Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

imidazol97 · February 2016

oldfarmer50 said:
When the mother says "your father won't call the exterminator, he says it's personal" my wife started laughing that it sounded like me chasing squirrels away from the bird feeder.

Is there any good way to keep squirrels from trying to get into bird feeders? I can't use a shotgun within the city limits. I keep trapping them and sending them across the river. But 3-4 squirrels keep showing up even if I've caught 3 -4 within the last couple weeks. They are like rabbits.

Any repellants?

andres3 · February 2016

snakeweasel said:

stickguy said:
well, government is the ultimate monopoly.
Well We vote for them. Now if voters actually voted looking at the choices like business people look at employees instead of voting on "promises" of the future maybe things will change.

But voters are voting for ho gives the bigger handout so we are doomed.

I think a lot of the voters picking the leading Democratic contender are not voting so much for "free" handouts, but equally as much on taxing the ultra rich and getting something back from the 1% that got bailed out with trillions in 2008 and 2009. Think of it as affirmative action in the tax sector. It is time the true total costs of the bailouts really got paid back. But that is just my opinion.

berri · February 2016

I think globalization fattened corporate exec wallets while the cost of bringing the third world up came proportionately out of lowering the life quality and financial security of westerners. BTW, both political parties were involved in all of this takeaway from the workers and help corporations through globalizing.

Mr_Shiftright · February 2016

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:
When the mother says "your father won't call the exterminator, he says it's personal" my wife started laughing that it sounded like me chasing squirrels away from the bird feeder.
Is there any good way to keep squirrels from trying to get into bird feeders? I can't use a shotgun within the city limits. I keep trapping them and sending them across the river. But 3-4 squirrels keep showing up even if I've caught 3 -4 within the last couple weeks. They are like rabbits.

Any repellants?

Diana Model 52 Air Pump Pellet Gun (made in Germany)

andres3 · February 2016

houdini1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:
Buying something 2-3 years old is appealing on so many levels---owner #1 gets to work the bugs out, if any, and he takes the biggest hit on depreciation for you.
Works best on fairly expensive cars. I've been doing it for years.

When I buy a new car I avoid models that have "bugs" as an option.

No new car should need "bugs worked out." This isn't Beta software were talking about.

Mr_Shiftright · February 2016

Yeah, well, sometimes ugly things appear on new models that are not foreseen. This is especially true nowadays, since cars have become, IMO, overly complex to no good purpose.

tjc78 · February 2016

abacomike said:

tjc78 said:

I've told this before but I had an aftermarket windshield installed in my LaCrosse (with heads up display) and you couldn't tell a thing. In that car with as raked as the windshield is you would definately notice if something wasn't right.

tjc, could you repost this - I have no idea what your last sentence is trying to communicate.

The Lacrosse's windshield is really sloped (pushed out at the bottom more than many other cars) and what I was trying to convey is with that kind of angle any imperfections in the glass would have been easily seen.

suydam · February 2016

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:
When the mother says "your father won't call the exterminator, he says it's personal" my wife started laughing that it sounded like me chasing squirrels away from the bird feeder.
Is there any good way to keep squirrels from trying to get into bird feeders? I can't use a shotgun within the city limits. I keep trapping them and sending them across the river. But 3-4 squirrels keep showing up even if I've caught 3 -4 within the last couple weeks. They are like rabbits.

Any repellants?

Squirrel baffles on post feeders. They really work.

abacomike · February 2016

Mr_Shiftright said:

Yeah, well, sometimes ugly things appear on new models that are not foreseen. This is especially true nowadays, since cars have become, IMO, overly complex to no good purpose.

They have become extremely complex, not just with computer technology to run the engine economically and ecologically, but also by substituting the driver's 5-senses with electronic feedback safety systems fed by microwaves, radar, camera images, as well as a multitude of audible alert signals to warn of something imminent.

No longer is the driver in total control using his/her senses and abilities to move the vehicle from one place to another. Auto manufacturers have designed and engineered, with prodding from the Federal Government, a myriad of systems purposely devoted to taking away more and more of a driver's decision making "rights and/or powers" and placing them in the domain of robotic-type systems controlled by micro-circuitry dependent computers.

Have these systems reduced accidents and improved economy while simultaneously reducing harmful emissions? Yes, they have, but at the expense of the individual who truly enjoys driving a car the old-fashioned way - by the seat of his/her pants. It has caused a "dulling" of the driving senses while making the driver more dependent and at the mercy of computer technology and its feedback systems.

It's the old story of an ongoing conflict of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!

abacomike · February 2016

tjc78 said:

tjc78 said:

I've told this before but I had an aftermarket windshield installed in my LaCrosse (with heads up display) and you couldn't tell a thing. In that car with as raked as the windshield is you would definately notice if something wasn't right.

tjc, could you repost this - I have no idea what your last sentence is trying to communicate.
The Lacrosse's windshield is really sloped (pushed out at the bottom more than many other cars) and what I was trying to convey is with that kind of angle any imperfections in the glass would have been easily seen.

Thanks, tjc. I think I understand what you were attempting to convey. No doubt that a more curved and slanted windshield can cause light refracted through the glass to distort vision.

oldfarmer50 · February 2016

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:
When the mother says "your father won't call the exterminator, he says it's personal" my wife started laughing that it sounded like me chasing squirrels away from the bird feeder.
Is there any good way to keep squirrels from trying to get into bird feeders? I can't use a shotgun within the city limits. I keep trapping them and sending them across the river. But 3-4 squirrels keep showing up even if I've caught 3 -4 within the last couple weeks. They are like rabbits.

Any repellants?

I was going to tell you pellet gun but Shifty beat me to it. No matter how many you pop, more will show up.

oldfarmer50 · February 2016

Mr_Shiftright said:
Yeah, well, sometimes ugly things appear on new models that are not foreseen. This is especially true nowadays, since cars have become, IMO, overly complex to no good purpose.

I was just reviewing in my mind how many modern car engines would be perfect except for some minor defect that causes major problems.

Examples:

Northstar which was a technological marvel except for some head bolts that were too short.

3.8L GM 6cyl. Which was bullet proof except for intake gaskets.

Even my beloved Ford 4.6L 4 valve which has cheap plastic timing chain guides which cost $1500 to get at once they crack.

And then there are plenty of sluge making engines from Honda, Toyota and Chrysler.

I guess the devil is indeed in the details.

stever · February 2016

When I lived in the UP, my neighbor trapped chipmunks and every week or two he'd dump them on the other side of the nearby river.

I'm sure the people living over there trapped them and returned them to town.

suydam · February 2016

You can give them their own food too away from the bird feeders. They have to eat too!

Mr_Shiftright · February 2016

suydam said:

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:
When the mother says "your father won't call the exterminator, he says it's personal" my wife started laughing that it sounded like me chasing squirrels away from the bird feeder.
Is there any good way to keep squirrels from trying to get into bird feeders? I can't use a shotgun within the city limits. I keep trapping them and sending them across the river. But 3-4 squirrels keep showing up even if I've caught 3 -4 within the last couple weeks. They are like rabbits.

Any repellants?

Squirrel baffles on post feeders. They really work.

A piece of stovepipe or PVC around the shaft of the feeder stand can deter them--but if the squirrel can leap from any tree or structure, only German pellet power can stop them.

Or invite an owl on to your property. They do good work.

andres3 · February 2016

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I sat in an E class at the auto show. Very comfy. Great visibility. My son said it was an "old mans car". Considering the 2 people here I know that have one (well, until recently 2), I couldn't argue with him.
I agree with everything you said stick. It is the most comfortable car I have been in, and it has the best visibility I have experienced. If "old man's car" means the most sensible, logical, best handling and easiest to drive car made I would agree. Ask your son what a young person's car would be....a Fit, a Prius, a Camaro, a Scion, a Miata, Corvette........he's absolutely correct, I will take the E.
I take an old man's car to be one that is so expensive that you are an old man by the time you save enough money to buy one.

How come you left Mustang off your young man's list? Though I must admit I usually only see olds coots driving them.

Speaking of which I saw a previous gen. Mustang in the same color as mine with a big wide white stripe down the middle. Hideous! Must have been some kid's car. No old fart would ruin his car like that.

Kind of like this but looked worse:

Maybe the stripe lowers drag which increases performance? LOL, j/k

I always laugh at the cars that try to look fast, but aren't, like the Corolla S.

Mr_Shiftright · February 2016

I can't quite see from the photo, but those look like 10 horsepower stripes---if I had a tape measure and the car in front of me, I could verify that. They could even be the wider"turbo stripes", which, after a few beers, can boost your dyno readings well over 500.

andres3 · February 2016

oldfarmer50 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:
Yeah, well, sometimes ugly things appear on new models that are not foreseen. This is especially true nowadays, since cars have become, IMO, overly complex to no good purpose.
I was just reviewing in my mind how many modern car engines would be perfect except for some minor defect that causes major problems.

Examples:

Northstar which was a technological marvel except for some head bolts that were too short.

3.8L GM 6cyl. Which was bullet proof except for intake gaskets.

Even my beloved Ford 4.6L 4 valve which has cheap plastic timing chain guides which cost $1500 to get at once they crack.

And then there are plenty of sluge making engines from Honda, Toyota and Chrysler.

I guess the devil is indeed in the details.

These sludge making engines from Honda or Toyota must happen after 300,000 miles because I just haven't heard of or seen any real-world examples. I'm sure there's a "link" somewhere claiming it exists, but to call it "plenty"? Honda & Toyota's built their rep on long lasting engines.

imidazol97 · February 2016

oldfarmer50 said:
I was going to tell you pellet gun but Shifty beat me to it. No matter how many you pop, more will show up.

Can't use a pellet gun in the city limits.

Have considered the pellets for gophers or whatever they are that are peanut butter scented and contain a dehydration chemical IIRC. Really tired of squirrels damaging stuff. Have metal shepherd hook poles greased with vaseline.

driver100 · February 2016

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:
I was going to tell you pellet gun but Shifty beat me to it. No matter how many you pop, more will show up.
Can't use a pellet gun in the city limits.

Have considered the pellets for gophers or whatever they are that are peanut butter scented and contain a dehydration chemical IIRC. Really tired of squirrels damaging stuff. Have metal shepherd hook poles greased with vaseline.

All I know is you can drive 3 or 4 of them miles away, and new ones will come in to take their place. To protect bird feeders use a shield or a bird feeder that is especially made so squirrels can't get at the food.

explorerx4 · February 2016

@bwia,
Sounds like a noble intention, but be wary of drugs. You don't want to get linked to them by having your name on some asset.
My FIL had one of his cars traded for drugs, It took a few days, but some of his other kids repo'ed it.

stickguy · February 2016

The birds near me seem to do fine finding their own food in the trees. or wherever they go in the winter to live. Squirrels I can live without.

did have some deer today. was sitting at my desk (home office) which is in a back bedroom, and noticed something behind the fence moving. Turned out to be 3 deer (that I spotted) scrounging for good behind my fence (we back up to a decent sized wooded area so tend to get them wandering through).

much more interesting than the conference call I was on.

stickguy · February 2016

@bwia, if you somehow decide to do it, just make it a gift and put it in his name. Follow the rule of lending money or doing business with a relative. Assume it is a gift and never expect it back. And don't put your name on anything!

suydam · February 2016

If you mount the feeder pole far enough from a tree where a squirrel can't leap, and put a baffle on the pole where they can't climb, you're good to go.

oldfarmer50 · February 2016

What's your opinion on TMU cars? How would you go about researching if this item was a low mile gem or a high mile junk? Would you gamble $2500?

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto/5443561857.html

abacomike · February 2016

imidazol97 said:

I was going to tell you pellet gun but Shifty beat me to it. No matter how many you pop, more will show up.
Can't use a pellet gun in the city limits. Have considered the pellets for gophers or whatever they are that are peanut butter scented and contain a dehydration chemical IIRC. Really tired of squirrels damaging stuff. Have metal shepherd hook poles greased with vaseline.

We have a large number of Ficus Trees in my community along with hybrid Palms. Squirrels just love those two species for protection from the preditors in the area. They are cute little things but...in the winter, in order to stay warm when we get cold snaps like we are experiencing this year, they climb into the engine compartments of the cars parked outside and love to chew up the insulation under the hood.

There isn't much we can do to inhibit their attacks on the insulation except to make sure you use your car frequently to entice their departure from their cozy abodes above the engine.

Reptiles that inhabit the area (iguanas, snakes, gators, etc.) have the most difficulties in this habitat when temps drop into the high 30's and low 40's. They become less inhibited as they search for warmth from the sun during the day.

But squirrels seem to cause the most nuisance in wintertime since they do not hybernate.

PF_Flyer · February 2016

Already have seen a news story about smaller police departments wondering who is going to pay for them to have the license plate reader equipment. And of course, people are raising "privacy" concerns.

Pennsylvania to eliminate registration stickers in 2017

carnaught · February 2016

roadburner said:
Well, five days into M235i ownership and I'm absolutely convinced I made the right call.....

(Catching up on posts). Very cool car, BTW, congrats!

tjc78 · February 2016

That 90 GM is really clean regardless of the miles... In all honesty with how it looks it's probably better off with the higher miles because it was obviously maintained. If it's truly 19k it probably needs at the very least every fluid, hose, and belt changed.

Nice car, I had an 89. Burgundy/Burgundy top over grey velour. Different pattern then the one you posted. Mine was an Ls.

snakeweasel · February 2016

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:
When the mother says "your father won't call the exterminator, he says it's personal" my wife started laughing that it sounded like me chasing squirrels away from the bird feeder.
Is there any good way to keep squirrels from trying to get into bird feeders? I can't use a shotgun within the city limits. I keep trapping them and sending them across the river. But 3-4 squirrels keep showing up even if I've caught 3 -4 within the last couple weeks. They are like rabbits.

Any repellants?

It has been my experience that there is no such thing as a squirrel proof bird feeder.

snakeweasel · February 2016

andres3 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:
Yeah, well, sometimes ugly things appear on new models that are not foreseen. This is especially true nowadays, since cars have become, IMO, overly complex to no good purpose.
I was just reviewing in my mind how many modern car engines would be perfect except for some minor defect that causes major problems.

Examples:

Northstar which was a technological marvel except for some head bolts that were too short.

3.8L GM 6cyl. Which was bullet proof except for intake gaskets.

Even my beloved Ford 4.6L 4 valve which has cheap plastic timing chain guides which cost $1500 to get at once they crack.

And then there are plenty of sluge making engines from Honda, Toyota and Chrysler.

I guess the devil is indeed in the details.

These sludge making engines from Honda or Toyota must happen after 300,000 miles because I just haven't heard of or seen any real-world examples. I'm sure there's a "link" somewhere claiming it exists, but to call it "plenty"? Honda & Toyota's built their rep on long lasting engines.

I have know a couple of people who had the sludge issue with Toyota, but it was after something like 30,000 miles not 300,000.

I had a co-worker whose engine on their new Honda turned into a paperweight at around 3,000 miles.

snakeweasel · February 2016

driver100 said:

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:
I was going to tell you pellet gun but Shifty beat me to it. No matter how many you pop, more will show up.
Can't use a pellet gun in the city limits.

Have considered the pellets for gophers or whatever they are that are peanut butter scented and contain a dehydration chemical IIRC. Really tired of squirrels damaging stuff. Have metal shepherd hook poles greased with vaseline.
All I know is you can drive 3 or 4 of them miles away, and new ones will come in to take their place. To protect bird feeders use a shield or a bird feeder that is especially made so squirrels can't get at the food.

Tried it, doesn't work. I swear, if I could operate like those squirrels I could get all the gold out of Fort Knox without anyone knowing.

snakeweasel · February 2016

OK while getting here I spied an Edmunds link to an article on the new Kia SUV hybrid. It stated this "The 2017 Kia Niro is an all-new hybrid SUV that aims to deliver up to 50 mpg in combined driving. It made its world debut today at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show and is expected to go on sale in early 2017." Which surprises me as the Auto Show opens Saturday (Friday for a charitable event).

stickguy · February 2016

Farmer, looks nice for the money. A good mechanic can look for signs to indicate if it is really low miles. But if it checks out for that price, hard to go wrong.

PF, NJ had those stickers for a few years. Then they cancelled them. Never made much sense, since you also have the big on on the windshield for inspection. Though we also have 2 plates not 1!

I don't really recall Honda sludge. That was a Toyota thing. Honda had the junky V6 ATs!

berri · February 2016

I think those Fomoco large cars look good in those conservative shades. I agree it needs to be checked out. A good looking girl can also be a head case sometimes! I think you're right about Toyota sludge and Honda trannies.

[Deleted User] · February 2016

stickguy said:
That was a Toyota thing. Honda had the junky V6 ATs!

The Civic had a run of bad engine blocks, too. No manufacturer is perfect. Not a single one.

jwilliams2 · February 2016

Re: Squirrels removal.... (this may have been posted before)

There were four churches and a synagogue in a small town: a Presbyterian church, a Baptist church, a Methodist church, a Catholic church and a Jewish synagogue. Each church and the synagogue had a problem with squirrels.

The Presbyterian church called a meeting to decide what to do about their squirrels. After much prayer and consideration they determined the squirrels were predestined to be there and they shouldn't interfere with God's divine will.

At the Baptist church the squirrels had taken an interest in the baptistery. The deacons met and decided to put a water slide on the baptistery and let the squirrels drown themselves. The squirrels liked the slide and, unfortunately, knew instinctively how to swim so twice as many squirrels showed up the following week.

The Methodist church decided that they were not in a position to harm any of God's creatures. So, they humanely trapped their squirrels and set them free near the Baptist Church. Two weeks later the squirrels were back when the Baptists took down the water slide.

But the Catholic Church came up with a very creative strategy. They baptized all the squirrels and consecrated them as members of the church. Now they only see them on Christmas and Easter.

Not much was heard from the Jewish synagogue, but it's rumored that they took one squirrel and circumcised him. They haven't seen a squirrel on their property since.

[Deleted User] · February 2016

I just returned from Austin, and after a couple of more days with the Venza I stand by my original assessment. Definitely not the vehicle for me. Without wind I noticed some improvement, but still, not a vehicle I enjoyed spending time in.

So the weather back home has warmed up enough for me to start the Audi project. Today I started with a thorough wash followed by an application of Iron-X, a product that chemically attacks iron particles imbedded in paint. The third step was to clay bar the surface. Saturday I start to compound and polish the paint to a black, reflective luster. Can't wait.

stever · February 2016

Nice mpg and nice big empty.

2017 Kia Niro Hybrid SUV To Deliver up to 50 MPG

[Deleted User] · February 2016

That's a decent looking station wagon. I'll be interested to see what the plug-in version achieves for range and at what cost. I looked at the Volt before buying the Audi, but the rear seat was a deal killer. I literally could not enter the backseat without whacking my head hard enough to induce a headache.

stickguy · February 2016

Now that Kia, I like. Hopefully Hyundai has a version by fall 2017!

stever · February 2016

2010? Sure you don't want to go for a Lexus XC 90 now?

(Don't forget the 4 hour edit window. )

stickguy · February 2016

I have no clue what you are talking about.

driver100 · February 2016

stever said:
Nice mpg and nice big empty.

2017 Kia Niro Hybrid SUV To Deliver up to 50 MPG

But who cares about mpg these days?

I feel guilty filling up for $30!

stickguy · February 2016

I can't even break $20 these days on a fill-up.

snakeweasel · February 2016

driver100 said:

stever said:
Nice mpg and nice big empty.

2017 Kia Niro Hybrid SUV To Deliver up to 50 MPG

But who cares about mpg these days?

I feel guilty filling up for $30!

There are people who do, seems I see more and more some idiot in a Prius screwing up rush hour traffic by hypermiling.

suydam · February 2016

There's no need to label people "idiots" who care about the environment.

stever · February 2016

Or maybe they are just cheap, like me. I'd stay in the right lane though if I had to be on the freeway in the first place. Nice thing about working at home, you can be green and cheap at the same time.

iluvmysephia1 · February 2016

There's no need to label people "idiots" who care about the environment.

West Coast "save-the-environment-people" have a voice too. All-electric rigs? Man has a long way to go, huh?

driver100 · February 2016

suydam said:
There's no need to label people "idiots" who care about the environment.

I think he was saying....they were idiots for hypermiling, I assume following transport trucks closely to save a bit of fuel.....and that is the part that is idiotic........whether it is a battery power car or a gasser.

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