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The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 9:46 pm
by bedraggled
The Florida mechanic is ok with synthetic oil. He prefers 5,000 mile changes rather than the suggested 7,500, especially in Florida hot weather. I do like the fancy oil filters, though.

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 10:41 pm
by Hal
I have always used Turbo Diesel Truck (prime mover) oil in every vehicle owned. Petrol or diesel.
Have done over 1 1/2 million K in total and every Toyota engine was fine.

1st Car - 1976 Falcon wagon - swear it was dipped in salt water before coming of assembly line. 2 engines in it both lasted only 200,000K

2nd to 4th Car - 4 door Toyota Hilux's. 2nd got run into. 3rd gearbox died (note to self - never buy a noisy diesel again). 4th still going.

For example: https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/for ... uck-5w-40/

Love to hate - 4.1 litre 6 cylinder 1976 (rust on wheels) Falcon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SDnJAYeN6c

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 11:03 pm
by bedraggled
Florida seems to keep a few rust bubbles from popping open. I tap them and they seem happy not breaking open. 400,000 miles is the goal.

Regarding Vinny's MPG complaint: I agree MPG is declining. I had a 1984 Civic 4 speed with a 1.3 liter engine. I once got 60 MPG, sometimes got 58 and often got 55. Granted it was an econo-box but the technology exists. Today's MPG is inadequate. YMMV.

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 6:42 am
by Mountaineer
My experience in vehicles I've owned - all purchased new.

Worst*: 1979 Chevy Citation [6,400] - chronic brake issues, bottoms of doors were not painted when I bought it new, etc., etc. etc.
Second worst: 1970 Volkswagen Bus [3600] - blew a hole in one of the cylinder heads at 23,500 miles, just before the warranty expired. Should have known better - way underpowered engine with air conditioning that had to be driven flat out anytime on the Texas interstates, hot climate, air cooled engine not a good match.

Best*: 1995 Volvo 850 Turbo Sedan [34,000], 2012 Volvo XC60 Turbo SUV [38,000], 2018 Audi Q5 [52,000] (way too early to know but so far is excellent).

Most fun to drive: 1979 Mazda RX7 [9,600], 2018 Audi Q5.

Most boring to drive: 1979 Chevy Citation, 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme [4000].

Most practical: 1986 Toyota 4Runner [17,000]
Second most practical: 1966 Volkswagen Beetle [2,000]

* Best and worst based on durability, reliability, comfort, quality, performance (brakes, acceleration, cornering)

I have used full synthetic oil in all vehicles since 1983. First Mobil 1, then Castrol Edge Professional in the past several years. I have driven probably well over 1 million miles in a great variety of vehicles (210,000 on the '95 Volvo was the most, 24,000 on the VW bus was the least). First car that was practically mine, 1953 Buick straight 8, 3 on the column, that was given to me to drive after my grandfather had a stroke. Had front knee-action shock absorbers that I had to top up with oil every 100 miles or so. Had a steering column shaft break when driving into high school - luckily, I was turning into the parking lot when the steel fractured - 5 minutes before I had been driving 50 - 60 mph on a twisty two lane road. ;D Vehicles have greatly improved since then.

Edit to add approximate price w/o any trade-in value in [ $ ].

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 10:13 am
by Hal
Here is some outstanding 1920's engineering ->E-20 steam car

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

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 7:37 pm
by Ad Orientem
The golden age of American cars...

https://youtu.be/tEme7EV0YPQ

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 8:07 am
by Kriegsspiel
Ad Orientem wrote:
Thu Apr 23, 2020 7:37 pm
The golden age of American cars...

https://youtu.be/tEme7EV0YPQ
Fantastic.

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 8:24 am
by bedraggled
Since the thread was drifting....

Mark,
What repairs did the $5,000 cover?

I'll post my repair experiences in the next post.

Thanks

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 8:56 am
by bedraggled
Vinny,

You must be more patient with the Honda Accords in your life. Our 1991 5-speed manual turns 30 years of age in September.

Whereas it should have been gone in 2008, the new mechanic asked if I wanted to rebuild as he knew I had just done a significant repair the previous year. Nine years later with $21,500 spent- that's $2389/year) it ran well. The last 3 years I've spent $1275, $475 and $300. The annual repair cost is going down. It's all Honda EOM, except for front axles. The Florida mechanic said no road 'crud' means front axles last longer.

The car has 357,600 on it. I've mentioned that a few years before. Actually replaced the exhaust manifold a couple of years ago.

The speedometer needle sticks at 0 MPH occasionally and that lasts a minute or so and then springs into action.

This car was built to accommodate 15 or 14 inch diameter wheel rims. The manufacturer installed 14 inch, maybe to save money. The gauges, including the odometers have to be set for 15 inch wheels. (This seems common sense or am I wrong?). Ergo, the 14 inch wheels have turned more oner 30 years. So, our 357,600 miles odometer reading may be too high. Now, would the mileage be too high by 1/15 or 1/14? The odometer may be 20,000 too high. What do you think?

The mechanic says the transmission is getting weary and the cylinder compression is down 10%- noted in 2017.

The next car may be a new Tesla in 4 years. This Accord is simple and replacement keys cost $2 at Home Depot.

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 10:09 am
by Tyler
I love my VW GTI. It's super fun to drive yet remarkably practical at the same time. It's sorta crazy how much cargo capacity they crammed into a small, fast, & nimble car.

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 10:53 am
by vnatale
bedraggled wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 8:56 am
Vinny,

You must be more patient with the Honda Accords in your life. Our 1991 5-speed manual turns 30 years of age in September.

Whereas it should have been gone in 2008, the new mechanic asked if I wanted to rebuild as he knew I had just done a significant repair the previous year. Nine years later with $21,500 spent- that's $2389/year) it ran well. The last 3 years I've spent $1275, $475 and $300. The annual repair cost is going down. It's all Honda EOM, except for front axles. The Florida mechanic said no road 'crud' means front axles last longer.

The car has 357,600 on it. I've mentioned that a few years before. Actually replaced the exhaust manifold a couple of years ago.

The speedometer needle sticks at 0 MPH occasionally and that lasts a minute or so and then springs into action.

This car was built to accommodate 15 or 14 inch diameter wheel rims. The manufacturer installed 14 inch, maybe to save money. The gauges, including the odometers have to be set for 15 inch wheels. (This seems common sense or am I wrong?). Ergo, the 14 inch wheels have turned more oner 30 years. So, our 357,600 miles odometer reading may be too high. Now, would the mileage be too high by 1/15 or 1/14? The odometer may be 20,000 too high. What do you think?

The mechanic says the transmission is getting weary and the cylinder compression is down 10%- noted in 2017.

The next car may be a new Tesla in 4 years. This Accord is simple and replacement keys cost $2 at Home Depot.
You are in Florida. I am in New England. Used southern cars are prize purchases in New England. The snow and the ice put on the road promotes tons of rust in cars.

This is the first of my four Honda Accords that I've not had to spend tons of money for rust remediation, particularly in the rear wheel well areas.

As I said the 1984 had 248,000 miles on it with the engine still fine as I was driving it to the junkyard but the car was absolutely falling apart due to all the rust EVERYWHERE.

Given what I pay for my cars when I purchase them, I'm quite content with spending $1,000 a years on repairs. Then it got up to $2,000 a year in the last two years I owned my second one. That told me its time had come to an end.

Vinny

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:01 am
by Mark Leavy
bedraggled wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 8:24 am
Since the thread was drifting....

Mark,
What repairs did the $5,000 cover?

I'll post my repair experiences in the next post.

Thanks
All new suspension rubber.
Engine seals and gaskets and oil pan.
motor mounts
Tires
New fluids
front right axel and a stabilizer bar
thermostat
alternator
brakes
battery.

It didn't necessarily need all that, or maybe even any of it if I were just going to be city driving, but I knew I was going to be driving the hell out of it on remote highways and I figured it was cheap insurance.

The original owner had maintained it fairly well. Just some things were older than my comfort zone allowed.

Runs like a dream now. I've put 6000 miles on it in just 3 weeks. There's a dealer where I am now, so I'll take it in for a tune-up and tire rotation on Monday.

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:24 am
by vnatale
Mark Leavy wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:01 am
bedraggled wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 8:24 am
Since the thread was drifting....

Mark,
What repairs did the $5,000 cover?

I'll post my repair experiences in the next post.

Thanks
All new suspension rubber.
Engine seals and gaskets and oil pan.
motor mounts
Tires
New fluids
front right axel and a stabilizer bar
thermostat
alternator
brakes
battery.

It didn't necessarily need all that, or maybe even any of it if I were just going to be city driving, but I knew I was going to be driving the hell out of it on remote highways and I figured it was cheap insurance.

The original owner had maintained it fairly well. Just some things were older than my comfort zone allowed.

Runs like a dream now. I've put 6000 miles on it in just 3 weeks. There's a dealer where I am now, so I'll take it in for a tune-up and tire rotation on Monday.
I don't even drive that many miles in a year!

And, if you were averaging 75 mph that would be 80 hours in the car over those three weeks? 5-6 hours per work day?

Vinny

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:19 pm
by bedraggled
Vinny,

Our 1991 Accord spent 27 years in New York.

For the accountant in both of us, in 2015, I had a $2500 rust remediation job done on the underside of the car. Our auto body guy in the Bronx, said I had a hole in the trunk, for starters. An acquaintance who recommended me to the repair guy, chatted with the owner and we all concluded the work was done at a discount. I.e., I was treated well.

The accountant part of me demanded I amortize the repair, compelling me to hold on to the car.

The car and its 2 drivers have seen more than our fair share of ice, snow and slush. We still appear up north and drive in the stuff. A really memorable night was when the tires get so packed with frozen slush, there was no real traction and, at best, questionable control. Even with foot-off-gas and 200 yards or more from a red light, I had feelings of helplessness as the car "drifted" toward the intersection. "When do I tap the brakes)?" This was on the north side of Cleveland 3 years ago.

To attend a wedding 3 years ago, we drove from our daughter's home in Cleveland, where she moved after living in western Pennsylvania, to our son's home in Albany on I-90. From south of Buffalo, near where I attended college, to near Depew, I had the opportunity to drive on the nicest slick ice I ever encountered in my 65 years on earth. After that experience, I thought I may be getting tired of such driving. But that wasn't the primary motivation to move to Florida. Oh, I had the unique experience of having my gas cap freeze in place in Maryland while on the way back to sunny Florida, after visiting my children. The tank was near "E:" same 1991 Accord and new memory.

Two days ago, after a Mobil 1 oil change, the mechanic said my belts had a year left. I told him we'll order the parts and do it in 6 months.

I have 4 years left on the tires and battery. And then a Tesla or some electro generic.

I hear I would get a key fob. What's a key fob? We do like our 30 year old Accord.

Forty years of driving in salt, crud and snow. Many laughs.

And to all a good night!
(Best read with ice and snow on the ground).

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:22 pm
by bedraggled
Mark,

You and I are on the same page re maintenance. I tell the mechanic to "find something wrong, please."

Tech,

For whatever reason, I like sitting in repair shops. I've learned a few things in the past 30 years.

Cheers.

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:28 pm
by bedraggled
market watch.com had an article by a wealthy investor asserting the path to wealth is driving a crappy car. I believe he directed the thought to the younger people. Maybe the HBPP 4x25 people have a chance.

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:31 pm
by vnatale
bedraggled wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:28 pm
market watch.com had an article by a wealthy investor asserting the path to wealth is driving a crappy car. I believe he directed the thought to the younger people. Maybe the HBPP 4x25 people have a chance.
AND living in a cheap house!

Vinny

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:39 pm
by vnatale
bedraggled wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:19 pm
Vinny,

Our 1991 Accord spent 27 years in New York.

For the accountant in both of us, in 2015, I had a $2500 rust remediation job done on the underside of the car. Our auto body guy in the Bronx, said I had a hole in the trunk, for starters. An acquaintance who recommended me to the repair guy, chatted with the owner and we all concluded the work was done at a discount. I.e., I was treated well.

The accountant part of me demanded I amortize the repair, compelling me to hold on to the car.

The car and its 2 drivers have seen more than our fair share of ice, snow and slush. We still appear up north and drive in the stuff. A really memorable night was when the tires get so packed with frozen slush, there was no real traction and, at best, questionable control. Even with foot-off-gas and 200 yards or more from a red light, I had feelings of helplessness as the car "drifted" toward the intersection. "When do I tap the brakes)?" This was on the north side of Cleveland 3 years ago.

To attend a wedding 3 years ago, we drove from our daughter's home in Cleveland, where she moved after living in western Pennsylvania, to our son's home in Albany on I-90. From south of Buffalo, near where I attended college, to near Depew, I had the opportunity to drive on the nicest slick ice I ever encountered in my 65 years on earth. After that experience, I thought I may be getting tired of such driving. But that wasn't the primary motivation to move to Florida. Oh, I had the unique experience of having my gas cap freeze in place in Maryland while on the way back to sunny Florida, after visiting my children. The tank was near "E:" same 1991 Accord and new memory.

Two days ago, after a Mobil 1 oil change, the mechanic said my belts had a year left. I told him we'll order the parts and do it in 6 months.

I have 4 years left on the tires and battery. And then a Tesla or some electro generic.

I hear I would get a key fob. What's a key fob? We do like our 30 year old Accord.

Forty years of driving in salt, crud and snow. Many laughs.

And to all a good night!
(Best read with ice and snow on the ground).
Then you've had quite good fortune with that car! One of my softball teammates was given a car like yours a few years ago. He himself did a lot of work on it and it seems to still be going fine.

$2,500 for rust remediation! I thought I was spending a lot when I was spending $500 to deal with those two wheel wells.

I remember one body shop person analogizing the rust to cancer. He said you could cut it out and deal with it. But it's always going to remain there and come back.

Is your car of the vintage (like my 1984 and 1986) were where in you had to replace the timing belt and water pump every so miles just in case? And, it was a fairly expensive repair? By the time I got my 1995 it was no longer.

Each of my four Honda Accords have been absolutely horrible on snow without snow tires. I decided this last go round to go full all out - studded snow tires.

And, it's only been with this "newest" car that I've experienced what you describe below in that when the tires get packed with slush the brakes are working far from optimally.

I hate the key fobs! So expensive. When I bought my 1995 first thing I did was head to a place to get 7 key copies made so I could put them at various strategic locations. Cost? Less than $10.

Get this "newer" 2004 and I'm told it cost $200 for 3 keys! And, you can only have 5 keys active at once! Luckily I still have the three keys from when I bought the car 6+ years ago. I actually wear one of them around my neck so no matter what I always have access to my car key.

Vinny

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 1:03 pm
by bedraggled
That market watch.com investor may have a point re crappy cars.

My car insurance is $1,000 annually. My repairs will be approx $600. I'll drive 5000 miles this year: about 165 gallons of gas. That's $2000 for the year. Something's working.

Vinny,

The car is vintage- timing belt and water pump every 90,000. I now realize 360,000 miles is divisible by 90,000, so I'll need to get back to the mechanic. I'm only driving 5,000 miles in 2020 with the social distancing stuff, so there's time. I take that repair in stride.

We never got snow tires. A pain in a New York City apartment. You make the case, though.

My daughter had to get programmed keys. That was "hilarious." How much?!?!?! She was in college. Her mom and I paid for the keys.

My son's card needed new headlights. The plastic lights cost $900. My old Accord has eccentric glass headlights that don't fade. The lights last for decades. Weird, huh?

I'm not yet convinced that new is better in the car world. My brother's back-up camera works most of the time and his courtesy lights have rarely worked. I understand lane drift alert systems are almost fool-proof.

Cheers.

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 1:26 pm
by vnatale
That is quite high insurance for a car of that age.

I have zero collision (have not had that on that on any car since sometime in the 80s). But extremely high liability limits and my insurance bill is around $225.

I seem to remember that timing belt / water pump job was in the $600 range. But that was at least 15-20 years ago. What is it now?

A few other notes regarding my four Honda Accords.

The first one was a plain DX Hatchback.

The last three have been fully loaded - moon roof, power windows, air conditioning, other thing things the DX did not have. You pay next to nothing for those things when you buy the car used.

But he distressing part has been the miles per gallon.

1984 got 33.
1986 got 30
1995 got 27
This 2005 only gets 25. And, low 20s in the winter.

Vinhy

bedraggled wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 1:03 pm
That market watch.com investor may have a point re crappy cars.

My car insurance is $1,000 annually. My repairs will be approx $600. I'll drive 5000 miles this year: about 165 gallons of gas. That's $2000 for the year. Something's working.

Vinny,

The car is vintage- timing belt and water pump every 90,000. I now realize 360,000 miles is divisible by 90,000, so I'll need to get back to the mechanic. I'm only driving 5,000 miles in 2020 with the social distancing stuff, so there's time. I take that repair in stride.

We never got snow tires. A pain in a New York City apartment. You make the case, though.

My daughter had to get programmed keys. That was "hilarious." How much?!?!?! She was in college. Her mom and I paid for the keys.

My son's card needed new headlights. The plastic lights cost $900. My old Accord has eccentric glass headlights that don't fade. The lights last for decades. Weird, huh?

I'm not yet convinced that new is better in the car world. My brother's back-up camera works most of the time and his courtesy lights have rarely worked. I understand lane drift alert systems are almost fool-proof.

Cheers.

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 1:31 pm
by Mark Leavy
vnatale wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:24 am
...
I don't even drive that many miles in a year!

And, if you were averaging 75 mph that would be 80 hours in the car over those three weeks? 5-6 hours per work day?

Vinny
That's because you don't drive a Mini Cooper :)

I feel like Tony Stark when I strap myself into the cockpit. The metal folds around me and the machine responds to every thought.
Mr. John Cooper was a genius. Why would you not drive it? And it's hard to keep it under 90 while winding through the continental divide. It really doesn't even start to hit its stride until then.

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 1:54 pm
by vnatale
Mark Leavy wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 1:31 pm
vnatale wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:24 am
...
I don't even drive that many miles in a year!

And, if you were averaging 75 mph that would be 80 hours in the car over those three weeks? 5-6 hours per work day?

Vinny
That's because you don't drive a Mini Cooper :)

I feel like Tony Stark when I strap myself into the cockpit. The metal folds around me and the machine responds to every thought.
Mr. John Cooper was a genius. Why would you not drive it? And it's hard to keep it under 90 while winding through the continental divide. It really doesn't even start to hit its stride until then.
What are the maximum speed limits where you are driving and what are the maximum speeds you drive at?

I used to drive 85 in a 70 MPH zone on our local main highway. But I stopped that once I discovered the immense (to me) benefits of cruise control which makes me much more relaxed with far less anxiety when I'm driving.

Now I so value it so much that I think a few years ago I even paid $500 to get it repaired after a cable broke.

Vinny

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 2:06 pm
by Mark Leavy
vnatale wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 1:54 pm
What are the maximum speed limits where you are driving and what are the maximum speeds you drive at?

I used to drive 85 in a 70 MPH zone on our local main highway. But I stopped that once I discovered the immense (to me) benefits of cruise control which makes me much more relaxed with far less anxiety when I'm driving.

Now I so value it so much that I think a few years ago I even paid $500 to get it repaired after a cable broke.

Vinny
Speed limits are 80 through Utah, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota. Even through the winding rockies. 75 in a lot of neighboring states.

You can generally do 10% over without triggering a speed trap. And it's the gear changes around the corners and the other cars that make it all fun. If I'm in a really remote area with high visibility and no other cars and no speed traps marked on the google map, well... then 100/110 for fun. But only if I can see far enough ahead to avoid a deer or a blown tire in the middle of the road.

I tried cruise control a few times in Nebraska and Kansas. It makes me nervous as hell if there are any hills or curves or other drivers. I have to take over, just for my own sanity. Otherwise, it is great :)

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 2:55 pm
by vnatale
Mark Leavy wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 2:06 pm
vnatale wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 1:54 pm
What are the maximum speed limits where you are driving and what are the maximum speeds you drive at?

I used to drive 85 in a 70 MPH zone on our local main highway. But I stopped that once I discovered the immense (to me) benefits of cruise control which makes me much more relaxed with far less anxiety when I'm driving.

Now I so value it so much that I think a few years ago I even paid $500 to get it repaired after a cable broke.

Vinny
Speed limits are 80 through Utah, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota. Even through the winding rockies. 75 in a lot of neighboring states.

You can generally do 10% over without triggering a speed trap. And it's the gear changes around the corners and the other cars that make it all fun. If I'm in a really remote area with high visibility and no other cars and no speed traps marked on the google map, well... then 100/110 for fun. But only if I can see far enough ahead to avoid a deer or a blown tire in the middle of the road.

I tried cruise control a few times in Nebraska and Kansas. It makes me nervous as hell if there are any hills or curves or other drivers. I have to take over, just for my own sanity. Otherwise, it is great :)
No matter where I am I try to stick to 5 miles per hour over the limit. I used to never drive without a radar detector but once I stopped going 85 in a 70 (now do 75) I no longer need one.

I now use cruise control as much as possible. Even non-highway. I live in a rural area about 7 miles from my office. All neighborhood streets (but many like mine with 40 mph limits, some 50) and can experience only one light and two stops signs along the way so can easily use cruise control for the majority of that trip.

Speaking of the West and how different it is from the East.

I was in Reno for one night (as part of a bus tour of the United States in 1981). I really wanted no part of the Reno that people go there for so I headed out (on foot) to find a rock club whose clientele were "regular" people. I found one. Turned out the people there were people who worked in the casinos but still "regular" people and not tourists.

After the band's first set I noticed there were not that many people there and asked the guitarist if it was always like that. This was either 11 PM or midnight. So long ago I forget which. He told me that it really gets packed around 1 AM. I said, "1 AM! When does this place close? Where I go to clubs chose at 1 AM" He said 4 AM!!! And, sure enough enough 1 AM the place was packed. I also asked him how far the band would travel for a job. Here where I am going an hour is going to the ends of the earth. He said, "6 or 7 hours!"

Just those few questions with him told me life is different in both Reno and the West than it is in the East!

Vinny

Re: The cars we love/hate & the cars we may buy.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 4:28 pm
by bedraggled
Vinny,

The insurance really is $1,000. High population density and really bad Florida drivers. These Florida drivers can manufacture a head-on collision on an empty interstate.

Also, I pay "uninsured driver" fee to deal with those who don't think buying insurance necessary. One would think New York City would have that but apparently not. (We do miss NYC). We were paying $800 in NYC in 2016.

My MPG which was 37-40, settled in at 31-32 in FL. I found that if I don't drive 5 miles per hour fasted here, a semi might run over me. Also, since I use 14 inch wheels for a car set for 15 inch wheels, I'm going slower than indicated. Add 30 years of wear and tear on Tranny and engine and the car seems slower still. So... time to step on the gas a little more and watch MPG decline.

I envy my neighbor with the new Tesla S. When I bicycle by he reports 4 new updates sent to his car by the company. I may need to get a smart phone if we buy a Tesla in 4 years.

With our $2 keys and glass headlights, though, anyone think I should keep the Accord for 40 years?