Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

stickguy · April 2019

The missing piece is probably one big plastic cover that pops off. So basically what you described.

Mr_Shiftright · April 2019

Automakers are beancounters. If they have a choice between saving $5 or making a part easier to R&R, you know where they are going to go.

This is a TRUCK, so it should be easier to work on, but it's not really. The valve covers are criss-crossed by coolant hoses and injection harnesses, so all that comes off. The fog light bulb replacement requires jacking up the truck, removing a wheel and it's still not easy.

No big deal for a repair job--they're used to it and they are totally geared up to tear things apart.

driver100 · April 2019

It would be interesting to see, if they could design a car, that was built for total practicality.
1. Bumpers that really protect the body
2. All parts are easy to access and if for example you have to remove a battery, it comes out easily,
3. You don't have to remove parts to get at the broken part,
4. Keys - if you lose them they have a ringer.....use an app to locate your key.

Cars made for humans, that are easily repaired and parts are easily replaced.

jipster · April 2019

oldfarmer50 said:
Say, did Jipster ever buy that car or did the sellers take his money and leave him on the side of the road as he feared?

The ole Jipster asked for an extension due to dragging of the feet. Seller says as long as he gets his money, no problem. Confirmed purchase and transfer is this Thursday, 11:00 am, . E.S.T.

It will happen! Steak dinner to all poster buddies if this deal falls thru. This deal will renew everyone's faith in the Craigslist buying experience.. ;-)

explorerx4 · April 2019

@jipster,
Do you give him a deposit? Just curious.

driver100 · April 2019

jipster said:

oldfarmer50 said:
Say, did Jipster ever buy that car or did the sellers take his money and leave him on the side of the road as he feared?
This deal will renew everyone's faith in the Craigslist buying experience.. ;-)

We hope so.
I hope it doesn't renew our faith in leaving a deposit.

explorerx4 · April 2019

@Mr_Shiftright ,
Now we know where Mercedes got their idea for a wide screen instrument panel.
They just took off the trim dividing everything.

jipster · April 2019

explorerx4 said:
@jipster,
Do you give him a deposit? Just curious.

Nope. I called the seller a minute after we had test driven the car... as the seller was driving away. I said I can leave a deposit. He said dont worry about it. He trusted us. Works both ways though.

Deposit still doesn't make it a done deal. I guess $200 would have been a standard deposit amount. He changes his mind for whatever reason, he tears the check up, and I'm back to looking at endless scam ads on Craigslist.

explorerx4 · April 2019

@jipster,
I'm pretty sure this the sale will be completed, can't see the guy wanting to start all over either.

jmonroe1 · April 2019

Mr_Shiftright said:
Automakers are beancounters. If they have a choice between saving $5 or making a part easier to R&R, you know where they are going to go.

This is a TRUCK, so it should be easier to work on, but it's not really. The valve covers are criss-crossed by coolant hoses and injection harnesses, so all that comes off. The fog light bulb replacement requires jacking up the truck, removing a wheel and it's still not easy.

No big deal for a repair job--they're used to it and they are totally geared up to tear things apart.

Your fog light replacement reminds me of changing plugs on GM V8's with AC back in the 70's and 80's. My fist car with AC was my '75 Grand Prix and changing the plugs on the passenger side under the AC compressor took some doing. They were so hidden you could barely see them (plugs 2 and 4). Plugs 6 and 8 weren't exactly a piece of cake but at least they weren't hidden like the two plugs under the compressor. As I was leaning over the fender looking for them I said to myself there has to be a better way to get at them than from up here so that left removing them by taking off the wheel. Once the wheel was removed plugs 2 and 4 were starring me right in the face right above the upper control arm. It turned out they were even easier to replace than plugs 6 and 8, which still required some contortions but still way easier than from leaning over the fender.

Oh for the good ole days of the know it all shade tree mechanic.

jmonroe

Mr_Shiftright · April 2019

explorerx4 said:
@Mr_Shiftright ,
Now we know where Mercedes got their idea for a wide screen instrument panel.
They just took off the trim dividing everything.

Shoot, I could glue an old iPad on there, get a cheap cellular network, stick my cell phone in a vent-holder, velco some bluetooth speakers to the top of the dash, I could have me one o' them info-TAINment thingies.

explorerx4 · April 2019

Being an old software dinosaur, I still know how a BXLE works, tomorrow could be best day of the rest of my career.
I found something slowing down the main calculation component of the part of the system I work on, figured out an easy fix and I think it's going to be big.
Large contracts are valued at millions of dollars. At times, I've been tasked with finding a way just to get them through the system, so I had to adopt an efficiency perspective and I think it's going to pay off.
Can't wait to start testing it tomorrow.

driver100 · April 2019

explorerx4 said:
@Mr_Shiftright ,
Now we know where Mercedes got their idea for a wide screen instrument panel.
They just took off the trim dividing everything.

I wouldn't want to take my instrument panel apart.

driver100 · April 2019

explorerx4 said:
Being an old software dinosaur, I still know how a BXLE works, tomorrow could be best day of the rest of my career.
I found something slowing down the main calculation component of the part of the system I work on, figured out an easy fix and I think it's going to be big.
Large contracts are valued at millions of dollars. At times, I've been tasked with finding a way just to get them through the system, so I had to adopt an efficiency perspective and I think it's going to pay off.
Can't wait to start testing it tomorrow.

Good luck explorer.
Next work on a system that always hilites the quotes on this site, so I don't have to go back and do it manually.

oldfarmer50 · April 2019

explorerx4 said:
Being an old software dinosaur, I still know how a BXLE works, tomorrow could be best day of the rest of my career.
I found something slowing down the main calculation component of the part of the system I work on, figured out an easy fix and I think it's going to be big.
Large contracts are valued at millions of dollars. At times, I've been tasked with finding a way just to get them through the system, so I had to adopt an efficiency perspective and I think it's going to pay off.
Can't wait to start testing it tomorrow.

That’s great! Hope you have terrific success.

stickguy · April 2019

I looked at a '75 Monza back in HS (maybe early college?) and took it to the family mechanic for a check over. No issues, but it was the V8, and he told me not to bring it back if it needed plugs. That was the model where you had to jack the engine up out of the motor mounts to get to the rear plugs. And in those days, they were not 100K Iraium tipped ones!

and I think a little rocker rust even though it was only about 4 years old, but hey, it was the 70's.

sharp car though. Like an exotic back then. bright silver hatch, V8, 4 speed. Sharp. Not sure exactly why I did not buy it. Might have been just to much money.

henryn · April 2019

I had to google BXLE, apparently an IBM mainframe assembly language instruction? Are people still using IBM mainframes, I thought that was dead and gone. Back in 1999, I saved my division $3 million dollars by getting the last software moved off an IBM mainframe onto a unix workstation (which did the same job faster, and saved that aforementioned $3 million dollars).

ronsteve · April 2019

stickguy said:
I looked at a '75 Monza back in HS (maybe early college?) and took it to the family mechanic for a check over. No issues, but it was the V8, and he told me not to bring it back if it needed plugs. That was the model where you had to jack the engine up out of the motor mounts to get to the rear plugs. And in those days, they were not 100K Iraium tipped ones!

and I think a little rocker rust even though it was only about 4 years old, but hey, it was the 70's.

sharp car though. Like an exotic back then. bright silver hatch, V8, 4 speed. Sharp. Not sure exactly why I did not buy it. Might have been just to much money.

Those Monzas looked pretty good for that day, and with the V8 or even the straight-6 could probably move pretty well for what they were. Dad had a '78 Malibu that was handed down to me when I started driving. It had the V8 (305 with the crappy 2-bbl) and 6 of the plugs had been changed at 30K and 60K (ok, probably more like 75K). The back plug on the right bank only got changed the 2nd time thanks to my scrawny teenage forearm/wrist, and the one on the left bank never got changed.

fintail · April 2019

It might actually be easier than a conventional style - just swap in a new screen, probably just plugs in. My new car also has widescreen (pictured car there appears to be a Euro spec coupe), and that was a dealbreaker option for me - I think the standard gauges look built to a price. Apparently there were maybe some supplier issues, as I have seen otherwise loaded cars without it, especially MY 2018 cars.

driver100 said:

I wouldn't want to take my instrument panel apart.

graphicguy · April 2019

stickguy said:
I looked at a '75 Monza back in HS (maybe early college?) and took it to the family mechanic for a check over. No issues, but it was the V8, and he told me not to bring it back if it needed plugs. That was the model where you had to jack the engine up out of the motor mounts to get to the rear plugs. And in those days, they were not 100K Iraium tipped ones!

and I think a little rocker rust even though it was only about 4 years old, but hey, it was the 70's.

sharp car though. Like an exotic back then. bright silver hatch, V8, 4 speed. Sharp. Not sure exactly why I did not buy it. Might have been just to much money.

I actually bought a used Monday in high school. Just as you described, silver with black interior. Want to say it was a ‘77? Maybe a ‘78? I don’t believer they offered a 6 cyl version, at least that’s what I remember. I do remember the V8 and how difficult they were to work on given the lack of space.

Mine was the 4 cyl (weak 4 cyl, at that) that GM was using at the time. The moniker “Iron Duke” sticks in my mind. 4 speed that was pretty sloppy. But, I put in an aftermarket AM/FM cassette player with a beefed up amp and 3 way speakers in the back kick panels and 2 way speakers in the door panels. It rocked.

Wasn’t fast, but I beat it religiously banging through the 4 speed and redlining the gears.

Fun car. Bought it from a local university professor who had bought it for his wife new. She ended up hating driving the manual trans. Had less than 40K miles on it when I bought it. I kept it through high school and college, sold it to a college freshman right as I was getting ready to graduate. Had 90K miles on the clock and was showing some rust.

Poor build quality, but it held up without anything major going wrong....just tires, batteries, brakes, oil changes and tune ups. Passenger seat bracket was broke, so I bolted in to the floor board. You only got one position. Rear hatch strut died, and I never replaced it. Had a stick I used to prop up the hatch. Carpeting was shot to hell, but I had moved myself at least a half dozen times, stuffing everything I owned in it.

Fond memories of that car.

oldfarmer50 · April 2019

fintail said:
It might actually be easier than a conventional style - just swap in a new screen, probably just plugs in. My new car also has widescreen (pictured car there appears to be a Euro spec coupe), and that was a dealbreaker option for me - I think the standard gauges look built to a price. Apparently there were maybe some supplier issues, as I have seen otherwise loaded cars without it, especially MY 2018 cars.

driver100 said:

I wouldn't want to take my instrument panel apart.

Wouldn’t it be easier to have a built in UBS port where you could insert your cell or IPad into the dash and have it become part of the car? When you were done driving you’d just pop it out and take it with you. Why pay for equipment that stays in the car and pay again for equipment to use outside of the car?

snakeweasel · April 2019

graphicguy said:

I looked at a '75 Monza back in HS (maybe early college?) and took it to the family mechanic for a check over. No issues, but it was the V8, and he told me not to bring it back if it needed plugs. That was the model where you had to jack the engine up out of the motor mounts to get to the rear plugs. And in those days, they were not 100K Iraium tipped ones! and I think a little rocker rust even though it was only about 4 years old, but hey, it was the 70's. sharp car though. Like an exotic back then. bright silver hatch, V8, 4 speed. Sharp. Not sure exactly why I did not buy it. Might have been just to much money.
I actually bought a used Monday in high school.

I almost got one in high school too but I decided to splurge and I got myself a Tuesday as people tend to dislike Mondays.

fintail · April 2019

I had that idea for navigation screens 10+ years ago - a universal mount and docking station for a smartphone. Much less profit in something like that though, would never happen. One would also need to be psychic and make it forward compatible, as phones have grown in the past several years.

Instrument panels probably will eventually become simple tablets as they already are on some models. For switchable/removable screens, I wonder about any potential legal/safety issues as well, if the vital systems of a car were trusted to someone's off-brand tablet.

oldfarmer50 said:

Wouldn’t it be easier to have a built in UBS port where you could insert your cell or IPad into the dash and have it become part of the car? When you were done driving you’d just pop it out and take it with you. Why pay for equipment that stays in the car and pay again for equipment to use outside of the car?

imidazol97 · April 2019

snakeweasel said:

I almost got one in high school too but I decided to splurge and I got myself a Tuesday as people tend to dislike Mondays.

Did you get your Tuesday at Tuesday Morning. That's a pretty neat place for lots of things from doggy items to larger area rugs. My wife loves shopping there.

https://www.tuesdaymorning.com/

Tuesday Morning/

imidazol97 · April 2019

I'm guessing the "Monday" came from sliding keyboard entry or more likely from voice entry. "Monza" sounds a little like "Monday."

My Samsung Galaxy 7 has crazy inability to guess the right word I drag in using the keyboard by going over the keys for the letters of a word instead of typing. I spend more time back tracking on it and redoing words than if I were to just type on their keyboard. I tried two other keyboards on this phone and they all are terrible at getting the words.

My previous LG was great with the slide method.

I haven't tried much on this phone to use the voice to text. I used to do that while driving if I was away from other cars on open road. Now I just wait or call instead rather than trying to text while driving.

driver100 · April 2019

I hope they put that widescreen in a C Class....I have come to like it.
That is in case I go with a C next time around.......but, it is nice having an E for a 300 mile trip.
On Hwy 401, the speed limit is 60 but everyone drives 70 to 80 mph, I passed a Smartcar and a basic Fiat, and I don't know how people can take them on the highway, especially with rain and strong winds.

snakeweasel · April 2019

imidazol97 said:

I'm guessing the "Monday" came from sliding keyboard entry or more likely from voice entry. "Monza" sounds a little like "Monday." My Samsung Galaxy 7 has crazy inability to guess the right word I drag in using the keyboard by going over the keys for the letters of a word instead of typing. I spend more time back tracking on it and redoing words than if I were to just type on their keyboard. I tried two other keyboards on this phone and they all are terrible at getting the words. My previous LG was great with the slide method. I haven't tried much on this phone to use the voice to text. I used to do that while driving if I was away from other cars on open road. Now I just wait or call instead rather than trying to text while driving.

My guess it was part of the auto correct uprising. I just couldn't pass that up.

fintail · April 2019

2019 C has an optional digital cluster, but not tablet style, and still has the tablet in the center (which I am not fond of):

I think the tablet style gauges are standard in the new A-class:

This is the interior of my car. The instrument panel is one of my favorite design features, it has a very modern feel, yet isn't pointlessly edgy:

Mr_Shiftright · April 2019

driver100 said:

explorerx4 said:
@Mr_Shiftright ,
Now we know where Mercedes got their idea for a wide screen instrument panel.
They just took off the trim dividing everything.
I wouldn't want to take my instrument panel apart.

Well someday, somebody will have to. I find I"m very good at taking things apart---BUT....putting them back together? I'd rather not bother

One of my favorite tricks is to practice the repair in a wrecking yard.

jmonroe1 · April 2019

ronsteve said:

stickguy said:
I looked at a '75 Monza back in HS (maybe early college?) and took it to the family mechanic for a check over. No issues, but it was the V8, and he told me not to bring it back if it needed plugs. That was the model where you had to jack the engine up out of the motor mounts to get to the rear plugs. And in those days, they were not 100K Iraium tipped ones!

and I think a little rocker rust even though it was only about 4 years old, but hey, it was the 70's.

sharp car though. Like an exotic back then. bright silver hatch, V8, 4 speed. Sharp. Not sure exactly why I did not buy it. Might have been just to much money.
Those Monzas looked pretty good for that day, and with the V8 or even the straight-6 could probably move pretty well for what they were. Dad had a '78 Malibu that was handed down to me when I started driving. It had the V8 (305 with the crappy 2-bbl) and 6 of the plugs had been changed at 30K and 60K (ok, probably more like 75K). The back plug on the right bank only got changed the 2nd time thanks to my scrawny teenage forearm/wrist, and the one on the left bank never got changed.

Did you try pulling the wheels?

jmonroe

ab348 · April 2019

fintail said:

It might actually be easier than a conventional style - just swap in a new screen, probably just plugs in. My new car also has widescreen (pictured car there appears to be a Euro spec coupe), and that was a dealbreaker option for me - I think the standard gauges look built to a price. Apparently there were maybe some supplier issues, as I have seen otherwise loaded cars without it, especially MY 2018 cars

Cadillac has had some ongoing problems with the dash mounted screen s for the CUE system at least in the early years. The screens are an LG product and have a nasty habit of delaminating and developing a spider-web pattern under the glass. GM has been good about replacing them free for a certain period of time with no questions asked, but it must have cost them a bundle. My 2014 ATS did it and was replaced. So far the 2017 is fine, so maybe they fixed it later on.

fintail · April 2019

Are those touchscreens? That might be part of it, as those have special coatings etc. Good to know GM stepped up for all that.

The MB screens, at least pre-MBUX, are not touchscreen, which is fine with me - fingerprints would drive me nuts.

ab348 said:

Cadillac has had some ongoing problems with the dash mounted screen s for the CUE system at least in the early years. The screens are an LG product and have a nasty habit of delaminating and developing a spider-web pattern under the glass. GM has been good about replacing them free for a certain period of time with no questions asked, but it must have cost them a bundle. My 2014 ATS did it and was replaced. So far the 2017 is fine, so maybe they fixed it later on.

ab348 · April 2019

fintail said:
Are those touchscreens? That might be part of it, as those have special coatings etc. Good to know GM stepped up for all that.

The MB screens, at least pre-MBUX, are not touchscreen, which is fine with me - fingerprints would drive me nuts.

ab348 said:

Cadillac has had some ongoing problems with the dash mounted screen s for the CUE system at least in the early years. The screens are an LG product and have a nasty habit of delaminating and developing a spider-web pattern under the glass. GM has been good about replacing them free for a certain period of time with no questions asked, but it must have cost them a bundle. My 2014 ATS did it and was replaced. So far the 2017 is fine, so maybe they fixed it later on.

Yes, touch screens with haptic feedback (they have something that makes you feel them respond when you touch in the right places).

[What a setup for the comedians here]

They do show fingerprints unfortunately.

snakeweasel · April 2019

ab348 said:

Are those touchscreens? That might be part of it, as those have special coatings etc. Good to know GM stepped up for all that. The MB screens, at least pre-MBUX, are not touchscreen, which is fine with me - fingerprints would drive me nuts.
Cadillac has had some ongoing problems with the dash mounted screen s for the CUE system at least in the early years. The screens are an LG product and have a nasty habit of delaminating and developing a spider-web pattern under the glass. GM has been good about replacing them free for a certain period of time with no questions asked, but it must have cost them a bundle. My 2014 ATS did it and was replaced. So far the 2017 is fine, so maybe they fixed it later on.

Yes, touch screens with haptic feedback (they have something that makes you feel them respond when you touch in the right places). [What a setup for the comedians here] They do show fingerprints unfortunately.

Yes, why do you give us such good straight lines?

ruking1 · April 2019

Most folks whom are effected know this about AWD, 4WD, etc., winter tires.

https://youtu.be/iXjzYbpt9Ow

imidazol97 · April 2019

Talking money:
I'm sure there are people on here with knowledge of getting a mortgage for a home. My son and DIL are likely to apply for a mortgage in the near future. My son is listed as a co-owner on some savings accounts my wife and I have. The accounts are never listed with his social security as the owner. He's just a co-owner and in some cases a beneficiary.

Does he have to declare these accounts when they ask about the financial holdings of the applicant for a mortgage? Should I take his name off as co-owner?

28firefighter · April 2019

I don't know if he needs to or not, but I would think if he could, he should. If they show as assets for him, I would think it would only be a benefit, not a detriment...

stickguy · April 2019

Yeah, better chance of qualifying. It’s not like student loans when he is expected to spend it!

abacomike · April 2019

@imidazol97:

Any accounts with your son’s name on them as “joint owner” and where he can withdraw funds legally, may be used as assets. Accounts where he is merely a beneficiary are not considered as assets.

But in reality, none of the funds are really his - but legally they may be considered as such. I would suggest that he not list any of “your” accounts as assets. He is, in actuality, merely a signatory.

ruking1 · April 2019

imidazol97 said:
Talking money:
I'm sure there are people on here with knowledge of getting a mortgage for a home. My son and DIL are likely to apply for a mortgage in the near future. My son is listed as a co-owner on some savings accounts my wife and I have. The accounts are never listed with his social security as the owner. He's just a co-owner and in some cases a beneficiary.

Does he have to declare these accounts when they ask about the financial holdings of the applicant for a mortgage? Should I take his name off as co-owner?

The answers seriously can be yes or no. As a beneficiary, the answers can be a no to qualified no. The best is to shop, shop, shop, & fill out practice applications.

ab348 · April 2019

It was over 20 years ago but when I applied for my mortgage the bank was willing to lend me far more money than I could afford to make the monthly payments on. Maybe things are different now.

ruking1 · April 2019

There are a host of new things for mortgages: too many cross references, too many initialings, too many signatures, too many notorizations & parts go through homeland security. Some to most times, one has to show where the monies come from. Multi year IRS tax returns can be required.

oldfarmer50 · April 2019

ruking1 said:
There are a host of new things for mortgages: too many cross references, too many initialings, too many signatures, too many notorizations & parts go through homeland security. Some to most times, one has to show where the monies come from. Multi year IRS tax returns can be required.

Glad I never had one.

henryn · April 2019

ab348 said:
It was over 20 years ago but when I applied for my mortgage the bank was willing to lend me far more money than I could afford to make the monthly payments on. Maybe things are different now.

My last mortgage was generated in 1999. I applied for "pre-approval" to make the process as stream-lined as possible. "Mortgage process" + "stream-lined" == oxymoron, but I digress.

And, like you, they qualified me for some ridiculously large amount. I was thinking that I might go as high as $150 or $160, so I asked for $175 to be on the plus side. They pre-approved me for twice that. It's no wonder we had a "mortgage crisis" in 2007, there was no way on god's green earth I could have paid off a $350k mortgage.

explorerx4 · April 2019

What about 'Press button, get mortgage'?

explorerx4 · April 2019

So my big day was good, but less than expected.
If you think about what I work with, think different size jigsaw puzzles,
Testing a 5k, improvement was 11 to 15%. Some of the big ones would be 100k?
The rest of the day didn't go as planned, so I'll have to wait to do some testing of the big boys.

driver100 · April 2019

fintail said:
2019 C has an optional digital cluster, but not tablet style, and still has the tablet in the center (which I am not fond of):

This is the interior of my car. The instrument panel is one of my favorite design features, it has a very modern feel, yet isn't pointlessly edgy:

Mine looks similar and I like it a lot. The C digital instruments are nice but not as dramatic as the large slab, and although the pop up screen is not a deal breaker....I prefer a built in screen.

If those are your jeans they look pretty worn.

fintail · April 2019

The slab look works, as pioneered in the S-class which hit our roads for the 2014 model year. I think of this car as kind of my mini S-class, as it feels very refined and high tech.

As the new GLE apparently has a slab of gauges standard, I predict they will be standard for the E in the next facelift, I think it will be the 2021 model year.

And yes, those are quite old jeans in a color that might not be fashionable anymore. I am pretty easy on my clothes, and have some old ones

driver100 said:

Mine looks similar and I like it a lot. The C digital instruments are nice but not as dramatic as the large slab, and although the pop up screen is not a deal breaker....I prefer a built in screen.

If those are your jeans they look pretty worn.

jmonroe1 · April 2019

driver100 said:

fintail said:
2019 C has an optional digital cluster, but not tablet style, and still has the tablet in the center (which I am not fond of):

This is the interior of my car. The instrument panel is one of my favorite design features, it has a very modern feel, yet isn't pointlessly edgy:

Mine looks similar and I like it a lot. The C digital instruments are nice but not as dramatic as the large slab, and although the pop up screen is not a deal breaker....I prefer a built in screen.

If those are your jeans they look pretty worn.

I don't think they look so bad. Although he could have taken a razor blade to them to give them the stylish look.

jmonroe

ab348 · April 2019

Looks like a software update for the forums got rolled out recently as there are new links at the top of the Bookmarks page. But the things that were broken in Firefox, anything that has a pulldown selection for the message composition box, are still broken. And if you use the back button from the bookmarks page after reading a board's messages, it still doesn't update the unread posts.

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