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Comments
But, then, I hate fender skirts and continental kits on old cars too!
It's better to go gracefully gray. I wonder if he preferred a special brand, like Kiwi.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Fezo, you break me up. You have an unusual way of looking at the world, and I mean that in a good way.
I don't always comment on your comments, but they always bring a smile and I enjoy reading them.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I was thinking the same. It kind of says, "I want to protect my car against you idiots who don't realize my car is much superior to yours." Or, the corollary, "I am a stupid slob and sometimes I open my car door too fast and will probably hit your car, but at least I am protecting my beautiful car = at least I am thoughtful enough to put some plastic on my door so I won't chip any of my own paint".
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I beg to differ. My Timex has been going strong for more than a dozen years. Pretty good considering the amount of dirt and destruction I get into. Of course I did spring for the $35 "premium" edition.
I've replace more watches because I lost them than because they broke down. That's why I would never buy one of those fancy timepieces.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I was surprised to see this product being advertised on the Michael Savage show. It's suppose to providee 20% better mpg than what you are currently getting. Gotta be a rip off, but why would Savage endorse it? He doesn't seem the type to sell out.
Finally on its third strap and maybe fourth battery the stem broke. It still keeps perfect time during Daylight Savings Time. I just can't set t anymore. Once the battery dies I'll likely put that strap on my Mickey Mouse watch.
Do you know the exact "module"? My son's 1993 Deville has a similar problem (although not as severe) as I recall GG talking about. His battery was drained after several days of non-use in cold weather. No problem if he runs it every day or two. Of course he has a used battery in the car so maybe it's not the car itself.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
We had a circuit judge who used something similar; he looked like he was 120 years old so his shiny black hair wasn't fooling anybody. One day the A/C in the courthouse was out of commission and he started to sweat- black drops of hair color mixed with sweat began to roll down his papery white face.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I would like to have seen that. My observation that no one cares what color the guys hair is, except for him...and is it worth it to have that happen?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Also check the battery itself. If he disconnects the battery and lets it sit a day or two, does the battery drain itself.
In the specific article about a Cadillac about the same age as graphicg's, it was a module that controlled something and should have gone into low power mode but it didn't. With car shut off, it drained the battery, but only occasionally under the specific use pattern where it didn't go to low power mode. It might have been a body control module.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Houdini--
Are we talking about the same thing? The piece I was describing to Richard isn't exactly a door edge guard, rather it's some kind of decorative molding along the lines of that stuff Buick does along their front quarter panels. As I look at it online it appears to be affixed to the front quarter panel just in front of the door edge and is decorative chrome (or chrome-like plastic). I think Richard was just responding to my, admittedly, poor description.
Gogiboy
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
On Wednesday night after an exam, I turn on my phone to a voicemail from the fiancee - "My car is dead." I loaned my jumper cables to a friend who promptly took them home to Erie for Winter Break so AAA came out and gave her a jump. Drove the car for an hour after, everything seems to be fine.
Driving home from the library today, my 330 starts smelling like coolant and my temperature gauge jolts up towards the red. Immediately pull over just as steam/smoke starts coming from the engine - coolant is pouring out from the top front of my engine. I'm no mechanic, but it looks as though my expansion tank cracked. It could be the weather, but I'm concerned perhaps it was my water pump going with it. AAA showed up quickly (thankfully since it was a high of 20 degrees here today) and towed it to my mechanic. Hoping I caught it quick enough that I didn't screw up my head gasket. Will find out Monday what the story is.
Ah to have the luxury of having to worry about my hair turning grey.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
You were right on with the diagnosis of my car. You should charge and do BMW repairs on E-Bay!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I haven't replaced a radiator in any car I've ever owned since I was a kid with my old junkers.
I’m probably getting overly picky here but it would take eons for 0.030 mA to drain a battery. Did you mean 30 mA? I don’t want ‘farmer’ to invest in a laboratory quality meter to find the problem with his son’s car. He’s way to cheap for that. Remember, he wears Timex watches.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Richard
Richard
For years, I used regular hair color and the Big Comb Over for the large bald spots. The day after I retired, I had my head completely shaved. Life is much easier in that department---no hair color, no comb overs, no hair spray, no worries about windy days, no standing in front of the mirror for 30 minutes trying to get it right, etc. My wife actually likes the look on me. I should have done it years ago.
Richard
Richard
Guess I better return the fuzzy dice I bought for Richard. I'll trade in the tube of Brylcream for a can of Pledge...
Richard
On Wednesday night after an exam, I turn on my phone to a voicemail from the fiancee - "My car is dead." I loaned my jumper cables to a friend who promptly took them home to Erie for Winter Break so AAA came out and gave her a jump. Drove the car for an hour after, everything seems to be fine.
I don’t mean to scare you, but any battery that can’t take the temperature that we have had in the Burgh the last few days is not a good enough battery to get you through the winter. While everything may “seem fine” now, I think your girl friend will have more problems before the winter is over.
AAA showed up quickly (thankfully since it was a high of 20 degrees here today) and towed it to my mechanic.
After the minus 20 F for several days that we had one winter in the Burgh back in the early 70’s, all winters have been warm as far as I’m concerned. During that stretch everyone that had jumper cables put them to good use helping fellow employees. It got to the point that I thought I worked for AAA. Many of us went out at lunch time to start our cars and left them run for about 15 minutes to put some heat into the engine block so that we had a fighting chance when we came out after work. We soon found out about the ones that didn’t.
Of course the 30 inches of snow we had last February will be remembered for a while too.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
The local indie shop that services my Wrangler actually does give me a call every so often when they are working on a Bimmer; I also loan them my BMW scan/reset tool. Needless to say, I get a healthy discount when they service my Jeep.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Any radiator with plastic end tanks will eventually fail(my Wrangler needed a new one at 56K miles). The worst BMW offenders are the early E39 5 Series V8s, which used a coolant hose configuration that placed stress on the top hose fitting. BMWs cooling systems must use BMW coolant, otherwise the failure process is accelerated. In addition, BMW is gung-ho about recycling and I suspect that the plastic used in the radiator and other parts of the cooling system have sacrificed long-term durability for easier recycling. On the bright side, a new radiator and expansion tank for an E46 3 Series only costs $225- and replacement is dead simple(one hour, at most).
On my Wrangler I found a new all-brass Modine radiator for $169; similar options are available to BMW owners.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Actually, some professions call for a youthful appearance. Though it is public perception, it is what it is. In order to protect their positions, many people spend quite a bit of money to maintain a youthful image. It can be a worry to them as they begin to age.
An example is a car salesman. I don't wish to deal with a greenpea, but neither do i want the oldest salesman at the dealership. My perception is that the youngest guy doesn't have the knowledge base, while the oldest guy hasn't kept up with the latest information. While that certainly may not be true, it's the preception that causes those thoughts. Personally, I prefer a salesman between the ages of 40 and 60---enough experience with the good sense to keep up with his craft.
I'm not stuck on that choice. My Cadillac salesman was 75, but I noticed that he didn't seem to know all of the details as he should. My Chrysler salesman is 45. He constantly studies the makes, models, options, etc. I'm sure that it is just the difference in people, but the perception lingers.
You're a CPA. A little gray hair would make me think wisdom, trust and talent with numbers. It sounds crazy, but such is American thinking.
Richard
In this weather, a new hat would be a better choice.
Richard
I was enjoying rereading your story Richard. Here we are almost 3 months later and of course we now know the answer to the question above. I guess we knew back then too tho..
I have used your deal as a benchmark to shoot for if I were to trade up (used).
His price was 34500. Originally he was going to allow you 6k on the Explorer. But you said you were pleasantly surprised by that number, even tho it was very clean, did have quite a few miles. So lets call it 5500.
So without the trade you got the Caddy for 31k. Does my math make sense?
And what was that car new, around 56k someone said? Or? I'm at a disadvantage cuz i think in Cdn dollars and Cdn prices which are way higher than US. The thing I have discovered though, is that used car prices in the US seem to be higher relative to here.
I think you did an incredible deal. Better than 45% off new list only got an exceptionally clean, non-smokers car with literally half the miles that any other 2 year old SRX would have had. And with tons of wty left.
I have read recently comments like "You only live once, and you might as well buy what thrills you and makes you comfortable behind the wheel." (and I say that literally in terms of seat and seating position comfort) Well, I realize I can't remember the last time I owned a car like that. As a matter of fact I don't think I have ever owned a car like that. I have always gone the practical route. For the past better than 20 years, i have always paid the premium for AWD or 4 wheel drive cuz of where I live, which has also directed me (by default) to only so many choices of vehicles I could afford. Keeping in mind now tho, the choice is abundant, providing the funds are there too. 20 years ago, however, there were mostly just 4x4 p/u trucks, (had one) Subarus (had one) and Pathfinder type SUV's (had one) and of those, the best I had was an 89 4x4 Camry 5 speed no less, with a centre dif lock. I wish I could have had that car brand new, but alas bought it very very used with almost 180000 miles on it. AAMOF I wish I could buy one those brand new tomorrow. I could afford it, it was reasonably quiet, handled ok, had good FE, very smooth and powerful enough 4 banger, could climb a tree if it had snow on the bark, was roomy, had great visibility, the seat didn't bother my back even tho it was well well used, had a super fast and hot heater...the best I have ever had, no sunroof, (didn't want one) good room fr and back and a good sized trunk etc etc. Now it didn't have A/C, which of course I would have now if i could.
Anyway, with the state of the economy, poor job prospects, and investment interest rates being measured practically in 10ths of a point, I am more concerned with just surviving till I'm dead. Retirement age is still quite a stretch to go and I have a feeling there won't be much money there if i do make it that far. One thing I know is, no one can live off 550 bucks a month. Gosh, it is hard enough to live off that amt per week in today's economy, and I heat totally with wood, do my own car repairs, home repairs, only run the house A/C when it gets really humid, hang dry my laundry instead of using the electric dryer, and have even given up a telephone etc etc
Recently in this thread I have read about fancy car and jewellery purchases and it seems there is no shortage of funds at all around here.
I think I have missed the boat.
When I was a little kid, Mom would take me to the same shoe store for new shoes. We were very poor, but my parents always splurged on good, supportive, leather footwear for us kids. And my feet grew long and fast...it was an annual event for years till they slowed down around age 13 maybe. I always remember sitting there waiting for the salesman to go and bring back a dif pair to try those ones on...and as I sat there, there was this old plaque on the wall. It said:
"I used to feel sorry for myself that I had no shoes, until one day I met a man who had no feet".
Reminds me of the line the comedian Gallagher used. Something like... I have mixed feelings about seeing a gray hair. At least it's a hair.
The only thing that really bothered me was when those crystals were popular. On the rare days when the sun does shine in western Washington, you don't want to be behind a car with one of those hanging from the rear view mirror. Talk about blinding.
Kind of like those semi trucks with the shiny chrome piece on their mudflaps.
Today, I still enjoy driving, but I am afraid that now I enjoy the thought of driving more than the actual driving itself. The amount of traffic, especially big trucks, has taken a lot of the fun out of cross country trips for me.
I know that trucks are necessary, but with the amount of trucks on the road today I really wish we would take some of the money that congress pi$$es away and build some dedicated cross country roads for them. That way the truckers would be happier and so would I.
I can only hope that our new congress stems the flow of money that is wasted on useless projects and puts our tax dollars to better use.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Yes imidazol, that is exactly the piece I saw.
Thanks for clarifying.
Gogiboy
gimme--
That reminds me of a Steven Wright Joke: I cried because I had no shoes, 'till I met a man who had no feet. So I said, 'You got any shoes you're not using'?
Gogiboy
mind you thats its 9 years old with over 160K on the clock with some minor body damage, but apparently someone wants to buy it.
However since its the kids car it is up to him if it gets sold. Since it would leave him a carless college student i doubt if it gets sold.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Not really. If you have family, good health, and a few close friends, you are richer than money could buy. Though we are comfortable now, it wasn't always that way. We struggled a lot in the early years---paying for our educations, working two jobs (which I did for 30 of my 40 work years), helping out my parents in their last years, etc. I'll never forget our third year of marriage. We stood on the floor furnace at night, got warm, and then jumped in the bed to stay warm. That year saw a lot of tuna fish and peanut butter. Still, we were happy to be alive, young, and healthy.
The economy won't stay this way forever. You'll see better financial days, and you'll make it to retirement. It will come sooner than you think. I can remember the term being so foreign to me for so many years. Then, one day it came.
Your 45% estimate is right on the money. I was very fortunate to negotiate that deal. I owe my tactics to the guys here. I had excellent instructors.
Richard
Yes! Those are a terrible distraction.
Richard
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
A lot of people get caught up in what other people 'have' that they don't.
There is only 1 richest person in the world, so everyone is poorer than that person.
What a great way to look at the world....I never heard that before.
I wonder if the #2 guy is depressed because he has less than #1?
When they did tests about people's happiness, money was pretty low on the list. Family and a network of friends were high on the list.
There are lots of unhappy people who have lots of money. One study said if you gave someone who is unhappy a lot of money, within a few weeks they would be just as unhappy.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
What a difference 15 minutes can make!