Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations

jmonroe1 · October 4

venture said:

oldfarmer50 said:

explorerx4 said:
I went in the garage to put something in the trash and saw someone coming from around the side of my garage and next walked up to the keypad for the garage door open it and push some keys.
I ran out and started screaming at them about what they were doing.
Guy said he was trying to get in his friends house. I told him to get the **** out of my driveway, walked behind his car to get the plate and went inside to get my phone.
He was gone by the time I got back outside.
The police showed up about 15 minutes later and I gave them a description of the car, driver and as much of the plate I could remember.
Still a bit amped right now.
I understand your anger. I had a similar situation a few years when I heard noise in my living room and went down stairs to find a middle age woman in my living room who claimed she was looking for her cousin. She was in no hurry to leave even after I threatened to call police. All sorts of thoughts went through my head as to her motives for just walking into a strangers house but the police said she was just somebody who had poor respect for boundaries.
She's lucky. If that happened to me, she would have been looking at the bad end of a Glock.

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I know what you mean and if she became violent I would have probably done that too but I think I would have started with my old 35 inch Louisville Slugger.

jmonroe

jmonroe1 · October 4

suydam said:

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

Michaell said:
CAA membership?
That’s exactly what I did. The Cadillac came standard with Bridgestone runflats that I despised. Rode harsh, noisy, dangerously darty on the highway. I replaced them with non-runflat Michelin Pilots Sports which are great tires. And got a CAA membership which gives me the usual roadside assist benefits plus a discount on my CAA insurance.
I have CAA membership and have had it for 60 years. How can CAA help if you don't have a spare....they can fill a tire if it isn't a hole, and they could have some tire sealer....but, they won't give you a spare or a donut? Even a donut isn't great........a full size spare is the best solution, but they weigh too much to get top mileage.
I’d call AAA, same as I would during the day. I take my cue from Tom Petty: “Most things I worry about never happen anyway.”

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I believe in that too but since I was a Boy Scout for a couple years I’ve learned to be prepared. So much so I have 2 tire inflators in each car. Although they’re small and take up almost no space, one had some weight to it. I know I’m probably losing some MPG doing that but I’ve learned to live with poor MPGs since I have a Genny with a V8 and a Subie with a 6 cylinder.

jmonroe

corvette · October 4

Yes, they will tow you to a tire shop, just like any other breakdown. Fun story, when my best friend had her Gen2 Prius, it didn’t have a spare. She got a flat, and I drove my Prius over to let her borrow my spare. The darn wheel had corroded itself to the hub, and not even putting the weight of the car on it would break it loose. I called AAA and they towed it to Goodyear.

stickguy · October 4

I did read the manual on both cars when we got them, just don't remember all the details. But both are held up by a cable that you have to crank down to get the tire to the ground. I think the nut to put the crank on (might be the lug wrench) for the RDX is at the bottom of the truck well under a little plastic cover, and the Ford is in the back valance between the bumper and tailgate. I should go take a look for that.

I know on a lot of the older trucks in salt country those systems are all corroded so badly they will never work, assuming the tire bracket has not already rotted off so there is no spare left.

stickguy · October 4

Driver, if you are 200 miles from home, might not want to drive that far on a donut anyway. But definitely handier to get you to a tire shop or around locally in the meantime.

benjaminh · October 4

Had a good time meeting up with corvette today to see a get together of mostly European performance cars, most of which had enhancements. We walked over the Ohio River on Louisville's pedestrian bridge that was originally built for trains in the 19th century. It was enjoyable looking at the cars, talking with some vendors who were friends with corvette, and just talking in general about cars on a nice day.

corvette · October 4

Photo dump:

graphicguy · October 4

benjaminh said:
Had a good time meeting up with corvette today to see a get together of mostly European performance cars, most of which had enhancements. We walked over the Ohio River on Louisville's pedestrian bridge that was originally built for trains in the 19th century. It was enjoyable looking at the cars, talking with some vendors who were friends with corvette, and just talking in general about cars on a nice day.

Mercedes with red leather.....I'm in love!

As an aside, the headphones I had spoke about earlier arrived in the mail from the place who wanted all my financial and ID info. Thought they were gone for sure.

Can't imagine anyone giving this resell place their Last 4 SS digits, address, routing number, account number to sell them some electronics. Going to keep an eye on them to see how long they actually stay in business.

But, looks like it's off the eBay, as much as I hate doing that. But, FaceBook marketplace has become even flakier recently. So......

corvette · October 4

It was great meeting up with @benjaminh... @roadburner couldn't make it, but I think he would have enjoyed it!

Lots of cool stuff. The Harlequin Polo was neat. The tan Rabbit with patina had been VR6 swapped, and there was also a Harlequin Golf with a VR6 swap.

My friends own a performance shop outside of Indianapolis, and brought a customer car down for display at their booth. I neglected to get a photo, but I believe it was an E63 AMG which they had done a Stage II tune on.

stickguy · October 4

The red BMW wagon looks neat.

GG, that’s why at this point I just keep everything Too much hassle to get rid of it!

stickguy · October 4

Benjamin and corvette are real people? All this time I assumed you were all bots and I was talking to myself.

Maybe my brain was worse than I was told…..

oldfarmer50 · October 4

stickguy said:
I did read the manual on both cars when we got them, just don't remember all the details. But both are held up by a cable that you have to crank down to get the tire to the ground. I think the nut to put the crank on (might be the lug wrench) for the RDX is at the bottom of the truck well under a little plastic cover, and the Ford is in the back valance between the bumper and tailgate. I should go take a look for that.

I know on a lot of the older trucks in salt country those systems are all corroded so badly they will never work, assuming the tire bracket has not already rotted off so there is no spare left.

That happened in my old Toyota truck and they had to use a torch to cut the spare off the hanger.

jmonroe1 · October 4

I’m not really sure what my electrical rate is now. Ever since I jumpered out one side of my meter I don’t care anymore.

jmonroe

driver100 · October 4

stickguy said:
Driver, if you are 200 miles from home, might not want to drive that far on a donut anyway. But definitely handier to get you to a tire shop or around locally in the meantime.

I had a flat tire in Florida on Thanksgiving evening. I called AAA and they put the donut on the 2016 C250. I was only about 10 miles from home and made it home. But, if I was 100 or 200 miles from home, on Thanksgiving evening, and it was 10 p.m., taking us to a tire store wouldn't do us much good....the next day was Sunday and not too many shops open on that day as well....and then there is the problem of them having the right tire. btw......if it is a Run Flat they need proper equipment to get the tire on the wheel.
I can see where they order the tire on Monday, and you sleep in a sleazy motel for 4 nights, waiting for the tires to arrive and be put on...and pay full price for the new tires (you probably need 2 if it they are Run Flats).

suydam · October 4

I was stranded away from home once. My oldest son and I were looking at colleges and developed car trouble. AAA towed the car to the nearest service place. I rented a car and we resumed our trip. A few days later the car was repaired so I drove the rental car to the service place (about and hour or so drive for me) , turned in the rental and picked up my car. No sleazy hotel stays required.
Whatever caused the problem was unusual, it’s so long ago now I don’t even remember. No amount of pre-worrying and planning would have changed anything. Things happen. You deal.

jmonroe1 · October 4

graphicguy said:

benjaminh said:
Had a good time meeting up with corvette today to see a get together of mostly European performance cars, most of which had enhancements. We walked over the Ohio River on Louisville's pedestrian bridge that was originally built for trains in the 19th century. It was enjoyable looking at the cars, talking with some vendors who were friends with corvette, and just talking in general about cars on a nice day.

Mercedes with red leather.....I'm in love!

As an aside, the headphones I had spoke about earlier arrived in the mail from the place who wanted all my financial and ID info. Thought they were gone for sure.

Can't imagine anyone giving this resell place their Last 4 SS digits, address, routing number, account number to sell them some electronics. Going to keep an eye on them to see how long they actually stay in business.

But, looks like it's off the eBay, as much as I hate doing that. But, FaceBook marketplace has become even flakier recently. So......

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Don’t tell us those 2 heads are youze guys. If so we would have preferred another car pic.

jmonroe

explorerx4 · October 4

Some others of you might like it but I thought of roadburner after reading a book "The Bricklayer".
Good snappy dialogue, good plot(involves extortion, kidnapping, and murder), good characters.
Although about 15 years old, I think it would make a good movie.
Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd from Moonlighting would be a great fit.
Not sure which current actors could play the parts.

ab348 · October 4

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
Driver, if you are 200 miles from home, might not want to drive that far on a donut anyway. But definitely handier to get you to a tire shop or around locally in the meantime.
I had a flat tire in Florida on Thanksgiving evening. I called AAA and they put the donut on the 2016 C250. I was only about 10 miles from home and made it home. But, if I was 100 or 200 miles from home, on Thanksgiving evening, and it was 10 p.m., taking us to a tire store wouldn't do us much good....the next day was Sunday and not too many shops open on that day as well....and then there is the problem of them having the right tire. btw......if it is a Run Flat they need proper equipment to get the tire on the wheel.
I can see where they order the tire on Monday, and you sleep in a sleazy motel for 4 nights, waiting for the tires to arrive and be put on...and pay full price for the new tires (you probably need 2 if it they are Run Flats).

Rare image of @driver100

corvette · October 4

@ab348 - that pic reminded me of this meme for some reason:

venture · October 4

suydam said:
I was stranded away from home once. My oldest son and I were looking at colleges and developed car trouble. AAA towed the car to the nearest service place. I rented a car and we resumed our trip. A few days later the car was repaired so I drove the rental car to the service place (about and hour or so drive for me) , turned in the rental and picked up my car. No sleazy hotel stays required.
Whatever caused the problem was unusual, it’s so long ago now I don’t even remember. No amount of pre-worrying and planning would have changed anything. Things happen. You deal.

My favorite new word - pre-worrying.

xwesx · October 4

@suydam said:
I was stranded away from home once. My oldest son and I were looking at colleges and developed car trouble. AAA towed the car to the nearest service place. I rented a car and we resumed our trip. A few days later the car was repaired so I drove the rental car to the service place (about and hour or so drive for me) , turned in the rental and picked up my car. No sleazy hotel stays required.
Whatever caused the problem was unusual, it’s so long ago now I don’t even remember. No amount of pre-worrying and planning would have changed anything. Things happen. You deal.

Reminds me of my breakdown in 1996 at the entrance of Boya Lake on the cassiar highway. Break down was at about 10am. I walked in to the park rangers office a couple kilometers away. She called via VHS radio into Watson Lake, about 65 miles away. Tow truck incoming! Two more such walks and attempts, and the truck really was incoming. Truck shows up at 11pm…

By about 3 am we are back at the shop on Watson Lake. Stayed the night in the van, then found out another three days. Found our seedy motel, had a great time. Fixed the can a few days later and finished the drive to Alaska.

xwesx · October 4

Here is the same stop today. Literally today.

jmonroe1 · October 4

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
Driver, if you are 200 miles from home, might not want to drive that far on a donut anyway. But definitely handier to get you to a tire shop or around locally in the meantime.
I had a flat tire in Florida on Thanksgiving evening. I called AAA and they put the donut on the 2016 C250. I was only about 10 miles from home and made it home. But, if I was 100 or 200 miles from home, on Thanksgiving evening, and it was 10 p.m., taking us to a tire store wouldn't do us much good....the next day was Sunday and not too many shops open on that day as well....and then there is the problem of them having the right tire. btw......if it is a Run Flat they need proper equipment to get the tire on the wheel.
I can see where they order the tire on Monday, and you sleep in a sleazy motel for 4 nights, waiting for the tires to arrive and be put on...and pay full price for the new tires (you probably need 2 if it they are Run Flats).
Rare image of @driver100

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Maybe rare in your area but it’s all over the place down here in the lower 48.

jmonroe

driver100 · October 4

suydam said:
I was stranded away from home once. My oldest son and I were looking at colleges and developed car trouble. AAA towed the car to the nearest service place. I rented a car and we resumed our trip. A few days later the car was repaired so I drove the rental car to the service place (about and hour or so drive for me) , turned in the rental and picked up my car. No sleazy hotel stays required.
Whatever caused the problem was unusual, it’s so long ago now I don’t even remember. No amount of pre-worrying and planning would have changed anything. Things happen. You deal.

If you didn't have a spare and had a flat tire you would have dealt with it the same way. You would rent a car, drive an hour home, drive back an hour the next day, drive home which takes an hour to get back. Half a day wasted when you could have put a spare tire on and been home all in one shot.
My time is too valuable to me to waste it driving back and forth.......and the cost of a spare tire is probably less than the cost of the rental car....and the gas wasted going back and forth.
Fortunately your problem happened when the garage was open, what would you have done if it was 10 p.m. on Sunday evening? Oh yeh, it is more fun trying to figure out what to do instead of being prepared. They make spare tires for a reason.

driver100 · October 4

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
Driver, if you are 200 miles from home, might not want to drive that far on a donut anyway. But definitely handier to get you to a tire shop or around locally in the meantime.
I had a flat tire in Florida on Thanksgiving evening. I called AAA and they put the donut on the 2016 C250. I was only about 10 miles from home and made it home. But, if I was 100 or 200 miles from home, on Thanksgiving evening, and it was 10 p.m., taking us to a tire store wouldn't do us much good....the next day was Sunday and not too many shops open on that day as well....and then there is the problem of them having the right tire. btw......if it is a Run Flat they need proper equipment to get the tire on the wheel.
I can see where they order the tire on Monday, and you sleep in a sleazy motel for 4 nights, waiting for the tires to arrive and be put on...and pay full price for the new tires (you probably need 2 if it they are Run Flats).
Rare image of @driver100

I have talked to business owners....I always found the most successful ones don't obsess about problems, but they are usually prepared for possible problems. It is one reason people do preventative maintenance. Someone invented spares for a reason, I suppose you don't believe in insurance either...you can try to solve the problem after the accident. I see them on Judge Judy, they think they can drive without insurance....never realizing they could hit someone and end up paying $50,000 or more...but hey, why think it might happen to them.

suydam · October 4

Everybody has their own vibe. Just because I don’t spend a lot of time obsessing over all possible bad outcomes any time I leave the house doesn’t mean I drive without insurance. You do you.

tjc78 · 3:13AM

@driver100
I can tell you this .. If my wife was 200 miles away and had a flat here is how the conversation goes:

“Hey … the car is on the side of the road there is something wrong with a tire. It at XX spot. I am in Uber on the way home”

Or V2 if she was already staying at a hotel:

“Hey I just Ubered back to my hotel … there is something wrong with the car, can you come up and take care of it”

Lastly - V3
This would never happen because my wife doesn’t like driving the 12 minutes to the nail salon!

stickguy · 4:31AM

sounds like my wife. though this past week she was forced to drive to unknown places on her own since I was "otherwise occupied". And she has had to drive to our son's house to babysit, so recently has done a bit more driving. But I don't think she will ever be more than 20 miles from home doing it.

if the car dies, I am getting the first call and an earful. A tire, that we would replace. A mechanical breakdown, I would get instructions that it was time for her to get a new car.

driver100 · 5:25AM

My wife's GLK has radial tires and a donut spare. She sometimes travels about 120 miles each way.
RE: AAA. Just so you know;
If your vehicle has no usable spare, a AAA technician will tow your car to a pre-determined destination, such as a tire shop, a dealership, or your home.
One Friday night we went out for dinner, when we came out at 7 p.m. the front driver side run flat was flat. I tried a gas station air pump, and the tire wouldn't hold air.
Monday was a major holiday, on Saturday I called my MB dealer and about a dozen tire dealers....they didn't want to look at a flat on a holiday weekend, they were busy selling more expensive stuff.
My MB dealer said they could patch the tire on Thursday.....what do I do, rent a car for 4 days to put on a $100 patch (that's what it cost at Mercedes).
I told him if they wanted to sell me another car one day, they should try to fix it on Monday. He said bring it in Sunday, put the key in the box, and we will try to do it between jobs on Monday...it was done by noon.
Fortunately I didn't need the car to get to tennis or pickleball Monday morning....but a donut and AAA could have saved me a lot of trouble....just saying.

driver100 · 5:29AM

It turns out the issue of cars "missing" spare tires isn’t new.

Consumer Reports found that since 2020:

Only 10 percent of cars are equipped with a full-sized spare.
Just under 50 percent come with a space-saver or "donut" tire.
CR automotive technician Michael Crossen says automakers are ditching spare tires to cut production costs and reduce vehicle weight.

Spare tire or not, Consumer Reports advises drivers to be ready for a flat, in case it happens to them.
The article gives an example why it might be good to have a donut tire at least.....along with AAA
https://www.wcpo.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/beware-many-newer-cars-have-no-spare-tire-not-even-a-donut#:~:text=Only 10 percent of cars,saver or "donut" tire.
AAA has a good efficient jack, and the equipment to put on a donut.

kyfdx · 5:34AM

Radial tires?

graphicguy · 5:48AM

Got an email inviting me to test drive a Subaru. $50 for my troubles. Not sure how I got on a Subaru database, but $50 is $50. Went to the local Subaru dealer. Told them I'm not in the market....maybe after my EV6 lease is up next year.

They processed the $50 VISA card.

I did sit in a WRX in the showroom. Hmmmmmm.......

benjaminh · 6:47AM

I first learned that car companies ordered downgraded versions of tires oem when the Explorer/Firestone controversy broke around the year 2000. To save money, Ford ordered cheaper versions of Firestone tires.

I think companies are more careful today to order tires that are "good enough," and meet safety requirements, but at least some are still ordering downgraded versions of tires that are available to consumers at higher prices.

For instance, my wife's 2025 Outback has Yokohama Avid GT tires, which at a tire store cost around $200 per tire. The commercially available versions seem to usually have a UTQG wear rating of 740, which translates to around 65,000 miles. But the tires that came with our Outback only have a rating 400, which is maybe 35,000 miles or so. They still seem like good tires.

Our Outback does come with a temporary spare, but because of the AWD system the temporary is not supposed to be put on the front. So if you get a flat in the front you're supposed to put one of the rear tires on the front first, and then put the temporary on the rear. In any case, you're not supposed to go more than 50 mph for 50 miles on the temporary tire in the Outback—and so no Interstate driving. This is apparently not just because the tire is small, but because driving faster than that or more than that might mess up the awd system? A few models of the Outback have a full-size spare, and so there is room there for one if we wanted to spend the money to get one.

The 12-minute video below shows the process of changing a front flat in for an Outback.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xga1W-Qjrjo&t=17s

driver100 · 6:56AM

@benjaminh It is great that Subaru gives you a donut spare at least. They sure don't make it easy if a front tire goes flat........who is even going to look that up if they get a flat in the front......I hope AAA knows all that too.

explorerx4 · 7:06AM

I read about OEM tires being spec'ed differemtly than tire store versions back in the 80's.
My wife's Corsair has tires the started out with 8mm of tread instead of the ususal 10-12mm's.
Good news is that means they are not wearing out the fast as originally projected.

stickguy · 7:08AM

if I got a car with a donut that had space in the well for a full sized tire/wheel, I definitely would order a cheap tire and wheel from Tirerack or some place like that and swap them out.

Not quite sure what size the Acura has (when my neck feels better I will go under and see, and check the pressure while I am there) but I think it is more substantial than a donut. I know the Ford came with a "full size" wheel/tire, though it isn't the same size as what I have on mine (might be the base size, or just a skinnier version). In any case, something you can drive normally on since it will be close to the same diameter.

benjaminh · 7:48AM

I think there's a chance that a 2020 RDX has a kit like the kind shown in the 2-minute video below, which is what I have in my TLX. Or maybe the RDX has a temporary or even full-size spare? Idk.

All this discussion about tires and spares has made me worry a bit more about this when it comes to my TLX. When I got the car more than seven years ago I was surprised it didn't come with a spare, but I did like the storage area it had instead. I use that storage area for my bike helmet, tire pump for my folding bike (which I keep in the trunk most of the time), a spare jacket, paper towels, and a spray bottle of windex. If weather allows I usually go for a bike ride 2-5 times a week. It's good for physical health and for my mood to go for a scenic drive and bike ride when I can.

We do have AAA. If the fix a flat kit didn't work I'd call them, get a hotel, etc. But yeah, all of that could get inconvenient and expensive.

Iirc the last time I changed a tire was in 1982 on our VW Bus. It was difficult, and I'm not as strong now as I was at 18. Plus the dangers of changing a tire by the side of the road or highway seem significant.

But it sounds like people here are suggesting the spare is not for you to change yourself, but for the AAA person.

In most situations I think I'd want AAA to tow me to the nearest place that could fix the tire or change it. Not sure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO4OqnLR1oU

stickguy · 7:53AM

I had that kit in my TLX. still sitting in the garage, since when I had the spare tire kit put in (after I bought it) I kept the kit that came with it.

The RDX definitely has a real tire hanging underneath. I just can't remember what size it is without looking at it!

I do have AAA (and for the Ford still, I think their roadside assistance as long as I am under BtoB warranty) and would likely call them just because I am lazy and rapidly falling apart physically apparently. But even though it has been a long, long time since I did one, I am perfectly capable of changing a tire. I just don't want to. I would also expect roadside to put the spare on, not tow me anyplace (and that tow better be a flatbed since no chance I am approving a hook and drag)

benjaminh · 8:02AM

3-minute video showing the spare tire for the RDX.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQDZJHbwDDY

ab348 · 8:06AM

Last time I had to change a tire was around 1983 on my ‘77 LeMans. It was in a parking garage and found it flat when I left work.

The 2014 ATS I had prior to this one had OEM runflats, Michelins I believe. I got a flat with one of those and was able to gingerly drive it to the dealership where they did a repair. The service writer told me they often found runflats that couldn’t be repaired because the stiffness of the sidewall sometimes caused other sections of the sidewall to blow out following hitting a pothole.

Watching the daily L.A. TV news stations LAPD/CHP “pursuit” helicopter videos of rogue drivers in that city (sometimes at 100mph, sometimes at 30mph) it seems tires and even wheels are optional. I know nothing of police procedures, but it seems strange how LAPD will have a caravan of 6 or more cruisers following a miscreant for a very long time and make no effort to cut off or pull over the vehicle in question.

tjc78 · 8:21AM

To my Edmunds friends… we leave for vacation on Friday afternoon. Today is packing day. If you don’t hear from me by dinner time I may either be hospitalized or worse. If you’re religious say your prayers for me. 😩😩

explorerx4 · 9:15AM

My F-150 spare has an AT tire matching the other 4. The wheel it is mounted on matches the other 4 wheels, except it is not painted.
All the other vehicles have a donut spare or at least a tire that is somewhat smaller than the other 4.

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