Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

venture · January 2015

driver100 said:
Now that you have solved my GPS problem...here is a question. Does anyone have experience with a "no contract cell phone".......the kind where you buy it with so much time on it and then you toss it out when you are finished. How much should it cost? How good are they? Will it hook up to bluetooth in the car? Can you buy them at a 7-11?

You can check which phones will work with your car by looking at the MB connectivity site:
http://www.mercedes-benz-mobile.com/us/en/w204:2012-06:2013-05/finder/~bt/

I suspect you will have to get a feature laden, mainstream phone for it to work properly. I also expect Mercedes figures you already have one, or will buy one that does function properly. After all, when spending that much on a car, what's a cell phone and plan compared to that?

Kirstie_H · January 2015

Hope you don't all respond at once...

If you are a CEO and love your car, Chief Executive Magazine wants to hear from you. Please email PR@edmunds.com to connect.

Mr_Shiftright · January 2015

We had some high winds in northern California:

robr2 · January 2015

bwia said:
Speaking of cell phones; Apple reported first quarter profits of $18 billion (yes $18 billion) on robust sales of 74.5 million iPhones. Apparently the iPone 6/Plus is selling like hot cakes. I believe that capitalism is a good economic system but such obscene profits are unconscionable. Besides, Apple is sitting on a $178 billion pile of cash and is expected to sell some 46 million i-Watches this spring.

Why do you think those profits are obscene? They had $75 billion in revenue which comes out to a 27% gross margin.

Let's compare for a full year:

Exxon: $136 billion in profit, $392 billion sales, GP = 35%
Microsoft: $60 billion in profit, $93 billion sales, GP = 65%
Apple: $70 billion in profit, $182 billion sales, GP = 38%
Samsung: 91 trillion won in profit, 212 trillion won sales, GP = 43%
Amazon: $20 billion in profit, $85 billion sales, GP = 34%

laurasdada · January 2015

About 24" where I am, but the lightest, fluffiest snow in some time. I love snow, it's beautiful (and, yes, ich bin eine skier!). With the wind, the driver's side of the XF was completely buried in snow, the passengers side, barely any!

The real insanity came today as I ran with two crazy co-workers 4.8 miles in the white gold. And ice. And slush. I fear I am slowly sinking into their madness...

driver100 · January 2015

stever said:
I've used a PagePlus Cellular phone for several years now. It's a division of TracFone like Walmart sells. I did mailorder but they have some authorized dealers around. You have to buy a phone from them and then you have various plans to choose from. I do a pay as you go and when I'm not on the road, $10 lasts 120 days and gives you 100 minutes. If you renew before the 4 months ends, the unused minutes roll over. If I anticipate heavy use, I'll buy more minutes and get the rate down to around six cents a minute. Cheap phones start around $20 and go up to $180.

They use Verizon's network which seems to have the best coverage, but your local area may vary. Don't know about Bluetooth - my cheap flipfone has a setting for it but I've never played with it.

Howard's Forums is a good site to look up pros and cons.

For a one time use, I'd just try to find the cheapest at WallyWorld or 7/11 and look for one that uses Verizon (mostly because that's the network I'm most familiar with).

Thanks stever, imid and venture......that's exactly the info I needed!

I just basically need a throw away phone....just for a limited time. I got the idea when reading this novel and I read how the drug dealers use them so they can't be traced. I might need one ......not for criminal activity just for a short period of time. My wife has a U.S. cell phone but I might need one so she can reach me at the airport.

bwia · January 2015

robr2 said:

bwia said:
Speaking of cell phones; Apple reported first quarter profits of $18 billion (yes $18 billion) on robust sales of 74.5 million iPhones. Apparently the iPone 6/Plus is selling like hot cakes. I believe that capitalism is a good economic system but such obscene profits are unconscionable. Besides, Apple is sitting on a $178 billion pile of cash and is expected to sell some 46 million i-Watches this spring.
Why do you think those profits are obscene? They had $75 billion in revenue which comes out to a 27% gross margin.

Let's compare for a full year:

Exxon: $136 billion in profit, $392 billion sales, GP = 35%
Microsoft: $60 billion in profit, $93 billion sales, GP = 65%
Apple: $70 billion in profit, $182 billion sales, GP = 38%
Samsung: 91 trillion won in profit, 212 trillion won sales, GP = 43%
Amazon: $20 billion in profit, $85 billion sales, GP = 34%

Don't know about the other companies but according to Apple's press release, for the first quarter ending December 27, "Gross margin was 39.9 percent compared to 37.9 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 65 percent of the quarter’s revenue." http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2015/01/27Apple-Reports-Record-First-Quarter-Results.html

abacomike · January 2015

robr2 said:

Speaking of cell phones; Apple reported first quarter profits of $18 billion (yes $18 billion) on robust sales of 74.5 million iPhones. Apparently the iPone 6/Plus is selling like hot cakes. I believe that capitalism is a good economic system but such obscene profits are unconscionable. Besides, Apple is sitting on a $178 billion pile of cash and is expected to sell some 46 million i-Watches this spring.
Why do you think those profits are obscene? They had $75 billion in revenue which comes out to a 27% gross margin. Let's compare for a full year: Exxon: $136 billion in profit, $392 billion sales, GP = 35% Microsoft: $60 billion in profit, $93 billion sales, GP = 65% Apple: $70 billion in profit, $182 billion sales, GP = 38% Samsung: 91 trillion won in profit, 212 trillion won sales, GP = 43% Amazon: $20 billion in profit, $85 billion sales, GP = 34%

What's this Samsung profit and sales in the TRILLIONS?

Michaell · January 2015

abacomike said:

robr2 said:

bwia said:
Speaking of cell phones; Apple reported first quarter profits of $18 billion (yes $18 billion) on robust sales of 74.5 million iPhones. Apparently the iPone 6/Plus is selling like hot cakes. I believe that capitalism is a good economic system but such obscene profits are unconscionable. Besides, Apple is sitting on a $178 billion pile of cash and is expected to sell some 46 million i-Watches this spring.
Why do you think those profits are obscene? They had $75 billion in revenue which comes out to a 27% gross margin.

Let's compare for a full year:

Exxon: $136 billion in profit, $392 billion sales, GP = 35%
Microsoft: $60 billion in profit, $93 billion sales, GP = 65%
Apple: $70 billion in profit, $182 billion sales, GP = 38%
Samsung: 91 trillion won in profit, 212 trillion won sales, GP = 43%
Amazon: $20 billion in profit, $85 billion sales, GP = 34%

What's this Samsung profit and sales in the TRILLIONS?

That's the Korean currency - the won - which currently trades at 1083 to $1 US.

robr2 · January 2015

As noted, that's Korean won for Samsung. I wasn't in the mood to do the conversion. It translates to $81 billion in profit and $195 billion in revenue.

abacomike · January 2015

Lots of money around, but most of it in Euro-zone and other low-tax areas. But very little here in the US.

abacomike · January 2015

Experienced something new in the car this afternoon while using my GPS system to get Dad to the doctor. 1/2 way there, the "lady" on the NAV system announces that there was an accident on Sample Road between Riverside and University Drive and the route guidance system is re routing me around the accident location. I have never heard that before in any car I have ever owned.

It seems that the traffic info I receive from Sirius/XM integrates with the car's computer and routes me around heavy traffic. That is something new! Truly amazing!

wlbrown9 · January 2015

Nice sometimes. I have several Garmin GPS that come with lifetime traffic and lifetime map upgrades. Traffic is supplied by NAVTEQ. Pretty good at times, but it helps to know the area you are in. One day heading to work it tried to divert me into a real slum area to avoid an accident. Another time it tried to divert me into an area in Birmingham, Al that was questionable in my opinion. I had tried to avoid construction traffic in that area before and with all the lights, etc. might as well have crept along the Interstate. This does seem to be pretty accurate as far as delays, etc. but a few time it was still warning of a delay that had cleared out by the time I got there.

Bill

abacomike · January 2015

wlbrown9 said:

Nice sometimes. I have several Garmin GPS that come with lifetime traffic and lifetime map upgrades. Traffic is supplied by NAVTEQ. Pretty good at times, but it helps to know the area you are in. One day heading to work it tried to divert me into a real slum area to avoid an accident. Another time it tried to divert me into an area in Birmingham, Al that was questionable in my opinion. I had tried to avoid construction traffic in that area before and with all the lights, etc. might as well have crept along the Interstate. This does seem to be pretty accurate as far as delays, etc. but a few time it was still warning of a delay that had cleared out by the time I got there. Bill

Thanks for sharing your experiences with traffic and GPS integration. Very interesting technology.

driver100 · January 2015

abacomike said:
Experienced something new in the car this afternoon while using my GPS system to get Dad to the doctor. 1/2 way there, the "lady" on the NAV system announces that there was an accident on Sample Road between Riverside and University Drive and the route guidance system is re routing me around the accident location. I have never heard that before in any car I have ever owned.

It seems that the traffic info I receive from Sirius/XM integrates with the car's computer and routes me around heavy traffic. That is something new! Truly amazing!

That is a cool feature. I know I have put in a destination, and it says traffic moving on Main St, between 1st Avenue and 5th Avenue moving at 5 mph. Then I check for an alternate route.

It is amazing. We haven't come up to an actual stoppage, so not sure what it will do in that case. At least she will tell me in a softer voice now.

robr2 · January 2015

abacomike said:
Experienced something new in the car this afternoon while using my GPS system to get Dad to the doctor. 1/2 way there, the "lady" on the NAV system announces that there was an accident on Sample Road between Riverside and University Drive and the route guidance system is re routing me around the accident location. I have never heard that before in any car I have ever owned.

It seems that the traffic info I receive from Sirius/XM integrates with the car's computer and routes me around heavy traffic. That is something new! Truly amazing!

My Explorer does that. It uses Sirius/XM to provide traffic to the navigation system. AFAIK, all cars that have that combination should do that.

oldfarmer50 · January 2015

driver100 said:
Now that you have solved my GPS problem...here is a question. Does anyone have experience with a "no contract cell phone".......the kind where you buy it with so much time on it and then you toss it out when you are finished. How much should it cost? How good are they? Will it hook up to bluetooth in the car? Can you buy them at a 7-11?

Driver, that's what I use. Basic flip phone for 20 bucks and about 20 more for 60 minutes (cheaper if you buy more). You activate it online IIRC. My son did it for me and then promptly made the phone his. Didn't even know it had text capability until he figured it out. I got mine at Walmart and while I choose the cheapest, least capable model I saw that they had a whole line of what looked like smart type phones.

Pretty cheaply made units as mine now only operates on speaker mode after about a year of use.

Why would you toss the phone? Are you planning some criminal activity and need a "dump" phone so the police can't track you?

oldfarmer50 · January 2015

Kirstie_H said:
Hope you don't all respond at once...

If you are a CEO and love your car, Chief Executive Magazine wants to hear from you. Please email PR@edmunds.com to connect.

Does a sole proprietor count? I can call myself anything I want so i could be the CEO, CFO, COO or any other title. I love all my cars, can I call them a couple of times? I'd especially like to tell them how much I love my 28 year old van.

bwia · January 2015

abacomike said:
Lots of money around, but most of it in Euro-zone and other low-tax areas. But very little here in the US.

That problem can mitigated somewhat by introducing a territorial tax as is customary in other countries.

In that regard, "in February, House Ways and Means Committee chairman Dave Camp, a Republican from Michigan, released a comprehensive tax reform plan proposing a shift to a territorial system. As part of the plan, Camp proposed that any past foreign earnings held overseas be repatriated and taxed, just one time, at 8.75%.

Non-cash earnings held abroad would be taxed at 3.75%. Then, in the future, most foreign income earned by U.S. companies would be exempt from domestic taxes. The top federal corporate tax rate would be lowered to 25%. As for the government’s lost revenue, it would replace it in various ways, such as requiring companies to deduct research and development costs over five years, rather than all at once."
Read more at: http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/can-tax-inversions-be-prevented/

oldfarmer50 · January 2015

bwia said:

stever said:
I've used a PagePlus Cellular phone for several years now. It's a division of TracFone like Walmart sells. I did mailorder but they have some authorized dealers around. You have to buy a phone from them and then you have various plans to choose from. I do a pay as you go and when I'm not on the road, $10 lasts 120 days and gives you 100 minutes. If you renew before the 4 months ends, the unused minutes roll over. If I anticipate heavy use, I'll buy more minutes and get the rate down to around six cents a minute. Cheap phones start around $20 and go up to $180.

They use Verizon's network which seems to have the best coverage, but your local area may vary. Don't know about Bluetooth - my cheap flipfone has a setting for it but I've never played with it.

Howard's Forums is a good site to look up pros and cons.

For a one time use, I'd just try to find the cheapest at WallyWorld or 7/11 and look for one that uses Verizon (mostly because that's the network I'm most familiar with).
Speaking of cell phones; Apple reported first quarter profits of $18 billion (yes $18 billion) on robust sales of 74.5 million iPhones. Apparently the iPone 6/Plus is selling like hot cakes. I believe that capitalism is a good economic system but such obscene profits are unconscionable. Besides, Apple is sitting on a $178 billion pile of cash and is expected to sell some 46 million i-Watches this spring.

Unless Apple held a gun to buyer's heads I don't see it being unconscioable. A lot of people thought it was a fair buy. I wouldn't pay $700 for a phone so they'll never get my money but that's the free market. Supply is worthless without demand.

explorerx4 · January 2015

@robr, I wish I had those transom windows over my garage doors.

robr2 · January 2015

explorerx4 said:
@robr, I wish I had those transom windows over my garage doors.

When we did our addition, I didn't want windows in the garage but wanted light. The transoms do great especially since it's the south face of the house.

driver100 · January 2015

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:
Now that you have solved my GPS problem...here is a question. Does anyone have experience with a "no contract cell phone".......the kind where you buy it with so much time on it and then you toss it out when you are finished. How much should it cost? How good are they? Will it hook up to bluetooth in the car? Can you buy them at a 7-11?
Driver, that's what I use. Basic flip phone for 20 bucks and about 20 more for 60 minutes (cheaper if you buy more). You activate it online IIRC. My son did it for me and then promptly made the phone his. Didn't even know it had text capability until he figured it out. I got mine at Walmart and while I choose the cheapest, least capable model I saw that they had a whole line of what looked like smart type phones.

Pretty cheaply made units as mine now only operates on speaker mode after about a year of use.

Why would you toss the phone? Are you planning some criminal activity and need a "dump" phone so the police can't track you?

I was thinking a throw a way phone only because I would need it for only a few days. I figured it would serve my purposes if for example I could pay $20 and get maybe 60 minutes of use out of it....I would only need it for about 5 days.

Criminals use them because they can buy them using phony names and addresses...and pay cash....according to the story I was reading.

It would be similar to a phone card in that way. It is almost impossible to find a phone booth these days and calling long distance is next to impossible.

A $20 Walmart/7-11 phone is worth considering, just load $10 worth whenever I need a U.S. phone, about twice a year.

stickguy · January 2015

I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.

roadburner · January 2015

oldfarmer50 said:

bwia said:

stever said:
I've used a PagePlus Cellular phone for several years now. It's a division of TracFone like Walmart sells. I did mailorder but they have some authorized dealers around. You have to buy a phone from them and then you have various plans to choose from. I do a pay as you go and when I'm not on the road, $10 lasts 120 days and gives you 100 minutes. If you renew before the 4 months ends, the unused minutes roll over. If I anticipate heavy use, I'll buy more minutes and get the rate down to around six cents a minute. Cheap phones start around $20 and go up to $180.

They use Verizon's network which seems to have the best coverage, but your local area may vary. Don't know about Bluetooth - my cheap flipfone has a setting for it but I've never played with it.

Howard's Forums is a good site to look up pros and cons.

For a one time use, I'd just try to find the cheapest at WallyWorld or 7/11 and look for one that uses Verizon (mostly because that's the network I'm most familiar with).
Speaking of cell phones; Apple reported first quarter profits of $18 billion (yes $18 billion) on robust sales of 74.5 million iPhones. Apparently the iPone 6/Plus is selling like hot cakes. I believe that capitalism is a good economic system but such obscene profits are unconscionable. Besides, Apple is sitting on a $178 billion pile of cash and is expected to sell some 46 million i-Watches this spring.
Unless Apple held a gun to buyer's heads I don't see it being unconscioable. A lot of people thought it was a fair buy. I wouldn't pay $700 for a phone so they'll never get my money but that's the free market. Supply is worthless without demand.

Agreed, it's certainly not price gouging- ownership of an iPhone 6 is hardly a matter of life or death (unless you're in high school I suppose). Apple made their money fair and square...

driver100 · January 2015

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.

Good point stick. I would do that if it was a throw-away phone meaning you buy it with so many minutes and then you toss it.

If it is a "No Contract Phone" that is a little different. I have one back home, my wife has one at home and in Florida. No Contract means you buy the phone but load it up once a year for $100. For the 2 calls a year I would make while in Florida it isn't worth the hassle. I just need it in a certain situation. For example, if I pick someone up at the airport and we can't find each other. That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.

imidazol97 · January 2015

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.

What you are looking for is the cheapest phone at Walmart's Tracfone display. Usually a $9.88 phone with no camera. You buy it. Come home. Activate it by going to Tracfone.com and click the button for activating. They'll give it a phone number. You buy a $9.99 airtime card for 30 minutes that's good for 30 days of airtime. The 30 minutes is doubled with most phones, so you end up with 60 minutes talk for the next 30 days. The computer downloads the 60 minutes to your phone within minutes. And you're off.

Use the phone. Put it in glovebox as needed or house. It may come with a car charger or pick one up on Amazon.com. Next time you need to use the phone. Go online, and click reactivate the phone. Buy another airtime card on tracfone.com. And you have it again with maybe the same phone number.

Note, the idea the phone is cheap is not due to talk quality or ability to text, which we use most here at the Imid household. It's that it doesn't have the features the later phones have had, such as a camera. Or other things some folks want and need. Usually that bottom row of Tracfones at Walmart with the $9.88 price on it is empty because those are really popular with folks just wanting a plain old phone. The phones are like stock; some go out of favor and the price goes down.

We have an old Samsung phone we used between phones for my son when his touch screen started acting up. It's in the armrest as a backup phone in case he needed it if his Android died. I actually activated it and signed up for 60 minutes and Tracfone offers purchase of additional airtime or extra minutes at one step. I bought a year's additional airtime for $49. So the phone is good to use if his Android gets dropped or quits. He needed his phone because of his student government; he doesn't have a landline. I do use the phone every month or so when I'm near the car to make sure it doesn't get tagged as an abandoned phone and deactivated--which requires a call to Tracfone.com.

venture · January 2015

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
Good point stick. I would do that if it was a throw-away phone meaning you buy it with so many minutes and then you toss it.

If it is a "No Contract Phone" that is a little different. I have one back home, my wife has one at home and in Florida. No Contract means you buy the phone but load it up once a year for $100. For the 2 calls a year I would make while in Florida it isn't worth the hassle. I just need it in a certain situation. For example, if I pick someone up at the airport and we can't find each other. That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.

Another reason to keep the phone in the glove box and not throw it away is the ability to call 911, even if you don't have any minutes on it, if you ever have to - assuming you charge it occasionally.

bwia · January 2015

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
Good point stick. I would do that if it was a throw-away phone meaning you buy it with so many minutes and then you toss it.

If it is a "No Contract Phone" that is a little different. I have one back home, my wife has one at home and in Florida. No Contract means you buy the phone but load it up once a year for $100. For the 2 calls a year I would make while in Florida it isn't worth the hassle. I just need it in a certain situation. For example, if I pick someone up at the airport and we can't find each other. That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.

But *driver why would you want to buy a disposable phone when you have a built-in phone in your E-400? I have one in my LaCrosse and I'm sure Imid has one in his Malibu. All you have to do is to buy 100 or more "emergency" minutes. That phone has its own number and works exclusive of your Bluetooth enabled phone.

stever · January 2015

Speaking of phones....

If you used a smartphone for most of your recent car shopping/leasing experience and are willing to talk with a reporter about it, please email PR@edmunds.com no later than 10AM Eastern on January 30, 2015. Please include your daytime contact info and a few words about your experience.

driver100 · January 2015

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.
What you are looking for is the cheapest phone at Walmart's Tracfone display. Usually a $9.88 phone with no camera. You buy it. Come home. Activate it by going to Tracfone.com and click the button for activating. They'll give it a phone number. You buy a $9.99 airtime card for 30 minutes that's good for 30 days of airtime. The 30 minutes is doubled with most phones, so you end up with 60 minutes talk for the next 30 days. The computer downloads the 60 minutes to your phone within minutes. And you're off.

That really does solve my problem. Sounds perfect...better than I hoped for.

driver100 · January 2015

venture said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
Good point stick. I would do that if it was a throw-away phone meaning you buy it with so many minutes and then you toss it.

If it is a "No Contract Phone" that is a little different. I have one back home, my wife has one at home and in Florida. No Contract means you buy the phone but load it up once a year for $100. For the 2 calls a year I would make while in Florida it isn't worth the hassle. I just need it in a certain situation. For example, if I pick someone up at the airport and we can't find each other. That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.

Another reason to keep the phone in the glove box and not throw it away is the ability to call 911, even if you don't have any minutes on it, if you ever have to - assuming you charge it occasionally.

I suppose 911 is free so I could keep it and use it in an emergency...as long as it is charged up.

jayrider · January 2015

driver100 said:

venture said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
Good point stick. I would do that if it was a throw-away phone meaning you buy it with so many minutes and then you toss it.

If it is a "No Contract Phone" that is a little different. I have one back home, my wife has one at home and in Florida. No Contract means you buy the phone but load it up once a year for $100. For the 2 calls a year I would make while in Florida it isn't worth the hassle. I just need it in a certain situation. For example, if I pick someone up at the airport and we can't find each other. That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.

Another reason to keep the phone in the glove box and not throw it away is the ability to call 911, even if you don't have any minutes on it, if you ever have to - assuming you charge it occasionally.
I suppose 911 is free so I could keep it and use it in an emergency...as long as it is charged up.

Don't you have to pay $10 every month to keep it active ?

driver100 · January 2015

bwia said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
Good point stick. I would do that if it was a throw-away phone meaning you buy it with so many minutes and then you toss it.

If it is a "No Contract Phone" that is a little different. I have one back home, my wife has one at home and in Florida. No Contract means you buy the phone but load it up once a year for $100. For the 2 calls a year I would make while in Florida it isn't worth the hassle. I just need it in a certain situation. For example, if I pick someone up at the airport and we can't find each other. That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.
But *driver why would you want to buy a disposable phone when you have a built-in phone in your E-400? I have one in my LaCrosse and I'm sure Imid has one in his Malibu. All you have to do is to buy 100 or more "emergency" minutes. That phone has its own number and works exclusive of your Bluetooth enabled phone.

I had no idea I had a built-in phone in the E-400. I guess I would have to look for it if I was in an accident or something....there is some roadside assistance package that came with the car.

Wouldn't it only be to call 911 or MB help? If I was meeting someone at the airport could they call my car and reach me? What if I want to go inside the airport to try to find someone...how can they call me?

I am a technological failure.

Stever....I would have no idea how to use a smart phone to buy or lease a car.

driver100 · January 2015

jayrider said:

driver100 said:

venture said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
Good point stick. I would do that if it was a throw-away phone meaning you buy it with so many minutes and then you toss it.

If it is a "No Contract Phone" that is a little different. I have one back home, my wife has one at home and in Florida. No Contract means you buy the phone but load it up once a year for $100. For the 2 calls a year I would make while in Florida it isn't worth the hassle. I just need it in a certain situation. For example, if I pick someone up at the airport and we can't find each other. That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.

Another reason to keep the phone in the glove box and not throw it away is the ability to call 911, even if you don't have any minutes on it, if you ever have to - assuming you charge it occasionally.
I suppose 911 is free so I could keep it and use it in an emergency...as long as it is charged up.

Don't you have to pay $10 every month to keep it active ?

Good question....somebody will have to answer, not me. My wife has a No Contract Phone in the US, back home we call them "Pay As You Go" and they are $10 a month but you get more minutes and less hassle doing $100 a year. You have to renew it and you can carry minutes over if you do it before the time expires.

I just saw an ad for free cell phones in Florida, they are to be used just for 911 calls basically....but, the ad hints that because you have lots of minutes you could use it for other things. There is an activation fee. I tend to think it's a scam of some kind...though it would probably be perfect.....I probably don't qualify any way. But, it said the phone is free and minutes are free, because you can call 911 and not be charged. I don't know?????

graphicguy · January 2015

driver100 said:

bwia said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
Good point stick. I would do that if it was a throw-away phone meaning you buy it with so many minutes and then you toss it.

If it is a "No Contract Phone" that is a little different. I have one back home, my wife has one at home and in Florida. No Contract means you buy the phone but load it up once a year for $100. For the 2 calls a year I would make while in Florida it isn't worth the hassle. I just need it in a certain situation. For example, if I pick someone up at the airport and we can't find each other. That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.
But *driver why would you want to buy a disposable phone when you have a built-in phone in your E-400? I have one in my LaCrosse and I'm sure Imid has one in his Malibu. All you have to do is to buy 100 or more "emergency" minutes. That phone has its own number and works exclusive of your Bluetooth enabled phone.
I had no idea I had a built-in phone in the E-400. I guess I would have to look for it if I was in an accident or something....there is some roadside assistance package that came with the car.

Wouldn't it only be to call 911 or MB help? If I was meeting someone at the airport could they call my car and reach me? What if I want to go inside the airport to try to find someone...how can they call me?

I am a technological failure.

Stever....I would have no idea how to use a smart phone to buy or lease a car.

Not a failure. Was just talking about this with the wife last night. She had a 12 year old Nissan Altima before she got the Accord. She said the difference in car technology in just over a decade is staggering. I know when we were dating and we rode in her Altima, it seemed like we were in a cable car compared to my (relatively new at the time) TL.

She's staggered again using the tech in my CTS compared to her less than 1 year old Accord, which was better than the tech in my former TL, and making my former E92 335i and current gen S4 almost archaic when compared to the CTS. The CTS GPS screen is higher res. The amount of safety nannies is amazing. If I wanted, I could turn all of it on, and have the CTSstay within the lanes, keep me from rear ending someone, show me when someone's in my blind spot, etc...and warn me about all of that by a little vibration in the seat. It's staggering.

Driver...not sure about Mercedes, but the OhStar phone in the CTS offers something like 100 minutes for $20. The car will have its own phone number. And the minutes never expire. Didn't Mercedes use OnStar for awhile? Do they still? If so, I wouldn't be surprised if it works similarly to my CTS.

abacomike · January 2015

driver100 said:

venture said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
Good point stick. I would do that if it was a throw-away phone meaning you buy it with so many minutes and then you toss it.

If it is a "No Contract Phone" that is a little different. I have one back home, my wife has one at home and in Florida. No Contract means you buy the phone but load it up once a year for $100. For the 2 calls a year I would make while in Florida it isn't worth the hassle. I just need it in a certain situation. For example, if I pick someone up at the airport and we can't find each other. That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.

Another reason to keep the phone in the glove box and not throw it away is the ability to call 911, even if you don't have any minutes on it, if you ever have to - assuming you charge it occasionally.
I suppose 911 is free so I could keep it and use it in an emergency...as long as it is charged up.

Driver, if you ever have an emergency, you can always used the "I button" above on your overhead console to contact Mbrace. Anytime you have an emergency that requires a 911 call, Mbrace will do it for you, whether you are signed up for the service or not.

You have it for the first 6 months for free - I don't know why you didn't sign up for the service for the first 6 months for free.

There is also a new App at the App store for Mercedes Roadside Assistance, if you ever need it.

abacomike · January 2015

driver100 said:

bwia said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
Good point stick. I would do that if it was a throw-away phone meaning you buy it with so many minutes and then you toss it.

If it is a "No Contract Phone" that is a little different. I have one back home, my wife has one at home and in Florida. No Contract means you buy the phone but load it up once a year for $100. For the 2 calls a year I would make while in Florida it isn't worth the hassle. I just need it in a certain situation. For example, if I pick someone up at the airport and we can't find each other. That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.
But *driver why would you want to buy a disposable phone when you have a built-in phone in your E-400? I have one in my LaCrosse and I'm sure Imid has one in his Malibu. All you have to do is to buy 100 or more "emergency" minutes. That phone has its own number and works exclusive of your Bluetooth enabled phone.
I had no idea I had a built-in phone in the E-400. I guess I would have to look for it if I was in an accident or something....there is some roadside assistance package that came with the car.

Wouldn't it only be to call 911 or MB help? If I was meeting someone at the airport could they call my car and reach me? What if I want to go inside the airport to try to find someone...how can they call me?

I am a technological failure.

Stever....I would have no idea how to use a smart phone to buy or lease a car.

No, driver. You cannot call your car. The built in phone in the car (Verizon I believe services it for Mbrace) is for Mbrace services only and you cannot be reached in the car. But you can call out by going through Mbrace services. You should sign up for it for the first 6 months for free.

robr2 · January 2015

driver100 said:

I was thinking a throw a way phone only because I would need it for only a few days. I figured it would serve my purposes if for example I could pay $20 and get maybe 60 minutes of use out of it....I would only need it for about 5 days.

Criminals use them because they can buy them using phony names and addresses...and pay cash....according to the story I was reading.

It would be similar to a phone card in that way. It is almost impossible to find a phone booth these days and calling long distance is next to impossible.

A $20 Walmart/7-11 phone is worth considering, just load $10 worth whenever I need a U.S. phone, about twice a year.

Do you pay for a landline in Florida? If so, you should cancel it and use a cell phone full time down there. That's what my parents do.

venture · January 2015

jayrider said:

driver100 said:

venture said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
Good point stick. I would do that if it was a throw-away phone meaning you buy it with so many minutes and then you toss it.

If it is a "No Contract Phone" that is a little different. I have one back home, my wife has one at home and in Florida. No Contract means you buy the phone but load it up once a year for $100. For the 2 calls a year I would make while in Florida it isn't worth the hassle. I just need it in a certain situation. For example, if I pick someone up at the airport and we can't find each other. That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.

Another reason to keep the phone in the glove box and not throw it away is the ability to call 911, even if you don't have any minutes on it, if you ever have to - assuming you charge it occasionally.
I suppose 911 is free so I could keep it and use it in an emergency...as long as it is charged up.

Don't you have to pay $10 every month to keep it active ?

Any cell phone can call 911 whether you have a plan for it or not. As long as it has a charge of course. I have my old phone in the glove box "just in case". I just charge it about once a month while I'm driving.

That way Driver wouldn't have to be tethered to his car to make an emergency call.

robr2 · January 2015

driver100 said:

I just saw an ad for free cell phones in Florida, they are to be used just for 911 calls basically....but, the ad hints that because you have lots of minutes you could use it for other things. There is an activation fee. I tend to think it's a scam of some kind...though it would probably be perfect.....I probably don't qualify any way. But, it said the phone is free and minutes are free, because you can call 911 and not be charged. I don't know?????

That sounds like the Lifeline Assistance program. It provides for free cell phone service for households that qualify under a number of low income assistance programs under the auspices of Universal Service. On your cell and landline bills, you will see a charge for something like Universal Access Fee. That is a fee collected to provide this phone service. It goes back to the 1934 Communications Act which called for “rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges” to “all the people of the United States” which basically was used to expand phone service to rural areas. In 1984, Reagan created the Lifeline program that provided discounted service to the poor and those in rural and high cost areas. In 2005 under Bush the younger, it was expanded to include cell service as that was less expensive than continuing to build and maintain wires. In 2012, one person was quoted as saying she had gotten her "Obama Phone" for free and that name has stuck.

The program only provides for 250 minutes a month. The carriers that participate in the program will often throw in the phone or sell higher priced phones and features but the fee collected on your phone bill only covers the 250 minutes.

Kirstie_H · January 2015

A reporter seeks to interview the owner of a car from model year 2001-2004 that has problems not yet subject to a recall. Please email PR@edmunds.com to tell your story.

driver100 · January 2015

graphicguy said:

driver100 said:

bwia said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
Good point stick. I would do that if it was a throw-away phone meaning you buy it with so many minutes and then you toss it.

If it is a "No Contract Phone" that is a little different. I have one back home, my wife has one at home and in Florida. No Contract means you buy the phone but load it up once a year for $100. For the 2 calls a year I would make while in Florida it isn't worth the hassle. I just need it in a certain situation. For example, if I pick someone up at the airport and we can't find each other. That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.
But *driver why would you want to buy a disposable phone when you have a built-in phone in your E-400? I have one in my LaCrosse and I'm sure Imid has one in his Malibu. All you have to do is to buy 100 or more "emergency" minutes. That phone has its own number and works exclusive of your Bluetooth enabled phone.
I had no idea I had a built-in phone in the E-400. I guess I would have to look for it if I was in an accident or something....there is some roadside assistance package that came with the car.

Wouldn't it only be to call 911 or MB help? If I was meeting someone at the airport could they call my car and reach me? What if I want to go inside the airport to try to find someone...how can they call me?

I am a technological failure.

Stever....I would have no idea how to use a smart phone to buy or lease a car.

Not a failure. Was just talking about this with the wife last night. She had a 12 year old Nissan Altima before she got the Accord. She said the difference in car technology in just over a decade is staggering. I know when we were dating and we rode in her Altima, it seemed like we were in a cable car compared to my (relatively new at the time) TL.

GG, I should realy just say I am technologically challenged. For your wife, it is probably technology overload....the difference in technology in 12 years is huge. My IT guy who lost his 2002 Civic and bought a new Fit is loving it. He likes the heated seats, Bluetooth, Rear Camera, all kinds of airbags, and yesterday he discovered it gave him the outside temperature. And that's in a minimal cost car!

driver100 · January 2015

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

venture said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
Good point stick. I would do that if it was a throw-away phone meaning you buy it with so many minutes and then you toss it.

If it is a "No Contract Phone" that is a little different. I have one back home, my wife has one at home and in Florida. No Contract means you buy the phone but load it up once a year for $100. For the 2 calls a year I would make while in Florida it isn't worth the hassle. I just need it in a certain situation. For example, if I pick someone up at the airport and we can't find each other. That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.

Another reason to keep the phone in the glove box and not throw it away is the ability to call 911, even if you don't have any minutes on it, if you ever have to - assuming you charge it occasionally.
I suppose 911 is free so I could keep it and use it in an emergency...as long as it is charged up.

Driver, if you ever have an emergency, you can always used the "I button" above on your overhead console to contact Mbrace. Anytime you have an emergency that requires a 911 call, Mbrace will do it for you, whether you are signed up for the service or not.

You have it for the first 6 months for free - I don't know why you didn't sign up for the service for the first 6 months for free.

There is also a new App at the App store for Mercedes Roadside Assistance, if you ever need it.

I was pretty sure there was an "I Button" for an emergency in the car. After one year BMW offered to maintain the service for $150 a year. I declined, and would never have used it anyway...saved myself $300..

I wouldn't know what an app really was...even if it bit me in the rear. They sound neat, but where would I find time to do all of this stuff?

My wife has a Canada cellphone and a US one, so we can use those if stranded. I have my Cdn cell in the car so could use it if I had to, may pay a huge roaming charge but at least I can use it if necessary. Mike, if I paid what you did for my E400 I would spring for those extras too.....just to keep the dealer and MB happy.

driver100 · January 2015

robr2 said:

driver100 said:

I was thinking a throw a way phone only because I would need it for only a few days. I figured it would serve my purposes if for example I could pay $20 and get maybe 60 minutes of use out of it....I would only need it for about 5 days.

Criminals use them because they can buy them using phony names and addresses...and pay cash....according to the story I was reading.

It would be similar to a phone card in that way. It is almost impossible to find a phone booth these days and calling long distance is next to impossible.

A $20 Walmart/7-11 phone is worth considering, just load $10 worth whenever I need a U.S. phone, about twice a year.

Do you pay for a landline in Florida? If so, you should cancel it and use a cell phone full time down there. That's what my parents do.

Landlines are going the way of the Dodo bird, especially in Europe where landlines are very expensive. Having a cell phone only makes sense for many people and young people are doing it as they rely on their cell phones so much, plus they have more mobility as they move around.

At this time, I don't mind paying a bit more for a landline. We get a great package from Brighthouse that includes internet, TV, and a telephone with unlimited free calling in North America. I don't want to mess up our cable stuff, and it is nice to have a real phone around....kind of nostalgic.

driver100 · January 2015

venture said:

jayrider said:

driver100 said:

venture said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I was thinking Driver that you would buy it, keep $20 on it, and leave it in the glovebox for whenever you were in the states.
Good point stick. I would do that if it was a throw-away phone meaning you buy it with so many minutes and then you toss it.

If it is a "No Contract Phone" that is a little different. I have one back home, my wife has one at home and in Florida. No Contract means you buy the phone but load it up once a year for $100. For the 2 calls a year I would make while in Florida it isn't worth the hassle. I just need it in a certain situation. For example, if I pick someone up at the airport and we can't find each other. That's when I would like to pay $20 and have 30 or 60 minutes of time....throw it away and buy a new one.

Another reason to keep the phone in the glove box and not throw it away is the ability to call 911, even if you don't have any minutes on it, if you ever have to - assuming you charge it occasionally.
I suppose 911 is free so I could keep it and use it in an emergency...as long as it is charged up.

Don't you have to pay $10 every month to keep it active ?
Any cell phone can call 911 whether you have a plan for it or not. As long as it has a charge of course. I have my old phone in the glove box "just in case". I just charge it about once a month while I'm driving.

That way Driver wouldn't have to be tethered to his car to make an emergency call.

I can do that. If worse came to worse I do have my Cdn cell phone with me in the car. That along with a "Throw away" would get me through an unusual situation it would seem.

driver100 · January 2015

robr2 said:

driver100 said:

I just saw an ad for free cell phones in Florida, they are to be used just for 911 calls basically....but, the ad hints that because you have lots of minutes you could use it for other things. There is an activation fee. I tend to think it's a scam of some kind...though it would probably be perfect.....I probably don't qualify any way. But, it said the phone is free and minutes are free, because you can call 911 and not be charged. I don't know?????
That sounds like the Lifeline Assistance program. In 2012, one person was quoted as saying she had gotten her "Obama Phone" for free and that name has stuck.

The program only provides for 250 minutes a month. The carriers that participate in the program will often throw in the phone or sell higher priced phones and features but the fee collected on your phone bill only covers the 250 minutes.

ONLY 250 minutes a month! Sounds like a fair bit for FREE! It is only about 240 minutes more than I talk on a cell phone for a month.

Thanks for explaining the program....I wondered about the ad. It sounded like they were glad to give you this free phone, as it would lead to them hooking people into using their cell phones and wanting to use it more and more.....and then they could sell them on more programs. Another Driver rule of life....things that are offered for free, usually cost more than if you just bought it in the first place.

driver100 · January 2015

Kirstie_H said:
A reporter seeks to interview the owner of a car from model year 2001-2004 that has problems not yet subject to a recall. Please email PR@edmunds.com to tell your story.

Why doesn't some reporter want to know about something I can tell them about?

Got any reporters who want to know how a newly retired person likes his new E400?

Or, why it is highly unlikely we will be buying another Audi?

I'll gladly give them some feedback

stever · January 2015

driver100 said:
Landlines are going the way of the Dodo bird,

They'll likely be around as long as us boomers are around, thanks to transtelephonic monitoring of health gizmos, like a heart pacemaker. Right now I think they prefer that monitoring done with a standard telephone line to avoid weak cell signals. But I'm sure there's already apps for lots of that stuff too.

Lots of health monitoring could be coming to cars too. (Scientific American) Naturally, by the time all the BP and other monitors wind up in your steering wheel, we'll go to autonomous cars where you won't be gripping the wheel.

robr2 · January 2015

driver100 said:
ONLY 250 minutes a month! Sounds like a fair bit for FREE! It is only about 240 minutes more than I talk on a cell phone for a month.

Thanks for explaining the program....I wondered about the ad. It sounded like they were glad to give you this free phone, as it would lead to them hooking people into using their cell phones and wanting to use it more and more.....and then they could sell them on more programs. Another Driver rule of life....things that are offered for free, usually cost more than if you just bought it in the first place.

Look at it this way. You use a landline for the most part. The program allows for one phone per household so 250 minutes may not go very far. Further, cell phone companies don't care about minutes anymore. The new share plans offer unlimited minutes and texting but charge for a fixed amount of data.

IMHO, you would be a perfect candidate for a tablet. You're a bit techno phobic and need a tech support person for a laptop. An iPad with the apps you use the most would work great. No updates for the multiple software, no worry about clicking on malicious links. And since Apple is a very closed system in terms of approving applications, there is little to screw up.

I've been trying to get my MIL to get an iPad. She currently has a fairly new laptop. My SIL is a pretty stubborn woman and although she works in high tech, refuses to use the company issued iPad that she was given. Whenever my MIL screws up her laptop, my SIL buys here a new one to screw up in 12-18 months. IMHO, an iPad where she could open with one touch the apps she uses (bank, credit cards, browser, facebook, et al) without screwing it up would save my SIL a thousand bucks on a regular basis.

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