. Were the stockyards in the Camp Washington area?
A couple of livestock stories from me:
In my misspent youth I worked for the state highway department in Indiana (maybe there's some sun exposure too) and I was doing the flagging to block a main highway (US36). A local resented having to wait a few minutes while the dredge guy dug goop out of the drainage ditch along the highway which was a creek draining the fields on the north side. One local went past me and when he got next to the dredge and the dump truck, the dredge operator slurped a load into the truck. It splashed onto the criminal's car and into the open driver's window. It was summertime. However, the fields north were from a hog farm and the drainage was rich with hog manure.
to be continued.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
So this is what $100K buys you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-FoLoyCeFo
After watching this video of the MB CLS 550 I'm beginning to think that this is a lot of car for the money. But how does it compare to the S-class 550? For the same money don't you get even more luxury and features in the S-class?
Mike, is this the model model that you now own? Is the salesman right-on or was he over the top with some the techno wizardry he mentioned.
"A couple of livestock stories from me"
All this referencing of livestock and their "droppings" reminded me of a "meadow muffin" story from my youth - no convertibles involved, though!
When I was a preteen (10-12), my parents used to send my twin brother and me to an 8-week summer camp up in the Catskills (mountain range about 100 miles or so north of NYC on the west banks of the Hudson River). The camp included a self-sustaining dairy farm where we got our daily fresh (pasteurized of course) milk.
At night, usually following the evening camping event up at the main campus, we had a choice of either taking the bus back to the boys' bunkhouses (about 3/4 of a mile by the camp roads) or take a short-cut in groups of 10+ boys through the cow pastures. The bus only held 20 campers so often we had to wait 20+ minutes for the bus to return for another load of campers if we got on the bus line later than others.
One evening, our counselors challenged about 20 of us to a race through the pasture to the bunk houses. I was a pretty good runner on those days, so I joined the group.
The jumped over the pasture fence and I took the lead for the first part of the 1/2 mile run. Part of the shortcut was downhill and I was running so fast that as I approached a slew of meadow muffins (cow excrement for those of you unfamiliar with dairy farms), I could not stop soon enough to avoid them. I skidded through the slushy fresh muffins and landed on my rear end, skidding through at least 5 or 6 of them before coming to a slurping stop.
The rest of the boys passed me by as I waddled on down to the bunk house, dripping of fresh meadow muffins from my shirt, my jeans, and worst of all, from my face and hair.
I had to strip down naked outside the bunk house as I turned on the exterior sprinkler hose to wash the crappola off me before going into the bunk house.
I don't think I need to detail the nicknames I inherited for the rest of that memorable summer!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Are you talking about wind buffeting or cowl shake?
When I had the Corvette with the removable roof I noticed some shaking above 65 that wasn't apparent with the roof on.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
"Mike, is this the model model that you now own? Is the salesman right-on or was he over the top with some the techno wizardry he mentioned."
First of all, the $100K is Canadian dollars since the test drive was in Calgary.
Yes, I have all that stuff except for 4MATIC (AWD). Until or unless you get behind the wheel of the CLS 550, you can't truly understand or even believe the outstanding performance of this car. It drives more like a sportscar than a sedan or coupe.
The MSRP of my loaded CLS 550 is $82,210 US dollars. A similarly equipped S 550 runs about $109,000.
I hope I answered your questions.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Congratulations you won the trivial contest. As winner you receive 100 brownie points. Brownie points are totally worthless and can be redeemed at fine stores everywhere.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
@oldfarmer50
I meant wind buffeting. Cowl shake can happen when the pavement isn't smooth.
Yes and thanks. By the way, the CLS-class is selling very well at this price point. With 8,032 units sold in 2013 and 2014 YTD (two months) 879 units, this volume level is pretty impressive.
"Yes and thanks. By the way, the CLS-class is selling very well at this price point. With 8,032 units sold in 2013 and 2014 YTD (two months) 879 units, this volume level is pretty impressive."
They are not as available as you would believe from total sales. They are in limited production because of demand. It only seats 4 passengers and the rear leg and head room is tight - not a family car, to be sure.
The average dealer stocks only 4-6 of these. There are 3 variations of the CLS line:
*The base RWD CLS 550 (402 hp, 4.7 L V8)
*The AWD CLS 63 AMG (550 hp, 5.5 L V8)
*The AWD CLS. 63 AMG S Model (577 hp, 5.5 L V8)
Dealers rarely stock the AMG's - usually ordered by customer - 6-7 week delivery.
They are discounting them to invoice or below right now due to $3000 dealer incentives on base model RWD. I paid a little over $71,000 in November thanks to my USAA fleet pricing.
It is eerie when you turn as the left or right seat bolster grabs you so you don't slide in your seat on quick turns. The faster you take a turn, the more bolster you get.
The massager is awesome - from the base of your tailbone to the shoulders. Very relaxing. Ventilated seats are 3-speed fan settings for both front seats.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
BTW, I smelled of those muffins even after. 4 soapy showers for a week. Couldn't 't get the stink out of my hair.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Boy, you guys are tough to keep up with. Doing my second second birthday party today (actual transplant was two years ago yesterday).
Ive been really resistant to sun protection but now as a survivor that's not an option. I still have the convertible, and like snake said more or less, noise, cowl shake, cold in winter are pretty much things of the past - still no rain gutter, but that means 15 SPF sunscreen and a hat. Ive always done the hat.
Wife got me a nice sapphire earring (well, there are two but I can only wear one) as a present. I'm as sharp looking a dude as I can be at this point. Not that I was one at any point....
LOL!
Good to see more Cincinnatians (or there abouts) around here.
Way off topic....as some of you kind of speculated, I am indeed engaged. Been a long, long time since I've had someone who I was willing to "put myself out there" for. But, that's a testament to how great my new fiance is.
"Way off topic....as some of you kind of speculated, I am indeed engaged. Been a long, long time since I've had someone who I was willing to "put myself out there" for. But, that's a testament to how great my new fiance is."
Congrats GG. Best of times has finally come for you after a long respite. Enjoy life and good luck - CHEERS!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Congrats.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
@fezo
Happy Birthday! Glad you are doing well!
@graphicguy
Mazel-Tov on your engagement!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
That was fast. It seemed like only yesterday you were wondering whether you should give flowers on the first date. Oh, that falling in love phase, it is so intoxicating that it turns grown men into a lump of protoplasm. Congratulations! and good luck.
@graphicguy - Congratulations! Best wishes!
"Boy, you guys are tough to keep up with. Doing my second second birthday party today (actual transplant was two years ago yesterday)."
Gosh, must have missed your post, fezo. Was just rereading some posts and saw yours.
HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
As for your emerald earrings, I'll pretend I didn't read that so I can maintain my purist thoughts regarding your dressing habits - lol!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger