In over 140k miles over 12+ years, the only thing touched on the engine of my 2002 Explorer, other than air filters, was a new PVC valve($10) and a new serp belt tensioner plus belt($300).
Our 2004 Escape had on oil pan leak($250) and new serp belt ($75).
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
On cars like that, I wonder why they bother starting with a real car at all. New frame, new sheet metal, new everything else. Maybe the roof is original? I dunno. Anyway, I don't have issue with projects like this as long as they start with a pile of junk or something like a 6-cyl automatic car.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Ab gets away with it because Caddies all look the same too, but he got an ATS which looks like the higher price CTS. Smart, I can't even get back at him....but, one day I will - when he least expects it.
I hope I never get on your wrong side. LOL
I always get my revenge. ALWAYS! Remember my neighbor who cut down 6, 40 foot Spruce trees so he could put in his pool? Those trees were a buffer, between our kitchen window and his pool....and I don't particularly want to watch him swimming. I put in 5 trees to get the barrier back.....and it cost me about $10000. Then we tinted our windows so he couldn't see in.....$2000. I didn't talk to him for at least 3 years...not one word to him or his wife.
Well, he had a a big computer job. He didn't complete a major project on time and he got canned. He sold his house and moved to Vancouver Island. The new neighbors are really nice.
Most companies that fired me or didn't treat me well have either gone out of business or aren't doing too well.
I always win! I am the easiest going, mildest person in the world, until someone crosses me.
Don't lose sleep though ab, I still like you, and I know you were only having fun....and that is OK!
10K for 5 trees? I'd have not looked when the guy was in the pool!
Maybe mechanically, but once paint and interior are neglected, they can be impossible to really put back right. The car that grandma drove to the store twice a week or grandpa just used to visit the country club is the one I'd want.
I think in cars like Lexus, it doesn't matter if they are "abused" as long as they were properly maintained. They will be rock-solid reliable regardless of the manner driven.
On the other hand, you can baby 0-10% throttle a car its whole life, and you'll still get this:
Diamond Silver is a really rare color, I have seen maybe a few W212 and one W213 in it. I like blue, and I like light colors for ease of maintenance, so it works for me. If I was building a car, I would choose it. The new E has soft lines anyway, so it works. The prior model, with more angles, really worked well in that non-metallic white.
Red doesn't suit an E, I agree. There's a darker red that kind of works, but the brighter non-metallic red just looks too racy.
There was an even better blue several years ago, "Quartz Blue". This one is also really rare, and I remember seeing more of it in Florida than anywhere else I have been:
I love my V6, 330 hp E400. I always like more hp, but this one is very satisfying. Comfort is plenty fast but Sport + can really move.
I ordered my 2015 in Diamond Silver. Then one day I saw one that was Diamond Silver and I saw a white one. The DS doesn't do it justice, kind of softens the lines too much. I was able to change to white and it was the last day I could do it before it went to production. My salesperson was very happy I changed it....DS is hard to resell, not too many people order it. I think it sounds good in theory, but just doesn't suit the car.
I almost ordered red for the 2017....I like it on Caddies. I chickened out and got white again, glad I did, I saw a red one and I am glad I didn't order it. Suits a smaller MB.
Diamond Silver is a really rare color, I have seen maybe a few W212 and one W213 in it. I like blue, and I like light colors for ease of maintenance, so it works for me. If I was building a car, I would choose it. The new E has soft lines anyway, so it works. The prior model, with more angles, really worked well in that non-metallic white.
Red doesn't suit an E, I agree. There's a darker red that kind of works, but the brighter non-metallic red just looks too racy.
There was an even better blue several years ago, "Quartz Blue". This one is also really rare, and I remember seeing more of it in Florida than anywhere else I have been:
I love my V6, 330 hp E400. I always like more hp, but this one is very satisfying. Comfort is plenty fast but Sport + can really move.
I ordered my 2015 in Diamond Silver. Then one day I saw one that was Diamond Silver and I saw a white one. The DS doesn't do it justice, kind of softens the lines too much. I was able to change to white and it was the last day I could do it before it went to production. My salesperson was very happy I changed it....DS is hard to resell, not too many people order it. I think it sounds good in theory, but just doesn't suit the car.
I almost ordered red for the 2017....I like it on Caddies. I chickened out and got white again, glad I did, I saw a red one and I am glad I didn't order it. Suits a smaller MB.
I like the Quartz Blue...it has a richness to it. Normally, a silver color with blue in it should be very popular, but, people don't buy it. Like I said, my salesman was relieved I changed to white.....the DS would be a hard sell used. This was the only picture I could get. btw...I don't remember seeing that line on the Quartz E400 that goes from in front of the rear wheel and up and over the wheel well.
Here it is on a 2017 or 18 (looks washed out or something....no life to it IMHO) Compared to white;
I like the Quartz Blue...it has a richness to it. Normally, a silver color with blue in it should be very popular, but, people don't buy it. Like I said, my salesman was relieved I changed to white.....the DS would be a hard sell used. This was the only picture I could get. btw...I don't remember seeing that line on the Quartz E400 that goes from in front of the rear wheel and up and over the wheel well.
I like the Quartz Blue...it has a richness to it. Normally, a silver color with blue in it should be very popular, but, people don't buy it. Like I said, my salesman was relieved I changed to white.....the DS would be a hard sell used. This was the only picture I could get. btw...I don't remember seeing that line on the Quartz E400 that goes from in front of the rear wheel and up and over the wheel well.
That Diamond Silver couldn't have been too popular.....it isn't offered on a 2017 E, and it was on the 2015 model.
I could be wrong, but that kick up line over the back wheels only seems to appear on certain E's, not all of them. I like it better without that extra crease.(this one is a hybrid, maybe that is why it is there).
LOL, I guess they don't won't just any old mechanic getting his dirty, greasy hands on that engine. (and cheating them out of their rightful due) You probably need a couple of "special tools" just to get the cover off.
If they could figure out a way to change the motor oil without opening the hood, then in a Lexus you wouldn't even need to open the hood in the first 50,000 miles, right?
Come to think of it, I have owned 3 LS's and the only time I open the hood is to wipe it with a cloth (the way Hillary did with her computer), but the cover is never dirty.
That Audi dealer where I bought it, cleaned it up about the same way I do when I clean our house. Very superficially. I had to work on it for a couple of hours after I got it home, but I enjoyed it !
OK, I have updated my profile to add the new car. It shows up in my profile but not when I post. I changed it and saved the changes but there must be another step. Help.
Houdini, how do you add window washer fluid? What about checking the oil? What if you wanted to put a trickle charger on the battery?
You have easy access to do all of that without disturbing the cover.
LOL, I guess they don't won't just any old mechanic getting his dirty, greasy hands on that engine. (and cheating them out of their rightful due) You probably need a couple of "special tools" just to get the cover off.
If they could figure out a way to change the motor oil without opening the hood, then in a Lexus you wouldn't even need to open the hood in the first 50,000 miles, right?
Come to think of it, I have owned 3 LS's and the only time I open the hood is to wipe it with a cloth (the way Hillary did with her computer), but the cover is never dirty.
That Audi dealer where I bought it, cleaned it up about the same way I do when I clean our house. Very superficially. I had to work on it for a couple of hours after I got it home, but I enjoyed it !
OK, I have updated my profile to add the new car. It shows up in my profile but not when I post. I changed it and saved the changes but there must be another step. Help.
Houdini, how do you add window washer fluid? What about checking the oil? What if you wanted to put a trickle charger on the battery?
You have easy access to do all of that without disturbing the cover.
LOL, I guess they don't won't just any old mechanic getting his dirty, greasy hands on that engine. (and cheating them out of their rightful due) You probably need a couple of "special tools" just to get the cover off.
If they could figure out a way to change the motor oil without opening the hood, then in a Lexus you wouldn't even need to open the hood in the first 50,000 miles, right?
OK, I have updated my profile to add the new car. It shows up in my profile but not when I post. I changed it and saved the changes but there must be another step. Help.
Go back to change profile page. Check on the far left of the screen....change signature settings. Change it there and then press SAVE.
Ab gets away with it because Caddies all look the same too, but he got an ATS which looks like the higher price CTS. Smart, I can't even get back at him....but, one day I will - when he least expects it.
I hope I never get on your wrong side. LOL
I always get my revenge. ALWAYS! Remember my neighbor who cut down 6, 40 foot Spruce trees so he could put in his pool? Those trees were a buffer, between our kitchen window and his pool....and I don't particularly want to watch him swimming. I put in 5 trees to get the barrier back.....and it cost me about $10000. Then we tinted our windows so he couldn't see in.....$2000. I didn't talk to him for at least 3 years...not one word to him or his wife.
Well, he had a a big computer job. He didn't complete a major project on time and he got canned. He sold his house and moved to Vancouver Island. The new neighbors are really nice.
Most companies that fired me or didn't treat me well have either gone out of business or aren't doing too well.
I always win! I am the easiest going, mildest person in the world, until someone crosses me.
Don't lose sleep though ab, I still like you, and I know you were only having fun....and that is OK!
10K for 5 trees? I'd have not looked when the guy was in the pool!
I could have sold him 10 trees for 5k and it would still be a gouge. But these rich guys like throwing money around so I guess he's happy to put somebody's kids through med school.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Unrealistic thing about heavily modded cars is their owners believe all the money they've put in them will translate into the money they can get out of them. The case in point with that heavily modded Camaro. Owner states he has $70K in it. He's underwater on it by a ton.
Speaking of cars that seem to be languishing on dealer lots, I put an offer in on this one this past Spring, right before I bought the Q50. It was a new '16 leftover when I was interested. IIRC, I offered $43K. They rejected it. I see it's still there.
Diamond Silver is available right now for builds on the MBUSA site anyway. I think I have seen one current model in the color.
All 2010-13 E have the accent line above the rear wheel opening. When the W212 debuted in 2009, it was thought of as a heritage styling theme, hearkening back to the Ponton cars, and my fintail also has a similar crease.
It was meant to resemble the rear fender crease on this:
For the facelift that came with MY 2014, the crease vanished. It was always a little controversial. The white car is a 2010 or early 2011 model year car.
That Diamond Silver couldn't have been too popular.....it isn't offered on a 2017 E, and it was on the 2015 model.
I could be wrong, but that kick up line over the back wheels only seems to appear on certain E's, not all of them. I like it better without that extra crease.(this one is a hybrid, maybe that is why it is there).
To my eyes, that Camaro is a flashback to 1988 or so, almost a nostalgia piece now. That kind of thing isn't for everyone. I've also noticed that when a seller says he has X amount in a car, he sometimes bills his own labor at the same rate as a respected specialist shop.
That red one is a pretty rare color - thousand dollar paint option. Not sure what their strategy is with the leftover car, eventually it will be a service loaner I guess, assuming it is actually still there.
Unrealistic thing about heavily modded cars is their owners believe all the money they've put in them will translate into the money they can get out of them. The case in point with that heavily modded Camaro. Owner states he has $70K in it. He's underwater on it by a ton.
Speaking of cars that seem to be languishing on dealer lots, I put an offer in on this one this past Spring, right before I bought the Q50. It was a new '16 leftover when I was interested. IIRC, I offered $43K. They rejected it. I see it's still there.
Ab gets away with it because Caddies all look the same too, but he got an ATS which looks like the higher price CTS. Smart, I can't even get back at him....but, one day I will - when he least expects it.
I hope I never get on your wrong side. LOL
I always get my revenge. ALWAYS!
Remember my neighbor who cut down 6, 40 foot Spruce trees so he could put in his pool? Those trees were a buffer, between our kitchen window and his pool....and I don't particularly want to watch him swimming. I put in 5 trees to get the barrier back.....and it cost me about $10000. Then we tinted our windows so he couldn't see in.....$2000. I didn't talk to him for at least 3 years...not one word to him or his wife.
Well, he had a a big computer job. He didn't complete a major project on time and he got canned. He sold his house and moved to Vancouver Island. The new neighbors are really nice.
Most companies that fired me or didn't treat me well have either gone out of business or aren't doing too well.
I always win! I am the easiest going, mildest person in the world, until someone crosses me.
Don't lose sleep though ab, I still like you, and I know you were only having fun....and that is OK!
For all those years you didn't talk to your "beloved" neighbor, you sure knew a lot about him, his family and his financial difficulties - even where he moved! You must enjoy your psychic abilities.
Unrealistic thing about heavily modded cars is their owners believe all the money they've put in them will translate into the money they can get out of them. The case in point with that heavily modded Camaro. Owner states he has $70K in it. He's underwater on it by a ton.
Speaking of cars that seem to be languishing on dealer lots, I put an offer in on this one this past Spring, right before I bought the Q50. It was a new '16 leftover when I was interested. IIRC, I offered $43K. They rejected it. I see it's still there.
My local Ford store still has a 15' Mustang on the lot. They had another one but finally sold it after almost 3 model years. They were listed as demos.
I've read that car companies encourage dealers to put many cars on the books as demos to boost reported sales numbers. I've seen the same thing at Dodge dealers where they are selling "used" trucks with 100 miles on them.
Don't know what devaluing a car/truck before selling it does for either party.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
OF....I sort of wonder why dealerships would hold on to cars that have that aged history. It can't help sales, as people have to wonder why if there was something wrong with the car to be held that long.
I know dealers are compensated for demo stock. My old Cadillac dealer said there was a limit on demo mileage and age, though. IIRC, it was 4,000 miles and less than 6 mos.
Clearly neither of those Mercedes would pass the time test. Dealership has probably been paying floorpan interest on those two C Class for over a year, maybe two years.
But, as you say, in the case of the Mustang, sometimes dealerships make decisions that bite them in the derriere. Bird in the hand and all of that.
I like your Gray one.....looks more stately, and since the Genny is trying to copy a more stately car...it should look more stately!
I wasn't looking for "stately". I wanted a nice paint color but I soon found out I didn't get one. Mrs. j right from the beginning and thought the dark gray was an "old man's color". Now I see what she meant.
Like I said before I boxed myself into a corner with colors because I didn't want another burgundy color again since I was trading in the '09 with that color. I didn't want black or white or silver because Mrs. j's 2012 Legacy was silver. I convinced myself, but I was wrong, that the Parisian Gray (lighter gray, more like @houdini1's Atomic Silver) was too close to the Subie color, so that color fell out of contention too. There wasn't much else left to chose from so I got the Empire State Gray.
You and @oldfarmer50 are in agreement with Son #1 who also thought the Empire State Gray was the right choice for the '15 Genny. In fact, he said the Empire State Gray was the ONLY color for that car. Maybe he helped talk me into it. However, he ain't no Beau Brummell, just ask his mother about that.
So, I'm stuck with what I have until I can find a way to convince Mrs. j that I need another car that I really don't need. My birthday is at the end of the month but I doubt I can get away with that excuse.
Maybe if I let her win a race around the dining room table, she'll think I'm waning and will feel sorry for me. Nah, she'll just land a left hook and break my jaw. Did you ever try to blow out a lot of candles with a jaw that was wired shut? Nope, that ain't a good idea either.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
My local Ford store still has a 15' Mustang on the lot. They had another one but finally sold it after almost 3 model years. They were listed as demos.
I've read that car companies encourage dealers to put many cars on the books as demos to boost reported sales numbers. I've seen the same thing at Dodge dealers where they are selling "used" trucks with 100 miles on them.
Don't know what devaluing a car/truck before selling it does for either party.
I didn't think demos/service loaners were considered used since they were never legally titled. Unless I misunderstood I'm almost certain the X1 demo I test drove awhile back qualified for new car lease terms, albeit with an adjusted residual/price to compensate for the mileage.
1997 Honda Prelude Base - 2022 Acura MDX Type S Advance - 2021 Honda Passport Sport - 2006 BMW 330Ci ZHP
My local Ford store still has a 15' Mustang on the lot. They had another one but finally sold it after almost 3 model years. They were listed as demos.
I've read that car companies encourage dealers to put many cars on the books as demos to boost reported sales numbers. I've seen the same thing at Dodge dealers where they are selling "used" trucks with 100 miles on them.
Don't know what devaluing a car/truck before selling it does for either party.
I didn't think demos/service loaners were considered used since they were never legally titled. Unless I misunderstood I'm almost certain the X1 demo I test drove awhile back qualified for new car lease terms, albeit with an adjusted residual/price to compensate for the mileage.
Demos and service loaners have not been titled, and are not "used" cars. They are, as noted, eligible for new car finance and lease rates.
Other manufacturers do encourage dealers to "buy" inventory, then sell as used, to inflate sales figures. In addition, there may be additional incentives made to the dealers to do this. "Final Inventory Payout" is a phrase I've seen used in the documents I have access to.
Ab gets away with it because Caddies all look the same too, but he got an ATS which looks like the higher price CTS. Smart, I can't even get back at him....but, one day I will - when he least expects it.
I hope I never get on your wrong side. LOL
I always get my revenge. ALWAYS! Remember my neighbor who cut down 6, 40 foot Spruce trees so he could put in his pool? Those trees were a buffer, between our kitchen window and his pool....and I don't particularly want to watch him swimming. I put in 5 trees to get the barrier back.....and it cost me about $10000. Then we tinted our windows so he couldn't see in.....$2000. I didn't talk to him for at least 3 years...not one word to him or his wife.
Well, he had a a big computer job. He didn't complete a major project on time and he got canned. He sold his house and moved to Vancouver Island. The new neighbors are really nice.
Most companies that fired me or didn't treat me well have either gone out of business or aren't doing too well.
I always win! I am the easiest going, mildest person in the world, until someone crosses me.
Don't lose sleep though ab, I still like you, and I know you were only having fun....and that is OK!
10K for 5 trees? I'd have not looked when the guy was in the pool!
I could have sold him 10 trees for 5k and it would still be a gouge. But these rich guys like throwing money around so I guess he's happy to put somebody's kids through med school.
The guy was getting rid of trees, so we had our choice of trees that cost $500 each. What makes the cost so much is a truck comes in and takes out a giant plug of earth, takes that back to the tree place, picks up one tree, then brings it and places it in the hole, takes another plug....repeat 5X. Then there was grass that had to be replaced, fertilizers (lots) and some other smaller trees that had to go in to fill the gaps. Believe me, if there was a cheaper way to do it I would have....no use not doing it right. It was $10000 that I could have put to better use, than replacing perfectly good trees.
Oldfarmer...you got one of these tree planters. You really have to know what you are doing to take the earth out and get the tree in....straight. We also needed surveys, water, gas, electric lines etc.......oh, and replace lawn watering equipment etc.
Diamond Silver is available right now for builds on the MBUSA site anyway. I think I have seen one current model in the color.
All 2010-13 E have the accent line above the rear wheel opening. When the W212 debuted in 2009, it was thought of as a heritage styling theme, hearkening back to the Ponton cars, and my fintail also has a similar crease.
It was meant to resemble the rear fender crease on this:
For the facelift that came with MY 2014, the crease vanished. It was always a little controversial. The white car is a 2010 or early 2011 model year car.
That Diamond Silver couldn't have been too popular.....it isn't offered on a 2017 E, and it was on the 2015 model.
I could be wrong, but that kick up line over the back wheels only seems to appear on certain E's, not all of them. I like it better without that extra crease.(this one is a hybrid, maybe that is why it is there).
Your knowlege about MBs is incredible fin. Did you get an PHD in Mercedes Studies. I love the facts you come up with. How they got that line and that it was controversial.
I hated the bustle back BMWs around 2008. Now I love that design.
Ab gets away with it because Caddies all look the same too, but he got an ATS which looks like the higher price CTS. Smart, I can't even get back at him....but, one day I will - when he least expects it.
I hope I never get on your wrong side. LOL
I always get my revenge. ALWAYS! Remember my neighbor who cut down 6, 40 foot Spruce trees so he could put in his pool? Those trees were a buffer, between our kitchen window and his pool....and I don't particularly want to watch him swimming. I put in 5 trees to get the barrier back.....and it cost me about $10000. Then we tinted our windows so he couldn't see in.....$2000. I didn't talk to him for at least 3 years...not one word to him or his wife.
Well, he had a a big computer job. He didn't complete a major project on time and he got canned. He sold his house and moved to Vancouver Island. The new neighbors are really nice.
Most companies that fired me or didn't treat me well have either gone out of business or aren't doing too well.
I always win! I am the easiest going, mildest person in the world, until someone crosses me.
Don't lose sleep though ab, I still like you, and I know you were only having fun....and that is OK!
For all those years you didn't talk to your "beloved" neighbor, you sure knew a lot about him, his family and his financial difficulties - even where he moved! You must enjoy your psychic abilities.
What psychic abilities? My really nice neighbors across the road and other one at the end of the street know people who know him....they keep me up to date - they know I don't talk to him.
Don't forget, we helped them out when they moved in, we took in their mail and checked on their house when they were away, and they told us the trees would be coming down at 7 a.m. the following day. My wife was in tears. I am not glad he lost his job or anything.......I would rather have the nice people we have who live next door.
In all honesty, it was your neighbor's choice to take down the trees. They were on their property, correct?
I cut a tree down in my yard and certainly didn't ask my neighbors. If they said anything I'd explain when they pay my mortgage and taxes they can have a say.
WOW that's cold. I'd certainly notify my neighbors in advance. That's just courtesy. I wouldn't cut down a tree either unless there was no other choice. The trees might be on your property but the view affects everyone. And property values. Also, the neighbors might know something about the trees and their history that could affect a decision I guess Midwest nice has seeped into my bones.
I have a love/hate relationship with my deck. Last summer I went thru a rehab project with it. At 12 years of age it was showing it, and despite using pressure-treated lumber some deck boards had rotted. So I replaced the bad ones, cleaned it thoroughly, let it dry for a week or two, and then used 2 different products on it. On the deck itself I used Flood Pro Series Penetrating Oil Semi-Transparent Wood Finish stain. I had used that on my front steps about 5 years previous and it worked great.
In the interim the environmentalists had their way and the stuff I used 5 years ago was no longer available. The new formula had the same name and label but when I started applying it I knew I was in trouble. It was more like paint that sat on the wood whereas the old stuff soaked right in. But when finished, it looked good enough:
Anyway, I didn't want to use that on the rails and verticals so I bought some stuff a guy at the home center recommended, a tinted wood preservative. They had a couple, the one I bought was branded Armor-All but both seemed to come from the same outfit. It had a very solventy smell and soaked in very well. You can see it in the background:
After one winter, the floor was a mess. The Flood stuff did not do very well and looked awful:
I made the decision to remove it. Wow. While it didn't want to stick everywhere, it was very hard to get off. A stripper was only of some use and pressure washing (which I hate to do to wood) was necessary. I eventually got it mostly off. It was just on the surface though, clearly it did not penetrate. After some time passes, I will decide what to try next on the floor. I can see the value in things like Trex composite now.
In all honesty, it was your neighbor's choice to take down the trees. They were on their property, correct?
I cut a tree down in my yard and certainly didn't ask my neighbors. If they said anything I'd explain when they pay my mortgage and taxes they can have a say.
I have a tree story too, really 4 trees.
Before I bought the house we are in, as I'm in the back yard with Mrs. j and the realtor, the guy next door comes over and wants to know if I'm buying the house. I told we were just looking it over. About 6 weeks later we bought the house and Mrs. j and I are in the back yard again. Our new neighbor comes over and says the 4 large beautiful Blue Spruce trees, at least 25 feet tall, were planted by him and the first owner of my house and they were supposedly exactly on the property line. As best as I could tell, from the survey I got with the house, he was right. That didn't bother me at all because they were a good divider between our side yards. The guy goes on to tell me, if I didn't mind he would cut the grass around them on my side of the trees because he didn't want to lose the trees since he had gotten an attachment to them. I'm not a lover of cutting grass so I told him, "GREAT".
That only lasted for a couple years till he saw I knew how to cut grass and wouldn't harm the trees, so I now did what he wanted to do. Still no problem since that grass was really mine.
Fast forward to about 7 years ago and this tree lover realizes that these beloved trees are now shading sun light in the area where he planted some other shrubs and flowers. He wants to take them down but since they are pretty damn big he wants me to pay half of the cost. Now, Mrs. j and I have fallen in love with this beautiful divider we inherited when we bought the house. I tried to talk him out of it but his new plantings took precedence.
To make a long story short, I refused to pay for something I now liked so he had to foot the bill alone, which as I understand it was around $1300 including stump grinding. Hell, if I knew he'd pay that much I would have done it for $1100 and planted new smaller Blue Spruce trees 5 feet into my property.
Now he doesn't like me so much but I can live with that. He's a snowbird and is gone for 4 months. Too bad it ain't the Summer months.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
In all honesty, it was your neighbor's choice to take down the trees. They were on their property, correct?
I cut a tree down in my yard and certainly didn't ask my neighbors. If they said anything I'd explain when they pay my mortgage and taxes they can have a say.
I have a tree story too, really 4 trees.
Before I bought the house we are in, as I'm in the back yard with Mrs. j and the realtor, the guy next door comes over and wants to know if I'm buying the house. I told we were just looking it over. About 6 weeks later we bought the house and Mrs. j and I are in the back yard again. Our new neighbor comes over and says the 4 large beautiful Blue Spruce trees, at least 25 feet tall, were planted by him and the first owner of my house and they were supposedly exactly on the property line. As best as I could tell, from the survey I got with the house, he was right. That didn't bother me at all because they were a good divider between our side yards. The guy goes on to tell me, if I didn't mind he would cut the grass around them on my side of the trees because he didn't want to lose the trees since he had gotten an attachment to them. I'm not a lover of cutting grass so I told him, "GREAT".
That only lasted for a couple years till he saw I knew how to cut grass and wouldn't harm the trees, so I now did what he wanted to do. Still no problem since that grass was really mine.
Fast forward to about 7 years ago and this tree lover realizes that these beloved trees are now shading sun light in the area where he planted some other shrubs and flowers. He wants to take them down but since they are pretty damn big he wants me to pay half of the cost. Now, Mrs. j and I have fallen in love with this beautiful divider we inherited when we bought the house. I tried to talk him out of it but his new plantings took precedence.
To make a long story short, I refused to pay for something I now liked so he had to foot the bill alone, which as I understand it was around $1300 including stump grinding. Hell, if I knew he'd pay that much I would have done it for $1100 and planted new smaller Blue Spruce trees 5 feet into my property.
Now he doesn't like me so much but I can live with that. He's a snowbird and is gone for 4 months. Too bad it ain't the Summer months.
jmonroe
Bears out my NNIB philosophy: No Neighbors Is Best.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
To make a long story short, I refused to pay for something I now liked so he had to foot the bill alone, which as I understand it was around $1300 including stump grinding. Hell, if I knew he'd pay that much I would have done it for $1100 and planted new smaller Blue Spruce trees 5 feet into my property.
Now he doesn't like me so much but I can live with that. He's a snowbird and is gone for 4 months. Too bad it ain't the Summer months. jmonroe
If the trees were planted by both property owners and if they truly were on the surveyed border, half on one and half on the other property as they grew, he owes you the value of your half of the large trees for cutting them down. Large trees are expensive to replant, as Driver's experience serves to stipulate. So the neighbor deprived you of the service of 1/2 a tree in each case. I assume a court would expect that he stand the total cost of the damaging process of cutting them down.
To make a long story short, I refused to pay for something I now liked so he had to foot the bill alone, which as I understand it was around $1300 including stump grinding. Hell, if I knew he'd pay that much I would have done it for $1100 and planted new smaller Blue Spruce trees 5 feet into my property.
Now he doesn't like me so much but I can live with that. He's a snowbird and is gone for 4 months. Too bad it ain't the Summer months. jmonroe
If the trees were planted by both property owners and if they truly were on the surveyed border, half on one and half on the other property as they grew, he owes you the value of your half of the large trees for cutting them down. Large trees are expensive to replant, as Driver's experience serves to stipulate. So the neighbor deprived you of the service of 1/2 a tree in each case. I assume a court would expect that he stand the total cost of the damaging process of cutting them down.
Believe me I thought about it but didn't pursue it. By now I'm sure the statute of limitations on tree cutting is over.
Every so often when we are on the deck Mrs. j gets riled up and says, "I still miss those trees. I never realized how big of a jerk he was until he did that". :@
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Every time I see one of those Rivs, I think of the movie "Road House" with Patrick Swayze.
His character owned a Mercedes SEC-class, but he'd always buy and drive that vintage Riv with the clamshell headlights when he got to a new town. Much easier to repair, given that his car was vandalized almost every night.
The 65 Riviera's were wonderful cars! The Gran Sports would outrun just about anything but they sucked premium gas like nobody would believe!
yeh, but who cared back then.
Oldfarmer wanted to see my "old man's car" for some reason....I think so he can feel like a young man with his Mustang. I am posting mine, so you have to post yours OF.
Note....NO STRIPES!
That's a handsome car as are you driver100. I'm not sure where you got the idea that I was calling your car an old man's car. I was responding to houdini1's comment about HIS car being for an old man's. Your car looks very much like a sports car. Nice.
Oh you wanted a picture of MY white car? Here you go:
OF, What yo actually said was Houdini's car was definitely NOT an old man's car. I was just joking with you that by not saying that about my car you were implying mine was an old man's car....which is a stretch but I did it. I know you wouldn't say that I had an OMC, because you are hoping to stay at our Florida place one day.
Now show us your real young man's car. That hooptie doesn't do it......even if it is white.
Oh you mean this one:
Cute. Actually, I think the white van is the real young guys vehicle....especially if you drive it with your baseball cap on sideways.
That photo just gives me the creeps for some reason!
Comments
https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/pro-street-camaro-street/6224008673.html
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Our 2004 Escape had on oil pan leak($250) and new serp belt ($75).
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
That one is rolling sculpture at this point.
Houdini buddy.....I don't think you have an engine in that thing.
Just a big.....plastic......cover.
I was thinking the same thing. Now I know why owning a Lexus is carefree ownership. No engine, no engine problems.
There's just a bunch of horses under there. When you fill up a Lexus, the horses can the gas, sneak out at night, then sell it for oats.
Those Lexus designers are pretty smart. Why didn't I think of that?
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Oh, now you are just being silly! Horses can't carry gas cans!
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Red doesn't suit an E, I agree. There's a darker red that kind of works, but the brighter non-metallic red just looks too racy.
There was an even better blue several years ago, "Quartz Blue". This one is also really rare, and I remember seeing more of it in Florida than anywhere else I have been:
It reminds me of this guy at tennis. If someone buys a new car, he always says, "Why did you buy such an ugly looking car?".
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
btw...I don't remember seeing that line on the Quartz E400 that goes from in front of the rear wheel and up and over the wheel well.
Here it is on a 2017 or 18 (looks washed out or something....no life to it IMHO)
Compared to white;
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
'15 Genny with Empire State Gray:
http://images.gtcarlot.com/pictures/95102797.jpg
'09 Genny with Cabernet Red Pearl:
Next time I'm going to get it right. :@
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
The rear fender line you spotted was on 2010-13 model year cars, the pre-facelift models.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I could be wrong, but that kick up line over the back wheels only seems to appear on certain E's, not all of them. I like it better without that extra crease.(this one is a hybrid, maybe that is why it is there).
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
There was no doubt that the Cabernet Red Pearl was the absolute best color on a first generation Genesis. I should know..
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Speaking of cars that seem to be languishing on dealer lots, I put an offer in on this one this past Spring, right before I bought the Q50. It was a new '16 leftover when I was interested. IIRC, I offered $43K. They rejected it. I see it's still there.
http://www.mbcincy.com/inventory/new-2016-mercedes-benz-c-class-c-300-4matic-sedan-55swf4kb6gu128932
Red on a Mercedes? I saw this one in the flesh, too. I liked it (it's still on the dealer's lot, too). Guess I'm into Red recently.
http://www.mbcincy.com/inventory/new-2016-mercedes-benz-c-class-c-300-4matic-sedan-55swf4kb6gu143009
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
All 2010-13 E have the accent line above the rear wheel opening. When the W212 debuted in 2009, it was thought of as a heritage styling theme, hearkening back to the Ponton cars, and my fintail also has a similar crease.
It was meant to resemble the rear fender crease on this:
For the facelift that came with MY 2014, the crease vanished. It was always a little controversial. The white car is a 2010 or early 2011 model year car.
That red one is a pretty rare color - thousand dollar paint option. Not sure what their strategy is with the leftover car, eventually it will be a service loaner I guess, assuming it is actually still there.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I've read that car companies encourage dealers to put many cars on the books as demos to boost reported sales numbers. I've seen the same thing at Dodge dealers where they are selling "used" trucks with 100 miles on them.
Don't know what devaluing a car/truck before selling it does for either party.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I know dealers are compensated for demo stock. My old Cadillac dealer said there was a limit on demo mileage and age, though. IIRC, it was 4,000 miles and less than 6 mos.
Clearly neither of those Mercedes would pass the time test. Dealership has probably been paying floorpan interest on those two C Class for over a year, maybe two years.
But, as you say, in the case of the Mustang, sometimes dealerships make decisions that bite them in the derriere. Bird in the hand and all of that.
Like I said before I boxed myself into a corner with colors because I didn't want another burgundy color again since I was trading in the '09 with that color. I didn't want black or white or silver because Mrs. j's 2012 Legacy was silver. I convinced myself, but I was wrong, that the Parisian Gray (lighter gray, more like @houdini1's Atomic Silver) was too close to the Subie color, so that color fell out of contention too. There wasn't much else left to chose from so I got the Empire State Gray.
You and @oldfarmer50 are in agreement with Son #1 who also thought the Empire State Gray was the right choice for the '15 Genny. In fact, he said the Empire State Gray was the ONLY color for that car. Maybe he helped talk me into it. However, he ain't no Beau Brummell, just ask his mother about that.
So, I'm stuck with what I have until I can find a way to convince Mrs. j that I need another car that I really don't need. My birthday is at the end of the month but I doubt I can get away with that excuse.
Maybe if I let her win a race around the dining room table, she'll think I'm waning and will feel sorry for me. Nah, she'll just land a left hook and break my jaw. Did you ever try to blow out a lot of candles with a jaw that was wired shut? Nope, that ain't a good idea either.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Other manufacturers do encourage dealers to "buy" inventory, then sell as used, to inflate sales figures. In addition, there may be additional incentives made to the dealers to do this. "Final Inventory Payout" is a phrase I've seen used in the documents I have access to.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Oldfarmer...you got one of these tree planters. You really have to know what you are doing to take the earth out and get the tree in....straight. We also needed surveys, water, gas, electric lines etc.......oh, and replace lawn watering equipment etc.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I hated the bustle back BMWs around 2008. Now I love that design.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
What psychic abilities? My really nice neighbors across the road and other one at the end of the street know people who know him....they keep me up to date - they know I don't talk to him.
Don't forget, we helped them out when they moved in, we took in their mail and checked on their house when they were away, and they told us the trees would be coming down at 7 a.m. the following day. My wife was in tears. I am not glad he lost his job or anything.......I would rather have the nice people we have who live next door.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I cut a tree down in my yard and certainly didn't ask my neighbors. If they said anything I'd explain when they pay my mortgage and taxes they can have a say.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
In the interim the environmentalists had their way and the stuff I used 5 years ago was no longer available. The new formula had the same name and label but when I started applying it I knew I was in trouble. It was more like paint that sat on the wood whereas the old stuff soaked right in. But when finished, it looked good enough:
Anyway, I didn't want to use that on the rails and verticals so I bought some stuff a guy at the home center recommended, a tinted wood preservative. They had a couple, the one I bought was branded Armor-All but both seemed to come from the same outfit. It had a very solventy smell and soaked in very well. You can see it in the background:
After one winter, the floor was a mess. The Flood stuff did not do very well and looked awful:
I made the decision to remove it. Wow. While it didn't want to stick everywhere, it was very hard to get off. A stripper was only of some use and pressure washing (which I hate to do to wood) was necessary. I eventually got it mostly off. It was just on the surface though, clearly it did not penetrate. After some time passes, I will decide what to try next on the floor. I can see the value in things like Trex composite now.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Before I bought the house we are in, as I'm in the back yard with Mrs. j and the realtor, the guy next door comes over and wants to know if I'm buying the house. I told we were just looking it over. About 6 weeks later we bought the house and Mrs. j and I are in the back yard again. Our new neighbor comes over and says the 4 large beautiful Blue Spruce trees, at least 25 feet tall, were planted by him and the first owner of my house and they were supposedly exactly on the property line. As best as I could tell, from the survey I got with the house, he was right. That didn't bother me at all because they were a good divider between our side yards. The guy goes on to tell me, if I didn't mind he would cut the grass around them on my side of the trees because he didn't want to lose the trees since he had gotten an attachment to them. I'm not a lover of cutting grass so I told him, "GREAT".
That only lasted for a couple years till he saw I knew how to cut grass and wouldn't harm the trees, so I now did what he wanted to do. Still no problem since that grass was really mine.
Fast forward to about 7 years ago and this tree lover realizes that these beloved trees are now shading sun light in the area where he planted some other shrubs and flowers. He wants to take them down but since they are pretty damn big he wants me to pay half of the cost. Now, Mrs. j and I have fallen in love with this beautiful divider we inherited when we bought the house. I tried to talk him out of it but his new plantings took precedence.
To make a long story short, I refused to pay for something I now liked so he had to foot the bill alone, which as I understand it was around $1300 including stump grinding. Hell, if I knew he'd pay that much I would have done it for $1100 and planted new smaller Blue Spruce trees 5 feet into my property.
Now he doesn't like me so much but I can live with that. He's a snowbird and is gone for 4 months. Too bad it ain't the Summer months.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
https://ssl.toyota.com/mirai/fcv.html?srchid=sem|GOOGLE|Mirai|Model_Mirai|Mirai_General_E|Mirai_Refresh_Rd3|Mirai_MLP&gclid=CNmuv9DWk9UCFRbZDQodf3AKPw&gclsrc=ds
I saw this in the Sunday paper. From the paper, it looks like you can only lease this car for now and that "Hydrogen will be expensive".
Only available in Cali for now.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Our cabin on an acre in the high country is better than a city lot, but not better enough.
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl