Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

suydam · December 2015

My dad had one too around that era. It's the people buying '65 MGs now who are in for the continuous project ride.

[Deleted User] · December 2015

Michaell said:
The wife's Outback has almost 11,000 miles on it and it goes in for it's second service today. Wanted to confirm with @nyccarguy and @tyguy that it's the AWD differential fluid that I want changed this trip.

Got the car cleaned up inside and out yesterday - the bad weather we've had the past couple of weeks makes cars quite filthy. Shines up like a new penny. No complaints whatsoever after 10 months.

HI Michaell. I recommend changing out the rear differential fluid at 15,000 and then again at 30,000. After that you can go to 30,000-mile intervals. I waited to 30,000 on my Impreza and found the oil very muddy, and wished I had gone with a shorter interval for that first change. Ask for a high quality synthetic. If you do the service yourself, it'll cost about $15. If you have the dealer perform it, then about $90.

nyccarguy · December 2015

@Michaell - I followed the advice of @tyguy and had my rear differential fluid drained & filled at the 15K mark with 75 w90 full synthetic gear oil. I'm going to have it changed again at 30K (my next service), then at the factory recommended intervals (every 30K I believe).

Michaell · December 2015

@tyguy and @nyccarguy - thanks for the confirmation and the quick response. I mentioned it to the service person when I set up the appointment but now I know exactly what to ask for when I show up this morning.

The only downside is that the dealer (Groove) has discontinued their loaner car program, so I'm stuck there while the service is being performed. Gives me a chance to walk the lot and see what's out there - and check out the Toyota dealership next door.

stever · December 2015

Maybe you can find out when the '16 Prius hits the ground up there.

Michaell · December 2015

stever said:
Maybe you can find out when the '16 Prius hits the ground up there.

I'm happy to pose the question to the Toyota staff ... I'm interested, too, what with my Elantra lease ending next fall.

nyccarguy · December 2015

@Michaell - "discontinued their loaner car program". That stinks. You should write a letter to the dealer principal & service manager telling them how happy you are with your Outback, especially the quality of service you've received this far. Tell them the main reason you bought from them is the availability of loaner cars and that you are disappointed they are no longer offered. I'd also throw in a line that you hold a very important position at edmunds.com (you do). See what they can do to satisfy you.

oldfarmer50 · December 2015

cdnpinhead said:
My first car was a '65 MGB that I bought used in August of '69 and drove almost 104K miles in just under four years through 44 states and 8 provinces. It did go through oil, and I learned to replace the generator bushing in under 30 minutes (always carried a minimum of one spare), but overall it never left me stranded. Tightest steering and shift linkage of any car I've ever driven.

Good times.

Relive your youth:

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/5365773804.html

Michaell · December 2015

nyccarguy said:
@Michaell - "discontinued their loaner car program". That stinks. You should write a letter to the dealer principal & service manager telling them how happy you are with your Outback, especially the quality of service you've received this far. Tell them the main reason you bought from them is the availability of loaner cars and that you are disappointed they are no longer offered. I'd also throw in a line that you hold a very important position at edmunds.com (you do). See what they can do to satisfy you.

Since I'm at the dealer today, I may try to find a GM (or higher) and talk to them directly about why this happened. I know they offer rental cars, but it's not worth it to me to spend money for the mobility while I wait.

driver100 · December 2015

nyccarguy said:
@Michaell - "discontinued their loaner car program". That stinks. You should write a letter to the dealer principal & service manager telling them how happy you are with your Outback, especially the quality of service you've received this far. Tell them the main reason you bought from them is the availability of loaner cars and that you are disappointed they are no longer offered. I'd also throw in a line that you hold a very important position at edmunds.com (you do). See what they can do to satisfy you.

Also tell them if you don't get a loaner car (almost wrote loner car) you will have time to walk around the Toyota lot next door and you may find a Toyota you like.

Michaell · December 2015

driver100 said:

nyccarguy said:
@Michaell - "discontinued their loaner car program". That stinks. You should write a letter to the dealer principal & service manager telling them how happy you are with your Outback, especially the quality of service you've received this far. Tell them the main reason you bought from them is the availability of loaner cars and that you are disappointed they are no longer offered. I'd also throw in a line that you hold a very important position at edmunds.com (you do). See what they can do to satisfy you.
Also tell them if you don't get a loaner car (almost wrote loner car) you will have time to walk around the Toyota lot next door and you may find a Toyota you like.

Sorry, not going to happen. The wife loves her Subaru and we don't have any plans to get rid of it for a good, long time.

And, the Toyota dealership is part of the same dealership group (they also have Ford and Mazda in a different part of town).

imidazol97 · December 2015

abacomike said: All kidding aside, the 3 of us racked up a bill of $311.00. I left a $60.00 tip and began to think - I had a surf and turf, so did the husband. The wife had a petit filet and they shared a Caesar salad. They ordered sautéed mushrooms and chef fries and each of them had a drink.

What were the prices for the individual items. Sounds like lots more than any place we've been in. But good friends are worth it. You never know what tomorrow holds for you or for them.

qbrozen · December 2015

abacomike said:
I have done a little analysis of the car buyers both on this thread and over on CCBA (I monitor that thread but don't post much). It seems that there are several types of car buyers:

One type loves to have several cars/trucks in his fleet - and is always looking to add more - a true chronic car buyer and stable owner.

Another type loves to buy new cars - at least one per year - because there is always something coming onto the market that is perceived to be a "must have"!

Another type buys cars but keeps his cars for several years - usually until the new car warranty is about to expire. But these types are always looking and are usually defenseless if a car catches their fancy and the deal is too good to ignore.

Then, there's the pre-owned only type - never buys a new car, but is in and out of used cars constantly. This type loves to tinker with his cars as well.

There are a myriad of types of car buyers, but they usually can comfortably fit into one or more of the above categories. Where do you fit?

well, I'm a bit choice A, a little choice B, and ... well, I guess not completely choice C since the "never buys new" doesn't fit me, but I have had several that I tinker with, fix up, upgrade, drive for a while, sell off, and buy another to go through the same process.

I love having several cars and would buy more if the space is available. I buy both new and used, depending on the deal. I have kept them as few as 4 months and as long as 4 years (excluding the outlier Alfa Romeo that I kept for 10 years). In other words, if I want one, I can usually come up with an excuse to get it.

cdnpinhead · December 2015

oldfarmer50 said:
Relive your youth:

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/5365773804.html

Thanks, OF. That one's an excellent color (IMNHO) and has the wire wheels and knockoffs that my grey one did. However, it's some years newer, when they went to three wipers to cover the wide skinny windshield. The array of Smiths instruments, with the dual water temp/oil pressure gauge, is still my benchmark for how an instrument panel is supposed to look. When the U.S. gov't got involved a few years later, the raised suspension and rubber bumpers ruined the looks of the car for all time.

That one's certainly in good shape, but I prefer the SU carbs, now that I've learned much of what there is to know about them. I converted my '73 240Z back to the SUs that they all had up through '72; the '73 EPA-compliant carbs were hopelessly complex in comparison, as I've heard Webers are. The speakers were set up just the way I did mine, with the 8-inchers in the trunk.

God, I loved that car.

abacomike · December 2015

imidazol97 said:

abacomike said: All kidding aside, the 3 of us racked up a bill of $311.00. I left a $60.00 tip and began to think - I had a surf and turf, so did the husband. The wife had a petit filet and they shared a Caesar salad. They ordered sautéed mushrooms and chef fries and each of them had a drink.

What were the prices for the individual items. Sounds like lots more than any place we've been in. But good friends are worth it. You never know what tomorrow holds for you or for them.

The surf and turf (8 oz filet and a huge lobster tail) were $81.00 each. The 8 oz filet was $45.00. The beer and wine were $8.00 each. The mushrooms and chef fries were $13.00 each. The Caesar salad was $19,00. The scallops were $21.00. The cheesecake was $17.00. The coffees were $5.00 each and the iced tea was $2.50. I am probably off a few cents, but that was the approximate breakdown.

They are very expensive, even higher than Ruth's Crist. But I will admit that everything was stupendous and perfectly cooked to our requests.

abacomike · December 2015

cdnpinhead said:

Relive your youth: https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/5365773804.html
Thanks, OF. That one's an excellent color (IMNHO) and has the wire wheels and knockoffs that my grey one did. However, it's some years newer, when they went to three wipers to cover the wide skinny windshield. The array of Smiths instruments, with the dual water temp/oil pressure gauge, is still my benchmark for how an instrument panel is supposed to look. When the U.S. gov't got involved a few years later, the raised suspension and rubber bumpers ruined the looks of the car for all time.

My '75 MGB-GT was orange with a black interior. Had wire wheels and leaked oil about as bad as my '74 TR6.

Michaell · December 2015

At the Subaru dealer now. Turns out the loaner program isn't gone. You just have to spend $300 or more on service to get one.

@stever - 2016 Prius to arrive in the next 30-45 days.

stever · December 2015

That'll work but was hoping to see some "next week". Thanks @Michaell. May have to pay you a visit if we pull the trigger on one - an account rep I met says the dealers up your way are the most aggressive she's seen in the Intermountain West. Probably will ask for a quote at least.

Michaell · December 2015

stever said:

That'll work but was hoping to see some "next week". Thanks @Michaell. May have to pay you a visit if we pull the trigger on one - an account rep I met says the dealers up your way are the most aggressive she's seen in the Intermountain West. Probably will ask for a quote at least.

The Toyota sales manager I spoke with said their first Prius is at the port in LA and will be here in Denver in about 14 days. More inventory to arrive after that.

CO has some nice tax credits for hybrids and EVs.

stever · December 2015

I'm hoping the oil glut will continue for three more months.

Michaell · December 2015

stever said:

I'm hoping the oil glut will continue for three more months.

I'm hoping for 10-11 more months.

Mr_Shiftright · December 2015

Gotta get rid of that Weber carburetor---sucks gas and is much more finicky than the dual SUs.

Not a bad price on that MGB actually. They can be very reliable cars once you sort them out, and you can buy any part you need, shipped UPS to your door. Aside from maybe VW and the Model A Ford, the MG has the best aftermarket parts supplies of any vintage car. Overdrive would be a nice option to have.

abacomike said:

cdnpinhead said:

oldfarmer50 said:
Relive your youth:

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/5365773804.html

Thanks, OF. That one's an excellent color (IMNHO) and has the wire wheels and knockoffs that my grey one did. However, it's some years newer, when they went to three wipers to cover the wide skinny windshield. The array of Smiths instruments, with the dual water temp/oil pressure gauge, is still my benchmark for how an instrument panel is supposed to look. When the U.S. gov't got involved a few years later, the raised suspension and rubber bumpers ruined the looks of the car for all time.

My '75 MGB-GT was orange with a black interior. Had wire wheels and leaked oil about as bad as my '74 TR6.

henryn · December 2015

Michaell said:

stever said:

I'm hoping the oil glut will continue for three more months.

I'm hoping for 10-11 more months.

Those of us who work in the oil business do NOT share that sentiment!!!

stever · December 2015

It's pretty strange. Glut today, but supply apparently is shrinking fast. Over in your area, in spite of cheap oil, the wind business is gaining momentum. Solar isn't slacking off any either - more cheap natural gas could weaken that demand, but it looks like those alternative fuels have turned the corner. Even if the incentives were jerked, there's lots of Wall Street money invested in wind and solar now. Good blurb in the WA Post today.

Here in NM, the state is hurting because oil revenue is ~25% of the budget.

oldfarmer50 · December 2015

Michaell said:

stever said:

I'm hoping the oil glut will continue for three more months.

I'm hoping for 10-11 more months.

It seems so obvious that this is the ultimate time to buy any super fuel efficient car. If these low prices continue much longer people will be dropping them off in your yard in the middle of the night like late summer Zucchini.

I can't imagine any dealer not begging to have your deal.

tjc78 · December 2015

@abacomike
You mentioned Ruth's Chris. IMO they are a bit overrated now. There are other "upscale" steak houses that do it better.

Since we are talking Steak Houses, the best I've ever been to is Keen's in NYC. It's been there forever and is nothing short of amazing, however you will certainly pay for the experience.

Delfriscos, and Mortons are always good choices as well.

stickguy · December 2015

You people are making me hungry. That is not a good thing.

My acura deal has loaners. I have never used the service though. Never had to leave a car long enough to make it worthwhile. I just wait, since it usually is no more than an hour. By the time I browse inventory and do some test sits, watch a little TV and check the internet, I am done!

bwia · December 2015

stever said:

It's pretty strange. Glut today, but supply apparently is shrinking fast. Over in your area, in spite of cheap oil, the wind business is gaining momentum. Solar isn't slacking off any either - more cheap natural gas could weaken that demand, but it looks like those alternative fuels have turned the corner. Even if the incentives were jerked, there's lots of Wall Street money invested in wind and solar now. Good blurb in the WA Post today. Here in NM, the state is hurting because oil revenue is ~25% of the budget.

The oil money has dried up in Alaska too and the state is planning to re-introduce an income tax after a 35 year absence.

What's really bizarre is the State's decision to levy an income tax while continuing to send out dividend checks for up to $8,000 per resident (or household, I'm not sure)

roadburner · December 2015

bwia said:

Like someone said, my new vehicle is always an upgrade in price, size and prestige from my previous car. That's probably a pretty common strategy as auto makers design cars for the entire life cycle -- from Millennials, Gen X-ers, Baby Boomers and the Greatest Generation (parents of the Boomers).

Just for the record, I wasn't referring to you when I talked about the "upgrader." There's absolutely nothing wrong with buying a better car than you currently own; the guy I was talking about was a status-seeking fool whose definition of a great car was one that collected a lot of envious stares- even if it drove like a Cobalt with 200k miles on it...

stever · December 2015

Alaska's PFD payout last year was $2,072 per resident. So a family of four would have received about $8,000 last but it's not that high individually. And the dividend amount is averaged over 3 years and depends on the performance of the PFD investments.

Alaska had an income tax before the oil boom hit and should have kept it. Lots of carpetbaggers have worked there over the decades and flew straight back to the Lower 48 with their income on their two weeks off, while using state facilities.

There's also talk of doing a statewide sales tax in addition to or instead the income tax idea. My wife and I collected about $16,500 each over the 20 years we lived there. It's a great economic shot in the arm when the checks come.

Alberta has an oil money "heritage" fund too but it was earmarked for government use. I understand a lot of it got wasted with infrastructure boondoggles instead of letting individuals blow it on snowmachines or big screen TVs.

Good summary of the various oil state's energy trust funds here.

graphicguy · December 2015

tjc78 said:
@abacomike
You mentioned Ruth's Chris. IMO they are a bit overrated now. There are other "upscale" steak houses that do it better.

Since we are talking Steak Houses, the best I've ever been to is Keen's in NYC. It's been there forever and is nothing short of amazing, however you will certainly pay for the experience.

Delfriscos, and Mortons are always good choices as well.

I agree. We have two local high end steak places that I rate better. One, close to where I live called JAGS. The other is based in Cincinnati, but has restaurants in other cities. It's Jeff Ruby's.

REgarding energy, wind, solar, electric, etc are growing exponentially. I was speaking to a TX based energy company a few weeks ago. Their execs don't believe there will be a bounce back in oil, and are planning to "right size" in 2016 as a result.

Michaell · December 2015

Then there are the "celebrity" steak houses. The first one I encountered was "Shula's" in Miami. Didn't eat there.

Here in Denver we have "Elway's" and "Shanahan's". I'm sure your local celebs have their eateries in the town where you live.

Have been to Morton's and Ruth's Chris a few times when I was on an expense account. Haven't been to either place in years.

stickguy · December 2015

had an interesting chat over the holidays with my BIL (he is a civil engineer, and works for a non-profit group that is heavily involved in start ups in poor parts of the world and energy sources). Got a good overview about oil reserves, how things are calculated (for instance, how reserves keep going up - not always new finds, rather technology to suck more out of existing wells). That and more than I wanted to hear about the Carbon situation!

he also knows a ton about the realities of wind and solar. Pretty interesting stuff.

fezo · December 2015

The Miata is back! They did terrific work on it.

Odd thing - the insurance company totaled it and then settled with me for about $800 more than the job cost. This was the body shop that they said to take it to. They're the best around.

This is actually the second time I made money on a crashed car in a year. When my daughter's 04 Camry got clobbered because she was parked at a red light that the guy behind her in an F-150 was too busy to notice. I ask my mechanic about it and he says he knows a guy who does nice work (he does!) for way less. I took the totaled money, by dragging it out they threw in the $600 they were going to withhold as salvage value. They only viewed it as a high mileage 11 year old car. I think of it as one that was owned the entire time by a Toyota mechanic and before that his mother, whose husband is a real gearhead. Other that the initial oil that came with the car it's never seen anything but synthetic.

Maybe I should start crashing cars as a side job...

abacomike · December 2015

This is the first New Years Eve that I am celebrating alone in my home. Very lonely feeling, but I did not have the strength to go out - was invited to several neighbor's as well as our country club. But it was just not meant to be this year.

But I did want to wish all of you and your families a Very Hapy New Year with hopes the New Year brings all of us HEALTH and HAPPINESS!

Best to all of you!

fezo · December 2015

Well, my new year has started out nicely and it hasn't even started yet. The Miata wasn't due to be ready until January 8.

ab348 · December 2015

abacomike said:
This is the first New Years Eve that I am celebrating alone in my home. Very lonely feeling, but I did not have the strength to go out - was invited to several neighbor's as well as our country club. But it was just not meant to be this year.

But I did want to wish all of you and your families a Very Hapy New Year with hopes the New Year brings all of us HEALTH and HAPPINESS!

Best to all of you!

I haven't gone out on NYE for a while now and don't particularly miss it. I will have a dram of one of my better scotches later - maybe a 25 year old Highland Park, or a Lagavulin, which although just 16 years old I don't think I have ever found one better. I have DVR'ed some movies to watch and will quite enjoy the solitude with the cats as company.

Happy New Year to all here in the Edmunds Forums community!

ab348 · December 2015

oldfarmer50 said:

Relive your youth:

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/5365773804.html

Given what's new, that doesn't strike me as an outrageous price for that car.

driver100 · December 2015

oldfarmer50 · December 2015

abacomike said:
This is the first New Years Eve that I am celebrating alone in my home. Very lonely feeling, but I did not have the strength to go out - was invited to several neighbor's as well as our country club. But it was just not meant to be this year.

But I did want to wish all of you and your families a Very Hapy New Year with hopes the New Year brings all of us HEALTH and HAPPINESS!

Best to all of you!

Same to you Mike.

PF_Flyer · December 2015

OK, campus of Juniata College at the entrance of a parking lot right next to the gym where there are almost always empty spots, and I don't know why

I just know I'm going to find a Two Way street sign in the vicinity

PF_Flyer · December 2015

Oh yea...

stickguy · December 2015

sign makes sense for a college. Everyone gets priority over the students that fork out huge sums to go there!

Fezo, good job. I'm a little fuzzy on the numbers, but I assume you still have the Miata, and essentially the insurance co paid you to keep it?

that is a good gig. My nephew is all excited about the same type of deal. he has an old crapper Passat (200K and looks it) and someone ran into him in a parking lot recently. Their insurance paid for the damage (banged up passenger door, but it still worked). So he is pocketing the cash and couldn't care less about the dent.

tjc78 · December 2015

Sister in law did that on the 99 S10 we gave her. Someone pulled out of a spot and she hit them. Busted bumper and light. She pocketed $1800 and the.bumper and light are still busted. So free truck, she put about a G into it for repairs and has been driving it a year. She is $800 ahead. Not bad.

Happy New Year!

ab348 · December 2015

About a dozen years ago I did something similar on my old beater '78 Delta 88. A city tree snapped off a large limb in an ice storm and it raked the driver's side of the car. Estimate to repair was $1800. I found a similar car in a junkyard, got a replacement fender, door mirror and other small bits for short money, and the body shop installed and repainted the side for under $1000. In the end I pocketed about $700.

driver100 · December 2015

If you see this twice you have had too much to drink!

Actually, the New years sign was still on here and I pressed it again so it appeared twice.

Have a doubly happy new year!

abacomike · December 2015

ab348 said:

This is the first New Years Eve that I am celebrating alone in my home. Very lonely feeling, but I did not have the strength to go out - was invited to several neighbor's as well as our country club. But it was just not meant to be this year.

But I did want to wish all of you and your families a Very Hapy New Year with hopes the New Year brings all of us HEALTH and HAPPINESS!

Best to all of you!
I haven't gone out on NYE for a while now and don't particularly miss it. I will have a dram of one of my better scotches later - maybe a 25 year old Highland Park, or a Lagavulin, which although just 16 years old I don't think I have ever found one better. I have DVR'ed some movies to watch and will quite enjoy the solitude with the cats as company. Happy New Year to all here in the Edmunds Forums community!

I have that bottle of Jack Daniels Sinatra 100 single barrel bourbon sitting in my closet. I don't drink much, but this bourbon is astonishing. I poured about three fingers into a low ball glass straight up, no ice. I just sip a little every so often. You can taste the sweetness and a hint of vanilla. One of the best gifts I've ever gotten for Christmas.

fezo · December 2015

Good thing for me that MGB is in Florida.

What I don't get on the Miata is they totaled it based on a lower number and are sending me the check. The body shop, which is a great one, is where they wanted me to go. None of this makes sense but I'm not arguing. It'll only get limited use until it's time to drop the top again but so nice to have it back. Based on the number they turned down I expected to take whatever their offer was and pocket it and say I had my fun - but it lives on! Assuming all goes well I'll probably have it three more summers and then sell it because the girls will be driving by then.

Oh, yesterday I go to the eye doctor, an appointment that was well overdue. Most everything is OK considering my eyes other than the cost of replacing lenses (they are so damn expensive I'm just using the old frames) and a confirmation that indeed I'm turning 65 in 10 days - moderate cataracts. Lots of things make sense now knowing that and the doctor said under normal circumstances he's go after them now but I only have the one good eye and while cataract surgery these days is easy and virtually foolproof it's that virtually that is the rub. Says at one point we'll have to do it but to hang on until I decide it's interfering with life.

Some of you guys have had cataract surgery. Do tell.....

stickguy · December 2015

Me and you both Fezo. If that ran strong, and was as rust free underneath and in the rockers as it appears to be, and it was for sale around the corner from me instead of a rusty green 1973 Dodge Dart, I might be getting the stink eye from my wife right about now.

stickguy · December 2015

Found out at Christmas that my dad has to go in for Cataract surgery (pretty sure cataracts!). Getting one eye done, then 2 weeks later the 2nd. Was not encouraging when he mentioned it would be nice to be able to read road signs again...

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