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Comments
I think that's pretty much standard on PCs these days.
Does that mean you push in the start button for a few seconds in a car to turn it off?
You could travel 2 miles by the time the engine turned off.
By the way, some PCs seem to take about 10 seconds of pushing.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Well that would be a problem with the BIL's condo "no pets" policy. Your little pooch might get eaten by the resident gator as well.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I'm used to insane traffic. Live right off a barrier island here in NJ. One bridge on and off. Weekends in season are insane. No great desire to try and duplicate that in another location.
On the other current topic I don't know why but the Fusion seems to have generated a whole lot more good word of mouth than the Malibu. I haven't really driven either so am withholding judgment.
also, the fusion has a pretty wide appeal. you can get a 4cyl with a 6 speed manual or automatic. then there are 2 different v6's that are available in fwd or awd.
the 4 cyl malibu was only available with a 4 speed auto for quite a while, they missed the window to introduce the 6 speed auto and trump the competition.
don't forget about the hybrid version of the fusion. malibu hybrid was a half baked effort.
also the fusion has some nice wheel/tire appearance upgrades available for not a lot of money.
fusion also has sync.
that being said i think the 4cy/6 speed auto malibu appeals to me.
By the way, some PCs seem to take about 10 seconds of pushing.
The term "leadfoot" seems inadequate. Two miles in 10 seconds works out to 720 miles per hour. What the heck are you driving? :P
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
I hear you on the Fusion. It's what appeals to me even if it were just styling. I never thought I'd see the day but I'll look at Fords the next time out. I got burned badly by them last time and when problems arose they treated us like lepers but they've changed their act....
That would be in the Ferrari at the 3 hour rental place here in Vegas.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Has she sat in an Escalade though? Sounded more like your Mother just wanted her dream car...an Escalade.
I did sit in a new CTS 3 years ago and I was a little disappointed. It was trying to be a bimmer, but it just missed. I am sure they are better now, but I have a feeling it still won't measure up in critical departments. I like their commercials every year though...last years do you turn your car on, or does it turn you on? And this years SRX with the flashy dash and fantastic soundtrack. Almost makes me want to buy one.....but the commercials will be over and then I'll be driving a car I won't be satisfied with.
Maybe the wrecker can put Escalade seats into a Chevy truck...save $25k :P
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Richard
I'm really not much on Florida. The one good thing that they have is Publix Grocery Stores. Love those stores! I could live in the deli and the bakery.
Many people aren't retiring to Florida now. They're stopping in North Carolina and South Carolina to live. Places like Pinehurst, where I live, Charleston, Savanna, Hilton Head, Pawley's Island, etc. are becoming very popular. Also, if they need to get back to the North, it doesn't take them as long to drive it. Many of my neighbors still have their homes there.
As for pet friendly places, key in "pet friendly rentals". You'll see a variety of sites. You might find what you want. Good luck.
Richard
I was there all last week. I could have rented a Lamborghini Gallardo at Dream Car Rentals for $1,350/day but I passed and instead rented their Suzuki GSXR-750 for a day for about $220 with tax. I probably had more fun on that than I would have in the car. Did a 200-mile ride to Hoover Dam, along Lake Meade, Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon.
Hope you're enjoying your stay. We noticed that the crowds are way down from what we've encountered in the past. I don''t like crowds.
One thing I noticed is that there are a lot more American made cars and a lot less imports in Vegas than most places. A refreshing change, although I'm not sure why it is like that.
Probably all rentals
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
I liked my 96 Windstar
Publix is the best, especially their ice cream.
They're stopping in North Carolina and South Carolina to live.
We went to Nashville for Xmas a few years ago and met quite a few of those people. They said they were "Quarterbacks"...moved from the North to Florida, and decided to goa quarter of the way back-and love it!
The only thing nice about Florida is it is a short, inexpensive trip to get some warmth in the middle of our winter. Phoenix would probably be better over all.
Thanks for the tip, we'll check under pet friendly places though.....usually look up places and then in fine print they say "no pets". That might shorten the looking process.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
yeah, when we had the tranny rebuilt they put the stailess steel piston in. By then there was a major issue turning up almost weekly and we gave up on the thing.
LOL
But, at least you'll be comfortable....while you are waiting for the tow truck.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Couple of travel things I've noted, Vegas is cheap right now....and so are cruises. Seems I'm getting "deals" sent to me in the mail every week for either a Vegas stay ($60-$90/night at some very nice hotels). Cruises are going even cheaper...about $100/night, but that includes all food and free entertainment.
Back to cars, a friend of mine is looking at a Taurus SHO. He's a Ford guy through and through....wouldn't consider any other brand, regardless. Both he and his wife drive F150s, even though they use them for little more than daily transportation, and never as pickup trucks.
Anyway, he asked me to go along with him to look at SHOs. Ford did a nice job. Not really my cup of tea. They're too....ummm...."weighty" for my tastes. Give'em credit, it's fast. Can't tell it from driving it because there's next to no sensory feedback. They're BIG, if that's your thing.
Nice job on the interior. They're a tech marvel. Ford could've gone that extra inch and used some better materials for a $40K car. But, that's a nit pick.
The dealership we visited said they'd do any Ford pricing plan on one (X, Y). Still, all loaded up that still means somewhere north of $40K. I can see Ford slapping an incentive, or rebate on them as the newness of them wears off. High $30s loaded up (nav, fancy seats & wheels) should move quite a few of them.
Still, at that price point, there's a ton of competition. You can get A4s and 328s (not so loaded up) at that price point (SHO being much faster than either). Or, get a heavily discounted CTS (agree with Richard about Caddys, though) for something near that price. J's Genesis V8 can be had all loaded up for high $30s. And, for a bit less (again discounted) an Acura TL SH-AWD for a little less.
Wandering around the Ford showroom, they've done a nice job in the categories they're going after...model by model.
Still wouldn't take a more mundane Taurus over my Accord. I would look at a Fusion over a Corolla, or a Camry, though.
Yes, not many foreign cars at all except mostly high end. Probably lots of rentals, but maybe people here are more loyal to America here too - it is in the heartland. Also, they are a little land locked so imports might cost more. They rely on their fellow Americans to come here, so they might feel like they are cheating to buy foreign.
Traffic is down, which I agree is a plus. But, I don't think they are hurting. Food used to be cheap here, I remember $1 breakfast buffets in the 80s. Those will cost you $20 bucks now, coffee is $3, water is $3, soft drink at a show are $3 to $6, beer $6 to $8, a hamburger $10 to $15. Dinner Buffet about $18 to unlimited.
This isn't for the feint of heart, or pocketbook.
The sidewalks are packed and it seems they are operating at about 50 to 60% capacity......but you wouldn't know there is a recession going on.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Florida was way less crowded than normal the week I was there. Even without fast passes the lines at Disney were mostly insignificant. one of my daughters is a sucker for the Star Tours ride. We were able to do it as often as we wanted with no wait.
Cheap to get here and stay here. It was $630 for flight, 4 nights at the 5 star Mirage Hotel incl all taxes. The flight alone would be more than that, so the Hotel is almost thrown in. But, you sure make up for it if you want to eat, drink, or see a few shows, and especially if you want to gamble.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
1) keep the key in my pocket, press the brake pedal, hit the start/stop button.
2) put the key in the ignition and still use the start/stop button as noted above.
3) put my foot on the brake and turn the key to start the car.
I like the ignition key port because it's a place to put the key fob (the key flips out of the fob) if you don't want it in your pocket.
Also, if you are using a valet at a restaurant, there is a place to put the key for them. A few times, I have forgotten to give them the key and they can't start the car once it's turned off.
Mark156
Thought we would pay our $1 and get 5 minutes entertainment.
At the touch of a button (no more pulling a handle if you haven't been here in awhile, and no tokens...cash works).
You can bet 10,20,30 cents at a time.
We quickly got to $1.50, then started to go down to 50 cants.
Then we were on an upward trend...2 steps up, one back.
We got up to $3.60 so I decided to quit. For one thing, the restaurant was now open, and I wanted to be a winner.
So, you push a button to cash out. You get a slip of paper that you take to what looks like an ATM machine, put in your slip of paper, and you get your $3.60.
I didn't have to be embarrassed going up to a cashier to claim my 3 bucks.
After breakfast I found $1 in my pocket.
My wife ran over and put it in another machine.
It just went down to 0 in about 30 seconds.
Some machines take $5 or $10 bills. In theory, at that rate, you could lose $20 a minute, which I think is $1200 an hour. WOW!
So I am going to try to quit, we are still up 160%. We will probably be the only winners on the way home. It is tempting though, at that rate $1000 could win $2600!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Nice review on your thoughts about the Taurus...that would be my impression before even being in one. I've seen a few on the road and Ford is certainly making the right moves, but it will take a ways to go to refine it to the point where it will be as satisfying as the leaders in the field. Nice car if big and cushie/comfortable are high on your must list.
I agree, I would consider the Fusion in that 4 door mid price field. A Friend has 120,000 kms on his 4 cylinder with no problems....and it feels like a car that could cost more.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
even won the MT COY award, FWIW.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
It is certainly worth comparing it. I would say I liked it better than the Camry I rented 2 years ago. A little better ergonomically, and I like the sightlines and interior more...not as jazzed up, just simple lines.
I don't know if you will find a stick shift though, or does your name not matter any more.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
One thing I've found out here in Florida in regards to the heat, you either love it or you hate it, not much in between. Me, I love it and could NEVER move back north. It does get tough this time of year on a hot & muggy day, but I know when the winter cold snap hits up north, I'll be doing one of my long bike rides in shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt.
Yes, check them all out, they all have their +/-, and you can't and should not just buy one based on the
crapstuff you read on the net.I like the look of the Fusion. May be as attractive a car as there is in its class.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
That is a great observation. I think that sums it up really well. My favorite temperature is about 62, a light jacket in the evening. I like a shower in the morning, but not 4X a day. :P
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
This is true, and i think the award is just for cars that are changed enough to qualify, so the Camry probably isn't in the race.
I am surprised Camry offers a 6 speed manual. I guess Fusion wouldn't have that. It would make the Camry more fun to drive. I have driven both, and I do like the sightlines in the Fusion and I think better vision, that would be a big factor for me.
They both look nice from a styling perspective, the Fusion is more traditional, and the Camry has the new mean futuristic look....and that part is personal taste. Camry has proven long term reliability. Hard choice, it depends on a test drive I guess.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Just cause a car has a manual doesn't mean it is going to be fun to drive. Toyota Manual transmissions are not exactly known for their smoothness either.
We were here last time 7 years ago. It has changed a lot. The airport is huge, and yes, there are slot machines there. There are quite a few penny slot machines in every casino, but you choose to play 10, 20 ,30, cents at a time, so they aren't really a penny. You have to put at least a dollar in to play.
Just for the fun of it we played a $1 slot this morning. We lost the dollar in about 10 seconds. That's $6 a minute, $360 an hour, and if they were $10 bills $3600 an hour...ouch!
Many of the hotels are much larger, like Ceasars, and many are new. There is now a highway from the airport to downtown.
Saw some great shows. The Legends show had an excellent zJerry Lee Lewis who played the piano while lying on it on his back, and played it while facing the opposite direction. Also, a fair Elvis, but a spectacular Michael Jackson who you would think was the real thing...maybe even better!
Also, a great Magic Show by Nathan Burton. He puts people in boxes and they disappear or someone else is in there. He put up a screen and a full size snowmobile appeared on the stage.
Roughly, in an informal survey, foreign cars only made up about 10% of the total.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I am pleasantly surprised the Fusion has a manual, I give them even more credit.
I agree, the manual won't necessarily make a car fun to drive, but it might at least be more fun, or at least bearable. But then, if it isn't smooth, it could be a pain.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I am pleasantly surprised the Fusion has a manual, I give them even more credit.
I agree, the manual won't necessarily make a car fun to drive, but it might at least be more fun, or at least bearable. But then, if it isn't smooth, it could be a pain.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I am pleasantly surprised the Fusion has a manual, I give them even more credit.
I agree, the manual won't necessarily make a car fun to drive, but it might at least be more fun, or at least bearable. But then, if it isn't smooth, it could be a pain.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Talk about a flop! We sat on our first two for almost a year! Finally we happilly got rid of one on a dealer trade and the othr one eventually sold.
Honda still builds 4 cyl Accords with five speed manuals but most stores won't order any. I think it's been five years since I sold one.
If they drop them, few people will care.
As used cars, they are near impossible to sell.
They probably did even worse here because of the many hills we have along with the heavy traffic.
Shifting gears is becoming a lost art. Even the number of bimmer drivers who want standards are slowly diminishing. A lot of teenagers aren't exposed to standards any more. For cars that are just for basic transportation, it is almost pointless to offer them. That's why I was surprised they are available in a Camry or Fusion....these are good basic cars, but not exactly marketed for the enthusiast.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Our 00 Accord will hit 10 years at about 180K next month. Maybe one more year yet. Since my wife mostly drives that these days maybe its successor will have an (gasp) automatic. Depending on whether or not we are heading up into the hills of NW NJ we may go to a Subaru...
Try an Audi 4 cyl with Quattro too, just for the fun of it!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
NJ has hills?
I'd wager that the highest point in the state of NJ is much, much lower than the lowest point in the state of Colorado.
I see the need for the automatic, but not AWD -- isn't 2" considered 'significant' there?
(we had 8" over the weekend and it was really just a 'dusting')
but, at 10 years and 180K miles, I suspect that you're nearing the end of life on the Accord.
NW Jersey gets some pretty serious snow in good winters but to tell the truth growing up there I was driving old RWD American cars and then a Volvo and did just fine. My wife's a nurse with no such thing as a snow day - besides we like Subarus....
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Just try that with an Audi and see what happens!