Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

jmonroe · December 2016

PF_Flyer said:

abacomike said:

PF_Flyer said:

Sitting in the waiting area at Tire Town. Car is in for state inspection, oil change, checking alignment after the deer impact. I brought in two dozen doughnuts for the crew. That perked 'em up

Nice that my "office" is where my 'puter is

PF - I finally experienced what you are experiencing now - oil and filter change. Forgot what it was like! Kind of enjoyable with the coffee and bagels and cream cheese. It's the $500 I didn't care too much for.

I get a little "good buddy" break since the owner is a friend, but I got away with $202 for oil change, fluid top off, alignment, rotation (that's free anyway), replacement of two light bulbs, and they ground the rust off the edge of a rotor that was randomly hitting the dust shield and making an annoying noise.

Now if they had to change the muffler bearing or headlight fluid... I could been taking out a new mortgage

As you know I'm in PA too and those state inspections get pretty pricy when you need a muffler bearing. I only got hit with that once about 4 years ago. I sure am glad the guy I have been going to for about 18 years is pretty honest. He said I won't need the headlight fluid changed until I hit 20K miles.

jmonroe

roadburner · December 2016

jmonroe said:

ab348 said:

roadburner said:

abacomike said:

PF_Flyer said:

Sitting in the waiting area at Tire Town. Car is in for state inspection, oil change, checking alignment after the deer impact. I brought in two dozen doughnuts for the crew. That perked 'em up

Nice that my "office" is where my 'puter is

PF - I finally experienced what you are experiencing now - oil and filter change. Forgot what it was like! Kind of enjoyable with the coffee and bagels and cream cheese. It's the $500 I didn't care too much for.
$500 for just an oil change? That's about what I pay for the 60k major service on the X3(before my employee discount).
You guys ought to buy a Cadillac. That's all free. I have not spent a dime on maintenance and I get a free loaner car too.

If I know anything about @roadburner, he'll get a Caddy right after he gets rid of his van.

jmonroe

Actually, I wouldn't mind an ATS-V. But a van? Never.

graphicguy · December 2016

Mr_Shiftright said:
Driving to a job I spotted a Mazda RX-7 twin turbo on a dealer's lot next door. I started to get excited! This is one of the best sports cars of the 1990s ("best" meaning looks, performance and value---not reliability), maybe one of the best sports coupes ever.

So I stroll up--car looks great, price is right and.........

it's an automatic !!

WHA?

No wonder it was dusty.

I'd buy one given a decent price. But, like you, I'd have to have a manual in a car like that.

Mr_Shiftright · December 2016

I would have bought it on the spot if it was a manual trans. I probably could have got it for $12K, sold my Mini for $4K, so I'd be in it $8,000. That's a sweet ride for that kind of money. What else could you buy for that money at that performance level? Maybe a beater Mustang SVT or a Camaro F body?

abacomike · December 2016

Hi, Dino! Good to read your posts again.

venture · December 2016

abacomike said:

iluvmysephia1 said:

Welcome back, abacomike! Nice to see you're back and chattin' cars with us again. Is it 60 degrees in Florida?

Nope - 80+ degrees down here!

Mike,

It's nice to have you back. Driver kept us updated, but it's nice to "see" you in person.

venture · December 2016

jmonroe said:

driver100 said:
My wife likes light. So we had 2 of these lights installed in our open concept vaulted ceiling livingroom/diningroom

ntegrated LEDs produce 1,600 Lumens of light
Bright white (4000K) color temperature
Provides 50,000 hours of maintenance-free operation

Now I need sunglasses when I walk in the house
That looks a lot like what Son #1 installed in his first floor family room about 2 weeks ago. I'm pretty sure he got it at Home Depot. You are right about needing sunglasses. It is very bright. He's looking into finding a dimmer for it. Since it is a LED gizmo he can't use the one that controlled the old light.

FWIW, he just installed a new 70 inch Samsung TV in his newly created game room in the basement. I haven't seen it yet but he said the picture is pretty good. I could be wrong but I don't think they make too many 70 inch cheapos.

jmonroe

LED dimmers aren't hard to find. I got a pile of them at Home Depot when I LEDed our new kitchen. Some 12v ones too.

abacomike · December 2016

venture said:

iluvmysephia1 said:

Welcome back, abacomike! Nice to see you're back and chattin' cars with us again. Is it 60 degrees in Florida?

Nope - 80+ degrees down here!
Mike, It's nice to have you back. Driver kept us updated, but it's nice to "see" you in person.

Hi venture. Funny that you can see me but I can't see you! Maybe they installed a "red light camera" in my den while I was in the hospitals and rehab centers. If you can see me, what am I wearing?

stever · December 2016

@ab348, mine are solar tubes.

thebean · December 2016

abacomike said:

venture said:

iluvmysephia1 said:

Welcome back, abacomike! Nice to see you're back and chattin' cars with us again. Is it 60 degrees in Florida?

Nope - 80+ degrees down here!
Mike, It's nice to have you back. Driver kept us updated, but it's nice to "see" you in person.

Hi venture. Funny that you can see me but I can't see you! Maybe they installed a "red light camera" in my den while I was in the hospitals and rehab centers. If you can see me, what am I wearing?

Mike, can you please cinch up your kimono? We're seeing way too much on the camera.

abacomike · December 2016

thebean said:

abacomike said:

venture said:

iluvmysephia1 said:

Welcome back, abacomike! Nice to see you're back and chattin' cars with us again. Is it 60 degrees in Florida?

Nope - 80+ degrees down here!
Mike,

It's nice to have you back. Driver kept us updated, but it's nice to "see" you in person.

Hi venture. Funny that you can see me but I can't see you! Maybe they installed a "red light camera" in my den while I was in the hospitals and rehab centers. If you can see me, what am I wearing?

Mike, can you please cinch up your kimono? We're seeing way too much on the camera.

Son of a gun! They did install a camera in my boudoir! Is there nothing sacred anymore?

abacomike · December 2016

Here's a question for you guys. The Lexus LS460 has had just about the same body style they have now since 2006/2007. Are there any plans in the next year or two to do a complete restyling of the LS460? I would think it's about time that happened - what say ya'll?

Here's an update - supposedly the LS460 and it's longer wheel base version the LS460-L are up for a redesign for model year 2018, according to some research I've done.

The reason I asked this question is that I was out today on my usual activities (visiting new car showrooms) and I test drove the 2017 LS460. My first impressions of the car had to do more with ride and handling - this is definitely not a German engineered car (yes I know, it's made in Japan). Even though it is lower to the center of gravity than the older model version (LS430), it still rides and handles a bit soft when compared to a BMW, Audi or Mercedes. Engine seems more than adequate to move the car quickly through traffic or on the interstates, but there is just something lacking on this car that is inherent in most European cars - in other words, that can best be described as a "cushiness" to the feel of the car on the road.

Other than the "cushy" feel (in comparison to German engineered cars that are stiffer and quicker to react to steering input), the vehicle is definitely a great luxury car. Just trying to figure out the technology in this car and how to get the most out of it would take weeks of intensive study and many refresher courses at the dealership. Compared to my Mercedes, the LS460 is just one giant computer with technology output overwhelming me and oozing out from just about every crevice in this car. It's definitely a vehicle that would take months to really figure out. Luckily, it still possesses a start button, an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal - otherwise, I'd be at a loss to drive this car.

As for pricing, it is right in line with European competitors, perhaps a few thousand less to own. But the ride on the interstate was terrific. But don't get me wrong, the BMW 740i (or 750i) happens to be the best driving car I've every had the pleasure of operating. However, the LS460 is definitely no slouch. Plenty of rear seat room, comfortable front seating and styling that is more typical of the Asian influence than the European influence. I like this car - but I love the BMW 740i.

28firefighter · December 2016

abacomike said:
Here's a question for you guys. The Lexus LS460 has had just about the same body style they have now since 2006/2007. Are there any plans in the next year or two to do a complete restyling of the LS460? I would think it's about time that happened - what say ya'll?

Probably true - but they don't seem to have any problem moving them as-is. They do not discount much, they have a loyal following, and do not depreciate very much. IIRC, a 2006/2007 still sells in the low-mid 20s with fairly high mileage. Pretty impressive.

Michaell · December 2016

abacomike said:
Here's a question for you guys. The Lexus LS460 has had just about the same body style they have now since 2006/2007. Are there any plans in the next year or two to do a complete restyling of the LS460? I would think it's about time that happened - what say ya'll?

Hey Mike - welcome back!

You know, I just read something in the last week about the LS - how old the current body style is.

Can't remember if it's scheduled to be replaced anytime soon.

explorerx4 · December 2016

@abacomike,
I think I just read something about a new LS coming along in 2018 or so.

carnaught · December 2016

Hey Mike, umm, the consensus here is that we've recently read something about the future LS500, but we don't recall what it is.

driver100 · December 2016

abacomike said:

venture said:

iluvmysephia1 said:

Welcome back, abacomike! Nice to see you're back and chattin' cars with us again. Is it 60 degrees in Florida?

Nope - 80+ degrees down here!

Mike,

It's nice to have you back. Driver kept us updated, but it's nice to "see" you in person.

Hi venture. &nbsp

;Funny that you can see me but I can't see you! Maybe they installed a "red light camera" in my den while I was in the hospitals and rehab centers. If you can see me, what am I wearing?

They say to cover those little cameras on your computer....hackers get in and can watch you!

explorerx4 · December 2016

I did a quick search and it looks like it debut at the January Detroit auto show. Teaser pics look like a bigger GS(front very similar).

abacomike · December 2016

28firefighter said:

abacomike said:
Here's a question for you guys. The Lexus LS460 has had just about the same body style they have now since 2006/2007. Are there any plans in the next year or two to do a complete restyling of the LS460? I would think it's about time that happened - what say ya'll?
Probably true - but they don't seem to have any problem moving them as-is. They do not discount much, they have a loyal following, and do not depreciate very much. IIRC, a 2006/2007 still sells in the low-mid 20s with fairly high mileage. Pretty impressive.

You're right, FF. You see just about every Lexus model they make on the road down here in "droves"! A very popular brand here in South Florida. I don't see as many LS460's as I do the ES350 or GS350. It's the grille work on these cars that, at times, leaves me a bit overwhelmed. I guess you could say that about the BMW and Mercedes and Audi. It seems that all the models from a specific manufacturer are beginning to look the same from the front and the rear.

berri · December 2016

They like those new Lexus grilles down there because it reminds them of open mouthed tarpon

explorerx4 · December 2016

@thebean,
At least you didn't happen to catch Mike when he was break dancing in his birthday suit.

nyccarguy · December 2016

@abacomike - I'm happy you are around and up to posting again!

abacomike · December 2016

nyccarguy said:

@abacomike - I'm happy you are around and up to posting again!

Thanks Bradd. it was the worst 10 weeks of my entire life. 2-weeks in ICU and I only remember 3 of those days.

oldfarmer50 · December 2016

qbrozen said:
I don't even notice my stats such as flags, smileys, or whatever.

I always felt bad that I never got any flags.

Made me think my wife was wrong when she said I was annoying.

oldfarmer50 · December 2016

Mr_Shiftright said:
In mid-town Manhattan, probably. A friend of mine was charged $18 for a two-cup carafe of coffee recently.

I'm sure Mercedes lumped that oil change into an A or B "service" with all kinds of "check" and "inspect" items on a long and impressive list, requiring arduous sideways glances from the technician.

Like when it says "Check condition of front axle and front axle ball joints" in the B service, do you think they really put a small jack under each ball joint and measure the play in thousandths with a dial indicator?

I wonder.

I understand that NYS is requiring inspection stations to purchase expensive window tint measuring devices as the are including that in the $21 fee. Most garages are livid and say they'll buy the dang thing but they'll never use it.

qbrozen · December 2016

oldfarmer50 said:

I don't even notice my stats such as flags, smileys, or whatever.
I always felt bad that I never got any flags. Made me think my wife was wrong when she said I was annoying.

I just peeked. Realized I need to change my profile pic. But zero tags for abuse and zero warnings. Must be losing my touch. I have been accused many times at work about being "snarky." Oh well. At least I have a couple hundreds LOLs.

fintail · December 2016

That would be 2007+. The 06 was still the old W140 copy design.

LS is a very nice car. I don't know if I would buy a new one though - a 2-3 year old one will still be many tens of thousands cheaper, and is barely different from a new one - less changes than the Germans. A 3 year old LS is probably a good car to buy and drive for a decade with few worries. You just have to like the iso-tank ethos of it. LS600h might be the one to get, a hen's tooth hybrid that wasn't built for economy.

28firefighter said:

Probably true - but they don't seem to have any problem moving them as-is. They do not discount much, they have a loyal following, and do not depreciate very much. IIRC, a 2006/2007 still sells in the low-mid 20s with fairly high mileage. Pretty impressive.

jmonroe · December 2016

What next ?

We got our first snow fall today, a good 2 inches of it and of course the roads were bad. Bad enough that a large pickup coming out of a new home construction site couldn't stop coming down the hill from site, took out a stop sign, went across a 2 lane road and T-boned right into DIL #2 while she was driving their van. She is OK and so is the guy in the pickup but from the pictures Son #2 saw and what the police said the van is more than likely totaled.

It's a good thing the kids weren't in the car because the truck hit the driver's side sliding door which is right where my granddaughter usually sits. All of the air bags on that side went off too. So they did what they were supposed to do. My DIL said the skin on the sliding door was pulled completely off and was jammed onto the pickups bumper. There is also a lot of damage to the rear quarter panel but fortunately the gas tank was not hit. The driver's door although not hit directly was jammed so she had to climb over the console to get out on the passenger side. She's pretty nimble, I guess.

My Son now has the pleasure of being ripped off for the totaled book value they are going to give him for his van. I can't remember what year it is but I think it is a 2011 KIA but it is worth more to him than what the insurance company is going to give him. He liked that van, as much as a guy can like a van, but his wife liked it a lot. I guess I'll have another sales tale from him to pass on but for the wrong reason.

Like I said DIL #2 is OK but she has to see how she feels when she gets up tomorrow morning but so far so good.

TO BE CONTIUED

jmonroe

driver100 · December 2016

My neighbor/friend has his little 1985 BMW. He said if he were to buy a newer car, he would buy a Lexus like his lady friends car. He said it is over 6 years old but Lexus is going to pay for a new instrument panel because of cracking caused by the sun.

His thinking is BMW isn't interested in supporting their product beyond 6 to 8 years, even their service departments aren't interested in working on them. He says Lexus supports their product for a long time and he likes to keep his cars for a long time.....like his BMW is 30 years old.

driver100 · December 2016

A quick question for the mechanically minded. Our condo board felt people weren't stopping at the first stop sign when you enter our community. They went and put a speed bump right where the stop sign is. It is a huge bump, feels like it is going to tear the suspension apart. Most residence hate the new speed bump. My experience is I used to stop because I really like to stop for stop signs, now I find it hard to stop because you need momentum to get over the bump.

The question is, when the "get rid of the speed bump committee" makes our presentation are there things the speed bump does that has a negative impact on our cars? That would make our case stronger.

There is one board member who thinks he is a genius for getting the new speed bump put in, he doesn't want to give it up.

driver100 · December 2016

JM at least your DIL seems to have made it through without a serious injury. Often you don't feel anything for 2 or 3 days though, then you do. Hopefully she will be fine. Watch for loss of balance or dizzy feelings, Mrs Driver felt fine after our mishap, but she still has a mild concussion, some days not great balance.

We have had a lot of accidents around here lately....we went for years with never an accident. Just a guess but people are more distracted and careless than ever....I hope this isn't a trend.

cdnpinhead · December 2016

jmonroe said:
What next ?My Son now has the pleasure of being ripped off for the totaled book value they are going to give him for his van.

Yeah, our family just dealt with this, but so long as there was no personal injury all it's about is being ripped off by the insurance company and/or their body shop cohorts. In our case it was a mechanically sound Pathfinder 4WD with 175K miles on it that they're going to pay us $4400 for.

Oh well.

Hope it works out as well as it can for your family.

suydam · December 2016

driver100 said:
A quick question for the mechanically minded. Our condo board felt people weren't stopping at the first stop sign when you enter our community. They went and put a speed bump right where the stop sign is. It is a huge bump, feels like it is going to tear the suspension apart. Most residence hate the new speed bump. My experience is I used to stop because I really like to stop for stop signs, now I find it hard to stop because you need momentum to get over the bump.

The question is, when the "get rid of the speed bump committee" makes our presentation are there things the speed bump does that has a negative impact on our cars? That would make our case stronger.

There is one board member who thinks he is a genius for getting the new speed bump put in, he doesn't want to give it up.

We have 2 huge speed bumps at the entrance to our condo. Then I guess it's ok to sail the rest of the way in. I hate them. They can't be good for your suspension or tires. I wouldn't mind small ones. But good luck getting rid of them.

@jmonroe, That sounds like a scary accident. Glad everyone's ok. You guys are making me nervous about taking my brand new car over the speed bumps and out into the big world.

stever · December 2016

Ditto @jmonroe, getting old hearing about these. Glad to hear no one was hurt at least.

And yeah, the film on mine is "in the mail".

28firefighter · December 2016

@jmonroe glad to hear your family is OK. What a pain.

roadburner · December 2016

jmonroe said:
What next ?

We got our first snow fall today, a good 2 inches of it and of course the roads were bad. Bad enough that a large pickup coming out of a new home construction site couldn't stop coming down the hill from site, took out a stop sign, went across a 2 lane road and T-boned right into DIL #2 while she was driving their van. She is OK and so is the guy in the pickup but from the pictures Son #2 saw and what the police said the van is more than likely totaled.

It's a good thing the kids weren't in the car because the truck hit the driver's side sliding door which is right where my granddaughter usually sits. All of the air bags on that side went off too. So they did what they were supposed to do. My DIL said the skin on the sliding door was pulled completely off and was jammed onto the pickups bumper. There is also a lot of damage to the rear quarter panel but fortunately the gas tank was not hit. The driver's door although not hit directly was jammed so she had to climb over the console to get out on the passenger side. She's pretty nimble, I guess.

My Son now has the pleasure of being ripped off for the totaled book value they are going to give him for his van. I can't remember what year it is but I think it is a 2011 KIA but it is worth more to him than what the insurance company is going to give him. He liked that van, as much as a guy can like a van, but his wife liked it a lot. I guess I'll have another sales tale from him to pass on but for the wrong reason.

Like I said DIL #2 is OK but she has to see how she feels when she gets up tomorrow morning but so far so good.

TO BE CONTIUED

jmonroe

Glad your DIL is okay.

nyccarguy · December 2016

@jmonroe - glad your Daughter In Law is OK

roadburner · December 2016

driver100 said:
My neighbor/friend has his little 1985 BMW. He said if he were to buy a newer car, he would buy a Lexus like his lady friends car. He said it is over 6 years old but Lexus is going to pay for a new instrument panel because of cracking caused by the sun.

His thinking is BMW isn't interested in supporting their product beyond 6 to 8 years, even their service departments aren't interested in working on them. He says Lexus supports their product for a long time and he likes to keep his cars for a long time.....like his BMW is 30 years old.

It depends in very large part on the individual dealer. My store services my 1995 ti with no issues- and even stocked oil filters for my '75 '02. One of the sales guys has an E30 325i Cab. and several service advisors have E36 3ers.

roadburner · December 2016

driver100 said:
A quick question for the mechanically minded. Our condo board felt people weren't stopping at the first stop sign when you enter our community. They went and put a speed bump right where the stop sign is. It is a huge bump, feels like it is going to tear the suspension apart. Most residence hate the new speed bump. My experience is I used to stop because I really like to stop for stop signs, now I find it hard to stop because you need momentum to get over the bump.

The question is, when the "get rid of the speed bump committee" makes our presentation are there things the speed bump does that has a negative impact on our cars? That would make our case stronger.

There is one board member who thinks he is a genius for getting the new speed bump put in, he doesn't want to give it up.

As I've mentioned before, if I encounter a speed bump I assume that it is indicative of a dangerous situation. Accordingly, I blow my horn for five to ten seconds to warn others- especially if it is after 11:00 pm local time.

qbrozen · December 2016

driver100 said:

A quick question for the mechanically minded. Our condo board felt people weren't stopping at the first stop sign when you enter our community. They went and put a speed bump right where the stop sign is. It is a huge bump, feels like it is going to tear the suspension apart. Most residence hate the new speed bump. My experience is I used to stop because I really like to stop for stop signs, now I find it hard to stop because you need momentum to get over the bump. The question is, when the "get rid of the speed bump committee" makes our presentation are there things the speed bump does that has a negative impact on our cars? That would make our case stronger. There is one board member who thinks he is a genius for getting the new speed bump put in, he doesn't want to give it up.

If you crawl over, it won't do anything. You can go over a curb without damage if you go slow enough, provided you have the clearance. I do love RB's solution, but my argument against it, if it is really that big, is that now you can't get a Mclaren or Lambo because the front splitter won't clear, and now you have to sue the board for the mental anguish that is causing you.

28firefighter · December 2016

roadburner said:

A quick question for the mechanically minded. Our condo board felt people weren't stopping at the first stop sign when you enter our community. They went and put a speed bump right where the stop sign is. It is a huge bump, feels like it is going to tear the suspension apart. Most residence hate the new speed bump. My experience is I used to stop because I really like to stop for stop signs, now I find it hard to stop because you need momentum to get over the bump. The question is, when the "get rid of the speed bump committee" makes our presentation are there things the speed bump does that has a negative impact on our cars? That would make our case stronger. There is one board member who thinks he is a genius for getting the new speed bump put in, he doesn't want to give it up.
As I've mentioned before, if I encounter a speed bump I assume that it is indicative of a dangerous situation. Accordingly, I blow my horn for five to ten seconds to warn others- especially if it is after 11:00 pm local time.

And coffee right through the nose.

abacomike · December 2016

jmonroe said:

What next ? We got our first snow fall today, a good 2 inches of it and of course the roads were bad. Bad enough that a large pickup coming out of a new home construction site couldn't stop coming down the hill from site, took out a stop sign, went across a 2 lane road and T-boned right into DIL #2 while she was driving their van. She is OK and so is the guy in the pickup but from the pictures Son #2 saw and what the police said the van is more than likely totaled. It's a good thing the kids weren't in the car because the truck hit the driver's side sliding door which is right where my granddaughter usually sits. All of the air bags on that side went off too. So they did what they were supposed to do. My DIL said the skin on the sliding door was pulled completely off and was jammed onto the pickups bumper. There is also a lot of damage to the rear quarter panel but fortunately the gas tank was not hit. The driver's door although not hit directly was jammed so she had to climb over the console to get out on the passenger side. She's pretty nimble, I guess. My Son now has the pleasure of being ripped off for the totaled book value they are going to give him for his van. I can't remember what year it is but I think it is a 2011 KIA but it is worth more to him than what the insurance company is going to give him. He liked that van, as much as a guy can like a van, but his wife liked it a lot. I guess I'll have another sales tale from him to pass on but for the wrong reason. Like I said DIL #2 is OK but she has to see how she feels when she gets up tomorrow morning but so far so good. TO BE CONTIUED jmonroe

Thank goodness your DIL was unhurt and that the grandkids were not on board. If I saw a truck skidding down a road on its way to slamming into me, I would have had flashbacks of all the sins I had committed in my lifetime and prayed for forgiveness before it was too late. Scary situation that turned out OK. Thank goodness JM!

abacomike · December 2016

driver100 said:

A quick question for the mechanically minded. Our condo board felt people weren't stopping at the first stop sign when you enter our community. They went and put a speed bump right where the stop sign is. It is a huge bump, feels like it is going to tear the suspension apart. Most residence hate the new speed bump. My experience is I used to stop because I really like to stop for stop signs, now I find it hard to stop because you need momentum to get over the bump. The question is, when the "get rid of the speed bump committee" makes our presentation are there things the speed bump does that has a negative impact on our cars? That would make our case stronger. There is one board member who thinks he is a genius for getting the new speed bump put in, he doesn't want to give it up.

Over time, speedbumps can play havoc on a car's shocks and suspension, depending on the speed these gremlins are tackled. Luckily, the only places in our community that have them is at the entrances by the two security checkpoints. It prevents our more elderly drivers from zooming through the gates and tearing down the gate barriers (which still occurs frequently enough that they ended up putting in "break-away" gate poles). Many of our residents are visually impaired and don't/can't see the gate poles or speedbumps anyway.

Putting speed bumps too close to the stop signs is really ineffective in getting cars to stop appropriately. A better solution is to put a Sherman Tank at each stop sign with its cannon turret pointed in the direction of the stop sign intersection. Then have it fire upon cars not stopping for the stop sign. It won't take long for the residents and visitors to obey stop signs after that!

driver100 · December 2016

qbrozen said:

driver100 said:

A quick question for the mechanically minded. Our condo board felt people weren't stopping at the first stop sign when you enter our community. They went and put a speed bump right where the stop sign is. It is a huge bump, feels like it is going to tear the suspension apart. Most residence hate the new speed bump. My experience is I used to stop because I really like to stop for stop signs, now I find it hard to stop because you need momentum to get over the bump.

The question is, when the "get rid of the speed bump committee" makes our presentation are there things the speed bump does that has a negative impact on our cars? That would make our case stronger.

There is one board member who thinks he is a genius for getting the new speed bump put in, he doesn't want to give it up.

If you crawl over, it won't do anything. You can go over a curb without damage if you go slow enough, provided you have the clearance. I do love RB's solution, but my argument against it, if it is really that big, is that now you can't get a Mclaren or Lambo because the front splitter won't clear, and now you have to sue the board for the mental anguish that is causing you

.

Great answer...I'll mention it at the board meeting next month.

Also like RBs solution.

Some people have golf carts...that can't be too safe!

houdini1 · December 2016

roadburner said:

driver100 said:
My neighbor/friend has his little 1985 BMW. He said if he were to buy a newer car, he would buy a Lexus like his lady friends car. He said it is over 6 years old but Lexus is going to pay for a new instrument panel because of cracking caused by the sun.

His thinking is BMW isn't interested in supporting their product beyond 6 to 8 years, even their service departments aren't interested in working on them. He says Lexus supports their product for a long time and he likes to keep his cars for a long time.....like his BMW is 30 years old.
It depends in very large part on the individual dealer. My store services my 1995 ti with no issues- and even stocked oil filters for my '75 '02. One of the sales guys has an E30 325i Cab. and several service advisors have E36 3ers.

RR, how are the sales duties going. Making that quota?

robr2 · December 2016

oldfarmer50 said:

I understand that NYS is requiring inspection stations to purchase expensive window tint measuring devices as the are including that in the $21 fee. Most garages are livid and say they'll buy the dang thing but they'll never use it.

The tool costs about $150 and a spokesman for the shops claims it will add 15 minutes to the already 45 minute inspection process. IMHO, it's more about about the low fee that NYS charges for the inspection. For NYS residents - has it ever taken 45 minutes for an inspection?

oldfarmer50 · December 2016

Most places just slap stickers for customers they trust but even that has limits. The state only allows a limited number of stickers for each location.

Edit: I should clarify that. They have to do the emission testing since their computer is tied directly to DMV so no more ramming an iron bar through the CAT to fix poor performance. But the rest of the inspection might be done with a pencil whip.

sda · December 2016

oldfarmer50 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:
In mid-town Manhattan, probably. A friend of mine was charged $18 for a two-cup carafe of coffee recently.

I'm sure Mercedes lumped that oil change into an A or B "service" with all kinds of "check" and "inspect" items on a long and impressive list, requiring arduous sideways glances from the technician.

Like when it says "Check condition of front axle and front axle ball joints" in the B service, do you think they really put a small jack under each ball joint and measure the play in thousandths with a dial indicator?

I wonder.
I understand that NYS is requiring inspection stations to purchase expensive window tint measuring devices as the are including that in the $21 fee. Most garages are livid and say they'll buy the dang thing but they'll never use it.

Unless the law has changed since I moved from NC to SC, at the annual car inspection in NC if you have after market tinted windows you have to prove that the tint is below a certain % and there is an extra charge added to the inspection amount, I think it is around $25-30.

fintail · December 2016

I like the horn idea for speedbumps. Luckily, they aren't as common on public roads here. In my area, where they exist, they are usually on sweeping wide residential streets where a car could probably go 60 without much hassle, but shouldn't due to pedestrian traffic. They are low wide humps, where I usually just let off the throttle and go from 30 to 15-20 or so, and don't feel it too much - the fintail just glides over them. Probably less harm done than with the growing number of potholes, random big lumps, and primitive road surfaces on major streets here.

graphicguy · December 2016

Funny....I haven't thought about a Lexus LS in a LONG time. I don't recall seeing many around Cincinnati, EVER!

Still sort of like the IS350 F Sport and the GS550 F Sport, however.

Neighbor has a 750iL. Not sure the year, but it's a recent vintage. Winter time we don't talk much, at least not as much as the warmer months since we don't hang outside all that much. But, last summer I remember him saying that while packed with technology, he only uses about ⅓ of it. Something to keep in mind...paying for "Stuff" you don't use.

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