Oh, I don't mean to compete with you Colorado folk!
Years ago AAA advised me against driving through Colorado in September because of unpredictable weather! I was kind of thinking about The Shining....
Boom - when I bought our Accord the dealership didn't have a single stick in inventory. When they did a search for a trade they only came up with two colors to pick from.
Our Accord still drives well. Before long I'll be looking at the second go round on a timing belt. Might be worth more than the car at this point...
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
My wife had an Audi 100 from 1990 I think with ~240,000 miles on it.
It wasn't worth the money it took to get that car to ~240,000 miles.
Body was still very solid, good German steel how many 1990 Hondas are around from the late 80s early 90s in New England, but the electronics did everything weird under the sun. Randomly turned on the windshield wipers, could move the passenger seat from a certain set position or the battery would be run down by the next day, radio didn't work I can go on and on. I am no good chasing down electrical problems so I left all that stuff. I would have had to replace the whole wiring harness to fix those problems.
I say ~240,000 miles because the odometer only worked occasionally so I have no idea how many miles it had on it.
Horribly uncomfortable seats. I couldn't sit in them for more then an hour without getting a cramp in my right leg.
Insane pricing on parts because Audi doesn't support out of production models like MB or BMW does.
1,100 dollars retail for a coolant expansion tank and 700 dollars wholesale.
Screw that I can fix it with ultra high temp epoxy.
I think the only reason the Fusion and Camry are available with a manual is to get a very low price starting point, but that's fine with me, but I'm the exception.
I know the resale value is less, but that's only if you sell it - I keep my cars for a long time. Funny thing is, I have never had trouble selling my 10+ year old but well-cared for sticks - sure, it takes a little longer, but I am only talking about a few extra days, if that. That's been my experience on the front lines of my used-car sales!
I don't think anything has changed and that Audi 100 was pretty simple compared to the ones today.
they are great cars to drive and the Quattro system works exceptionally well.
They just don'[t age well for the reasons you mentioned. Electrical glitches that are constant and expensive to fix. They always seem to have some kind of a warning light on.
We recently sold a NICE All-Trac. It checked out exceptionally well and was well cared for. Two days later a Check Engine light came on so we had the buyer take it to the Audi Dealer. Bad transmission - 4000.00 to fix. We unwound the deal and wholesaled the car at a major loss. Typical.
maybe if honda had not charged the same amount as the automatic model, they would have sold more. my guess is most buyers of honda sticks do it because they are cheaper. that goes for all the mainstream brands.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
A friend of mine has a constant lease on an Audi A8. Every time the lease is up he just gets another one. This is the only way I'd have an Audi and, unfortunatey, it's too rich for my blood.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
My '01 Prelude Type SH (116,000 + miles) is equipped with Honda's very slick shifting 5-speed manual transmission & I love driving it. To me, the stick adds to the total driving experience.
Automatics (traditional automatics with torque converters) have come a very long way since I got my first car, a 1992 Chevrolet Beretta GT with a 3 speed automatic. I think a BMW 335i (twin turbo 300 hp/300 lb ft of torque) is actually faster 0-60 with the 6 speed slushbox than the 6 speed manual. The more gears in today's slushboxes allow companies to space the lower gears closer together for nice 0-60 mph times & space the ratios far apart in the higher gears to achieve optimal fuel economy.
My wife's 2010 Acura TSX (slushbox equipped) is very responsive, will hold the lower gear at the redline until you shift, & gets better gas mileage than the same TSX with a 6-speed manual. Even though I can shift gears myself via steering wheel paddles, I know that torque converter is there & holding a gear at a high RPM too long feels artificial to me.
The stick is a dying breed, but I'm so thankful that there are companies that cater to the enthusiast & offer proper manual transmissions - BMW, Infiniti, Honda, Audi, Mazda, Porsche...
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Food used to be cheap here, I remember $1 breakfast buffets in the 80s.
You can still get good food at a cheap price but you have to look a bit harder for it. The Fremont Street area has a lot of bargains.
If you go to vegas.com and click on the Dining tab at the top and then Dining Bargains on the left of the screen you can find lots of unpublished good eating deals. The $6.99 10 oz steak dinner at Ellis Island was good but you have to ask for it - you won't find it on their menu.
My wife and I said we're going to visit Vegas sometime and just live off all the freebies they shove at you to get you to listen to their timeshare sales pitches and promotions.
I didn't have to be embarrassed going up to a cashier to claim my 3 bucks.
You should have seen me try to keep a straight face when I walked up to the cashier window with two slips that totaled 8 cents. Hey, it was the principle of the thing and they weren't going to entice me to play a slot machine with a randomly generated credit here and there.
i think a fusion would be comparable to an accord. an RL is the only thing close to a Taurus in size. that being said, an RL weighs in @ 4100 lbs, 300 HP and is rated at 16/22. SHO 4350+ lbs, 365 HP, rated at 17/25. both are AWD.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
That SH has the ATTS system and changing a clutch is an absoulte B***H to do compared to the non SH's.
That was possibly the only regret I have owning my beloved Prelude. At 52,000 miles I had to have the clutch replaced. Removing and re-installing the ATTS unit required an extra 5 hours of labor. If I remember correctly, it cost close to $2000 to have the clutch replaced. I actually had an aftermarket clutch installed with a new Honda Flywheel & Throwout bearing. Hindsight is 20/20 obviously, but between the $2500 more my Type SH Prelude cost & the cost of the new clutch, I'd have been better off with a base model. Regardless, that has been the only major problem I've ever had.
I actually bought my 2001 Prelude as a leftover at the end of April 2002. The dealer I purchased it from had 6 base, automatic, Preludes on the lot that he was willing to sell me a whole helluva lot cheaper than my Type SH. In the end, he located my car for me, swapped it with the other dealer for a Civic, and I've been madly in love with driving it ever since.
A few weeks ago, I saw a Dark Green '99 Type SH Prelude on a local dealer's lot. With a few miles over the 95,000 mark and in immaculate condition. I'd seriously give it a 10 (my car is in excellent shape, but this one made my Prelude look like a 7) listed for $10,995. I think it sat on the dealer's lot for only 2 weeks.
I know specifically with BMWs that most of the dealers order their cars with automatics (as they should if that is what's selling).
When trade in time comes, the dealers always tell you that your stick is worth less than a comparable automatic. But if you're on the buying side, they try to get more money for the manual transmission car by saying it is rare.
A few years down the road, I'm seriously considering an Infiniti G37 S sedan with 6 speed manual transmission. I'll be willing to wait to order the car & expect to pay more for it than a more expensive, automatic equipped, G37X that are a dime a dozen.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I love stick, but I like my resale, convenience, and my wife to drive the car too so auto it is for me, for our daily drivers at least.
Yeah, my wife complains about that. The only slushboxes I have are the X3 and the 2002. If I finally dump that bloddy Mazdaspeed I may -repeat, MAY- go with a E46 M3 SMG.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Having traveled with our large dog for years, I can say that there are some very nice rentals who allow pets. Some places have nice kennels on the site. Others have pet beds in the room where you stay. Some condo owners who love pets will rent their condos with an added deposit for the pet. The deposit is returned if all goes well during your stay. You just have to search a bit to find the good places.
Our 12 year old dog died two weeks ago with bladder cancer. We spent $7k during the last year to keep him going. Finally, we had to think of him. He was beginning to suffer. We cried for three days. He was so much a part of our lives.
I agree that they are rare but it was exactly what I wanted at the time. There were only three in the region when I bought in March 06. Kennewick, Moses Lake, and Portland. Well worth the drive. Great car.
I'm not one who can preach to you about speeding. I am still adjusting to my new life as a non-speeder. Still, I don't want you to hurt yourself or others. Believe me, it is actually less stressful to follow the speed limits. It is also cheaper.
I received word yesterday that my July speeding ticket in New York state was reduced to a parking ticket. While I am grateful for the result, it was not a cheap experience. The attorney fee was $365 plus a court fine of $150. That $515 could have been spent in better places.
Let me make a deal with you. Drive one week without speeding and let me know if life isn't a little better. You'll enjoy the scenery, save gas, arrive in about the same time, and save your life plus others. Remember not to cheat. Send me a post one week from today. I'll be anxious to hear your thoughts.
Richard - so sorry to hear about your beloved pet. I know it's tough any time we have to put one of ours down.
But, the joy of the situation is that we then get a new one. As an example, we're getting our 3rd dog on Saturday. Another mini dachshund. We've got two already and love them. Along with our two cats, it makes for a full household.
Oh, and, by the way, you're not the only speeder on these boards. I normally work from home, but occasionally travel to the office (about 25 minutes away) to pick up supplies. I was doing that last week when I got nailed by a sheriff's deputy on I-25 doing 79 in a 65. Admittedly, I was in a hurry - I wanted to grab some lunch before going home to a series of conference calls.
When it was all said and done, the ticket was written for 70 in a 65 - the cop said I was nice and pleasant about the whole thing.
Still, the fine is $97, but only 1 point on my license. First time in a long time I've gotten a ticket, but know that you're not alone.
fezo - I thought the mosquito was the state bird of Minnesota or Alaska, not NJ.
Our 12 year old dog died two weeks ago with bladder cancer. We spent $7k during the last year to keep him going. Finally, we had to think of him. He was beginning to suffer. We cried for three days. He was so much a part of our lives.
Sorry to hear that, my Daisy (11 yr old Rotty) passed away just last night from bloat, not much can be done for a dog with that but make her comfortable.
We recently sold a NICE All-Trac. It checked out exceptionally well and was well cared for. Two days later a Check Engine light came on so we had the buyer take it to the Audi Dealer. Bad transmission - 4000.00 to fix. We unwound the deal and wholesaled the car at a major loss. Typical.
My wife and I said we're going to visit Vegas sometime and just live off all the freebies they shove at you to get you to listen to their timeshare sales pitches and promotions.
I think I would rather hang myself before listening to a timeshare pitch.
There are deals, all you can eat Chinese food for $9.99 down the street. Or steak and eggs 24 hours a day for $5.99. But most prices have gone up. I thought the dolphins at the Mirage would be free, but it is $15 for adults, $10 for kids...a lot for a family of 4 to see dolphins! Vegas is the classic marketing example. Bring them in at low prices, and then you can command higher prices because people will get hooked. The airport is huge, and I heard they are adding a new terminal.
I like your story about reclaiming 8 cents - I agree it is the princiople!
driver since you're already there, the places to get pretty cheap (and surprisingly good) food in in the downtown casinos in 'old vegeas, not on the strip.
This was last year, but I was in Vegas with my (sometimes) girlfriend. She wanted to see "O" at the Belagio. Being a last minute decision to see the show, I went to the box office....."Sold Out". But, they'd put me on a waiting list (which was quite long, IIRC). Went to the front desk of the casino to hook up with the concierge. Same response, waiting list.
Since we were staying at the hotel, we went back to the room, got an envelope, stuck a $50 bill in it, and dropped it off with a note stating my request, name, and room #. 30 minutes later, an envelope is slid under the room door.
I open it, and there's an outline of the auditorium and a pointer to the seats available for the show. They were all excellent seats, within 5-10 rows of the stage. All I had to do was to give the concierge my CC # to secure the seats for the same night.
I called down, picked the seats. Concierge said that any other tickets I wanted in the city..."she could HELP with" (assuming she meant another "premium" would be in order).
Granted, the seats were $100/ea., and I had to pay a $50 premium to get them. The show was outstanding. Girlfriend was very happy. And, I've spent $250 to watch a sometimes garbage NFL game at our local stadium.
Back on topic, probably up until around 5 or so years ago, my cars had manual transmission cars. From a performance standpoint, I'd venture to say automatics are to the point where you'd be hard pressed to shift better than they can. They've become that good. Plus, most of these grade logic auto trannies (including the one in my Accord) seem to be very intuitive depending on what you need. I know on mine, it seems to "Know" when I need compression breaking from the tranny (like going down hill). And, it's a willing participant when I need a "kick down" to pass...does it quickly, and always in the right gear. Don't know how they do that bit of magic, but they do.
I agree with Isell, manual tranny's are almost "no sale" when it comes to cars. At the very least, you'll take a sizable hit when you try to trade one in, or if you try to sell it yourself. Try selling a manual tran car when you get the phone call to inquire about your sled and they ask if it's an automatic. When you reply it's a manual....you'll get a quick..."CLICK".
I know you told us somewhere but why do you not like the Mazda? Curious minds want to know.
That reminds me, when our plane landed in Vegas the stewardess came on and said "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"......and some guy at the back of the plane yells out....................."Yeh, unless it's herpes".
Our 12 year old dog died two weeks ago with bladder cancer
Very sorry to hear you lost your beloved pet. That is one of the hardest things to recover from.
We lost our last dog about 5 years ago from cancer of the mouth, she would have died a terrible death if it went on, she wouldn't be able to eat or breath eventually, so we had to have her put down.
My wife said we would get a new dog eventually, and though she will be different, you will love her for very different reasons. It was true, though I still remember Coco, I like Gigi every bit as much, but for different reasons.
Thanks for the advice about pet friendly...we'll start researching when we get back.
About the loss of your dogs. We've been there twice and now our much loved seven year old cat is suffering from kidney and bladder stones. After spending 1000.00 for tests, the vet says there are too many to operate.
She doesn't seem to be in distress but her days are quickly coming to an end.
I never thought I could care so much about a cat but this one is special.
There's a place by Circus Circus casino that has these foot long hot dogs for $1.49. And don't forget to visit the world's biggest gift shop located on the corner by the stratosphere, that's where we always stock up on gifts and souvenirs.
To stay on topic: we had a customer who came in and had shaky credit but wanted to buy a truck. It was a saturday. Sometimes approvals take longer than a day (especially with not so good credit). One of our guys sold him a truck, but the customer made demands that if he's not approved in 2 hours he's cancelling the deal.
I don't get people like that. Either you want the vehicle or not. It sounds like he was here more to time us on our approval speed rather than purchasing something. If he goes somewhere else he's gotta start the process all over again so why make these demands? Sometimes when we send out for an approval and it's on a weekend we don't have any control on when a banker will look at the application.
I learned another nice thing about this thread today. It has many pet lovers. Thanks for your kind words. My thoughts are especially with mikefm and isell at this time. I know exactly how you are feeling. Our Lab, Sterling, was our 4th dog in 43 years. He was the most special because he gave us the most love, and he asked for nothing in return. I would love to get another dog, but my wife can't even think about that just now.
To stay on topic: Most pets like to ride in cars and trucks. They are not picky about the make and model.
richard - a nicer eulogy has never been written for a pet.
I guess it's different for every family -- when we had to put my first dog, Max, down last year, it only took us a few months to find a replacement. Guster is a cute little guy with a spunky personality. Our other mini doxie - Lily - is more sedate but loves to be rubbed.
Both like to ride in the car, though Lily likes to look out the window more than Guster - he's content to curl up on the front seat. At least, until we get to the vet's office - which is where most rides for them end up.
To stay on topic: Most pets like to ride in cars and trucks. They are not picky about the make and model.
That was a really cute observation. I often think of that, dogs just love going in the car with their owners, and they love you no matter what kind of car you drive, how old it is, what kind of condition it is in. Can't say the same for some old girlfriends.
I don't usually quote or listen to Dr Joyce Brothers, but she had a great quote, "No matter what a crumby person I am, my dog thinks I am the most wonderful person in the world."
check out the list on accord v6 exl w/nav coupes. i used our friends edmunds for the msrp numbers. all other models, the auto is more than the stick version.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
There's a place by Circus Circus casino that has these foot long hot dogs for $1.49
I am so tired of buffet dinners, I would love a hotdog right about now, and the price is right. Last time we walked that far up the strip, and then in the other direction to the Luxor. But that was 7 years ago, I don't want to try it this time.
But one day I would like to stay in the Luxor. If you haven't seen it it is shaped like a Pyramid and the elevators go up on an angle. How cool is that?"> Trip is almost over, Cher tonight, and flight back tomorrow.
Richard, let me join those with condolences. We lost a Cocker to cancer about 7 years ago and swore we would wait a year or two to replace him. That was on a Sunday. By Thursday night a Brittany Spaniel pup was in our home. We got her from a breeder 8 miles south of a general store known as Deckers CO. It was like a scene out of Deliverance - needed a 4x4 to get to his mobile home with no running water. But he had 29 field trial champs to his credit and Abbi has turned out to be a very special friend. Fear not. My advice is to remember and replace. Best wishes.
No, not that the taxi driver told all those jokes........the fact he could speak English that well.
We have been in 3 cabs and none were native Americans, though all were friendly. Also, every cab I have seen, and there are lots of them, they are all American cars...which you don't see in too many cities these days.
Those were cute lines about the Lexor...especially if your room is in a corner.
Comments
I love stick, but I like my resale, convenience, and my wife to drive the car too so auto it is for me, for our daily drivers at least.
Out of the 10 cars I owned, I think half were stick.
And when I worked at Honda, I did sell one Accord that was a sedan with a stick. That was one in the 3 years I was there.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Years ago AAA advised me against driving through Colorado in September because of unpredictable weather! I was kind of thinking about The Shining....
Boom - when I bought our Accord the dealership didn't have a single stick in inventory. When they did a search for a trade they only came up with two colors to pick from.
Our Accord still drives well. Before long I'll be looking at the second go round on a timing belt. Might be worth more than the car at this point...
It wasn't worth the money it took to get that car to ~240,000 miles.
Body was still very solid, good German steel how many 1990 Hondas are around from the late 80s early 90s in New England, but the electronics did everything weird under the sun. Randomly turned on the windshield wipers, could move the passenger seat from a certain set position or the battery would be run down by the next day, radio didn't work I can go on and on. I am no good chasing down electrical problems so I left all that stuff. I would have had to replace the whole wiring harness to fix those problems.
I say ~240,000 miles because the odometer only worked occasionally so I have no idea how many miles it had on it.
Horribly uncomfortable seats. I couldn't sit in them for more then an hour without getting a cramp in my right leg.
Insane pricing on parts because Audi doesn't support out of production models like MB or BMW does.
1,100 dollars retail for a coolant expansion tank and 700 dollars wholesale.
Screw that I can fix it with ultra high temp epoxy.
I completely disagree with this. Have you driven one lately? Maybe not the shortest throws, but smooth, yes.
I know the resale value is less, but that's only if you sell it - I keep my cars for a long time. Funny thing is, I have never had trouble selling my 10+ year old but well-cared for sticks - sure, it takes a little longer, but I am only talking about a few extra days, if that. That's been my experience on the front lines of my used-car sales!
they are great cars to drive and the Quattro system works exceptionally well.
They just don'[t age well for the reasons you mentioned. Electrical glitches that are constant and expensive to fix. They always seem to have some kind of a warning light on.
We recently sold a NICE All-Trac. It checked out exceptionally well and was well cared for. Two days later a Check Engine light came on so we had the buyer take it to the Audi Dealer. Bad transmission - 4000.00 to fix. We unwound the deal and wholesaled the car at a major loss. Typical.
my guess is most buyers of honda sticks do it because they are cheaper.
that goes for all the mainstream brands.
Automatics (traditional automatics with torque converters) have come a very long way since I got my first car, a 1992 Chevrolet Beretta GT with a 3 speed automatic. I think a BMW 335i (twin turbo 300 hp/300 lb ft of torque) is actually faster 0-60 with the 6 speed slushbox than the 6 speed manual. The more gears in today's slushboxes allow companies to space the lower gears closer together for nice 0-60 mph times & space the ratios far apart in the higher gears to achieve optimal fuel economy.
My wife's 2010 Acura TSX (slushbox equipped) is very responsive, will hold the lower gear at the redline until you shift, & gets better gas mileage than the same TSX with a 6-speed manual. Even though I can shift gears myself via steering wheel paddles, I know that torque converter is there & holding a gear at a high RPM too long feels artificial to me.
The stick is a dying breed, but I'm so thankful that there are companies that cater to the enthusiast & offer proper manual transmissions - BMW, Infiniti, Honda, Audi, Mazda, Porsche...
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Well, it's around $600 for a new clutch and around $4,500 for a new transmission.
You can still get good food at a cheap price but you have to look a bit harder for it. The Fremont Street area has a lot of bargains.
If you go to vegas.com and click on the Dining tab at the top and then Dining Bargains on the left of the screen you can find lots of unpublished good eating deals. The $6.99 10 oz steak dinner at Ellis Island was good but you have to ask for it - you won't find it on their menu.
My wife and I said we're going to visit Vegas sometime and just live off all the freebies they shove at you to get you to listen to their timeshare sales pitches and promotions.
I didn't have to be embarrassed going up to a cashier to claim my 3 bucks.
You should have seen me try to keep a straight face when I walked up to the cashier window with two slips that totaled 8 cents.
People who dislike sticks aren't going to save 800.00 by giving up their automatics.
I've seen this happen rarely and it's usually on an entry level Civic.
Then, that market segment slowly died and the Prelude died with it.
That SH has the ATTS system and changing a clutch is an absoulte B***H to do compared to the non SH's.
Personally, I could never tell any difference driving them. Still, cool cars!
Most automatics will last the life of the car these days but they certainly can fail and sometimes manuals go bad too.
that being said, an RL weighs in @ 4100 lbs, 300 HP and is rated at 16/22.
SHO 4350+ lbs, 365 HP, rated at 17/25.
both are AWD.
manual buyers don't don't wan to pay $800-$1200 for something they are not getting.
The sticks are always about 800.00 less than the automatics.
I can't remember anyone saying..." Oh, I can save 800.00 if I buy a 5 speed? I'll do that!"
You either like sticks or you don't. People who don't won't buy one to save money!
That was possibly the only regret I have owning my beloved Prelude. At 52,000 miles I had to have the clutch replaced. Removing and re-installing the ATTS unit required an extra 5 hours of labor. If I remember correctly, it cost close to $2000 to have the clutch replaced. I actually had an aftermarket clutch installed with a new Honda Flywheel & Throwout bearing. Hindsight is 20/20 obviously, but between the $2500 more my Type SH Prelude cost & the cost of the new clutch, I'd have been better off with a base model. Regardless, that has been the only major problem I've ever had.
I actually bought my 2001 Prelude as a leftover at the end of April 2002. The dealer I purchased it from had 6 base, automatic, Preludes on the lot that he was willing to sell me a whole helluva lot cheaper than my Type SH. In the end, he located my car for me, swapped it with the other dealer for a Civic, and I've been madly in love with driving it ever since.
A few weeks ago, I saw a Dark Green '99 Type SH Prelude on a local dealer's lot. With a few miles over the 95,000 mark and in immaculate condition. I'd seriously give it a 10 (my car is in excellent shape, but this one made my Prelude look like a 7) listed for $10,995. I think it sat on the dealer's lot for only 2 weeks.
I know specifically with BMWs that most of the dealers order their cars with automatics (as they should if that is what's selling).
When trade in time comes, the dealers always tell you that your stick is worth less than a comparable automatic. But if you're on the buying side, they try to get more money for the manual transmission car by saying it is rare.
A few years down the road, I'm seriously considering an Infiniti G37 S sedan with 6 speed manual transmission. I'll be willing to wait to order the car & expect to pay more for it than a more expensive, automatic equipped, G37X that are a dime a dozen.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Well, when I'm ready to replace my 06 EX-L w/navi I-4 manual, I guess I won't drive up to Bellevue.
Actually, I've never had any trouble selling any of my cars with sticks... at good prices too. But I take great care of them.
When I was in Boot Camp in Cape May they told us we couldn't swat the mosquitoes as they were New Jerseys state bird.
Ducking and running
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Yeah, my wife complains about that. The only slushboxes I have are the X3 and the 2002. If I finally dump that bloddy Mazdaspeed I may -repeat, MAY- go with a E46 M3 SMG.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Our 12 year old dog died two weeks ago with bladder cancer. We spent $7k during the last year to keep him going. Finally, we had to think of him. He was beginning to suffer. We cried for three days. He was so much a part of our lives.
Richard
I agree that they are rare but it was exactly what I wanted at the time. There were only three in the region when I bought in March 06. Kennewick, Moses Lake, and Portland. Well worth the drive.
I received word yesterday that my July speeding ticket in New York state was reduced to a parking ticket. While I am grateful for the result, it was not a cheap experience. The attorney fee was $365 plus a court fine of $150. That $515 could have been spent in better places.
Let me make a deal with you. Drive one week without speeding and let me know if life isn't a little better. You'll enjoy the scenery, save gas, arrive in about the same time, and save your life plus others. Remember not to cheat. Send me a post one week from today. I'll be anxious to hear your thoughts.
Richard
But, the joy of the situation is that we then get a new one. As an example, we're getting our 3rd dog on Saturday. Another mini dachshund. We've got two already and love them. Along with our two cats, it makes for a full household.
Oh, and, by the way, you're not the only speeder on these boards. I normally work from home, but occasionally travel to the office (about 25 minutes away) to pick up supplies. I was doing that last week when I got nailed by a sheriff's deputy on I-25 doing 79 in a 65. Admittedly, I was in a hurry - I wanted to grab some lunch before going home to a series of conference calls.
When it was all said and done, the ticket was written for 70 in a 65 - the cop said I was nice and pleasant about the whole thing.
Still, the fine is $97, but only 1 point on my license. First time in a long time I've gotten a ticket, but know that you're not alone.
fezo - I thought the mosquito was the state bird of Minnesota or Alaska, not NJ.
Sorry to hear that, my Daisy (11 yr old Rotty) passed away just last night from bloat, not much can be done for a dog with that but make her comfortable.
All-Trac Celica???
I think I would rather hang myself before listening to a timeshare pitch.
There are deals, all you can eat Chinese food for $9.99 down the street. Or steak and eggs 24 hours a day for $5.99. But most prices have gone up. I thought the dolphins at the Mirage would be free, but it is $15 for adults, $10 for kids...a lot for a family of 4 to see dolphins!
Vegas is the classic marketing example. Bring them in at low prices, and then you can command higher prices because people will get hooked.
The airport is huge, and I heard they are adding a new terminal.
I like your story about reclaiming 8 cents - I agree it is the princiople!
We are still up 260%, holding at a $3.60 win.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
This was last year, but I was in Vegas with my (sometimes) girlfriend. She wanted to see "O" at the Belagio. Being a last minute decision to see the show, I went to the box office....."Sold Out". But, they'd put me on a waiting list (which was quite long, IIRC). Went to the front desk of the casino to hook up with the concierge. Same response, waiting list.
Since we were staying at the hotel, we went back to the room, got an envelope, stuck a $50 bill in it, and dropped it off with a note stating my request, name, and room #. 30 minutes later, an envelope is slid under the room door.
I open it, and there's an outline of the auditorium and a pointer to the seats available for the show. They were all excellent seats, within 5-10 rows of the stage. All I had to do was to give the concierge my CC # to secure the seats for the same night.
I called down, picked the seats. Concierge said that any other tickets I wanted in the city..."she could HELP with" (assuming she meant another "premium" would be in order).
Granted, the seats were $100/ea., and I had to pay a $50 premium to get them. The show was outstanding. Girlfriend was very happy. And, I've spent $250 to watch a sometimes garbage NFL game at our local stadium.
Back on topic, probably up until around 5 or so years ago, my cars had manual transmission cars. From a performance standpoint, I'd venture to say automatics are to the point where you'd be hard pressed to shift better than they can. They've become that good. Plus, most of these grade logic auto trannies (including the one in my Accord) seem to be very intuitive depending on what you need. I know on mine, it seems to "Know" when I need compression breaking from the tranny (like going down hill). And, it's a willing participant when I need a "kick down" to pass...does it quickly, and always in the right gear. Don't know how they do that bit of magic, but they do.
I agree with Isell, manual tranny's are almost "no sale" when it comes to cars. At the very least, you'll take a sizable hit when you try to trade one in, or if you try to sell it yourself. Try selling a manual tran car when you get the phone call to inquire about your sled and they ask if it's an automatic. When you reply it's a manual....you'll get a quick..."CLICK".
I know you told us somewhere but why do you not like the Mazda? Curious minds want to know.
That reminds me, when our plane landed in Vegas the stewardess came on and said "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"......and some guy at the back of the plane yells out....................."Yeh, unless it's herpes".
Broke everyone up.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Very sorry to hear you lost your beloved pet. That is one of the hardest things to recover from.
We lost our last dog about 5 years ago from cancer of the mouth, she would have died a terrible death if it went on, she wouldn't be able to eat or breath eventually, so we had to have her put down.
My wife said we would get a new dog eventually, and though she will be different, you will love her for very different reasons. It was true, though I still remember Coco, I like Gigi every bit as much, but for different reasons.
Thanks for the advice about pet friendly...we'll start researching when we get back.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Best buy in Vegas is Sam's Town which is off the strip. Inexpensive rooms and food. A friendly place where the locals go to gamble.
She doesn't seem to be in distress but her days are quickly coming to an end.
I never thought I could care so much about a cat but this one is special.
Your doggies are in doggy heaven at least keeping an eye on you
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
To stay on topic: we had a customer who came in and had shaky credit but wanted to buy a truck. It was a saturday. Sometimes approvals take longer than a day (especially with not so good credit). One of our guys sold him a truck, but the customer made demands that if he's not approved in 2 hours he's cancelling the
deal.
I don't get people like that. Either you want the vehicle or not. It sounds like he was here more to time us on our approval speed rather than purchasing something. If he goes somewhere else he's gotta start the process all over again so why make these demands? Sometimes when we send out for an approval and it's on a weekend we don't have any control on when a banker will look at the application.
People need to have some patience.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I learned another nice thing about this thread today. It has many pet lovers. Thanks for your kind words. My thoughts are especially with mikefm and isell at this time. I know exactly how you are feeling. Our Lab, Sterling, was our 4th dog in 43 years. He was the most special because he gave us the most love, and he asked for nothing in return. I would love to get another dog, but my wife can't even think about that just now.
To stay on topic: Most pets like to ride in cars and trucks. They are not picky about the make and model.
Richard
I guess it's different for every family -- when we had to put my first dog, Max, down last year, it only took us a few months to find a replacement. Guster is a cute little guy with a spunky personality. Our other mini doxie - Lily - is more sedate but loves to be rubbed.
Both like to ride in the car, though Lily likes to look out the window more than Guster - he's content to curl up on the front seat. At least, until we get to the vet's office - which is where most rides for them end up.
That was a really cute observation. I often think of that, dogs just love going in the car with their owners, and they love you no matter what kind of car you drive, how old it is, what kind of condition it is in. Can't say the same for some old girlfriends.
I don't usually quote or listen to Dr Joyce Brothers, but she had a great quote,
"No matter what a crumby person I am, my dog thinks I am the most wonderful person in the world."
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
i used our friends edmunds for the msrp numbers.
all other models, the auto is more than the stick version.
I am so tired of buffet dinners, I would love a hotdog right about now, and the price is right. Last time we walked that far up the strip, and then in the other direction to the Luxor. But that was 7 years ago, I don't want to try it this time.
But one day I would like to stay in the Luxor. If you haven't seen it it is shaped like a Pyramid and the elevators go up on an angle. How cool is that?"> Trip is almost over, Cher tonight, and flight back tomorrow.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
"You know, at the Luxor, folks who lose big at the tables and want to end it all aren't called jumpers .. they're called sliders".
and
"How can you tell the folks on the strip who stay at the Luxor? By the dents on their foreheads!"
Bada-boom!
Thank you ... I'm here all week.
(ducking and running)
The six speed Accord Coupes are priced the same between the automatics and the sticks.
I think I may have sold ONE six speed Accord Coupe since they came out?
Best wishes.
That is amazing!
No, not that the taxi driver told all those jokes........the fact he could speak English that well.
We have been in 3 cabs and none were native Americans, though all were friendly. Also, every cab I have seen, and there are lots of them, they are all American cars...which you don't see in too many cities these days.
Those were cute lines about the Lexor...especially if your room is in a corner.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
And for all of us who believe in Heaven, we know our pets will be there...because if they weren't, then it just wouldn't be Heaven.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460