Gyroscopic Investing

barrett wrote: I too had misread the thread as "Careless Living." I thought PS was going to be boozing it up in Thailand.

WildAboutHarry wrote: Jeez, I feel old 

But along with my liberation via vehicle, my information inputs are just fine.  From where I sit I can see a Samsung Galaxy Note II, two Windows 8 machines, a Raspberry Pi, a Samsung tablet, a Roku, and there is a relatively new GPS (large screen for weak "boomer" eyes) in my vehicle.  Although on further reflection, perhaps my seeking information flow is just symptomatic of another boomer failing - not acting our age 

barrett wrote: Thanks for the numbers, Mountaineer. I had figured that it costs less per mile in the early stages of owning a vehicle (we got our 2008 model car in late 2010, so the drive-it-off-the-lot depreciation was already taken into account) simply because stuff hasn't started wearing out as much. I'm pretty sure our car costs more than 51 cents a mile but your gas # looks right on. The per-mile figure is important to me because both my wife and I have to drive a lot for work and we rent when it's 200+ miles total just because we figure it's cheaper. Now I am wondering by how much.

Moda's point is interesting as well because most of our rentals are way less safe than our two-ton Volvo (I find myself secretly hoping I'll have at least one accident just to see how solid that sucker is).

I too had misread the thread as "Careless Living." I thought PS was going to be boozing it up in Thailand.

MediumTex wrote: I drive a stick shift and I like it.

Three of my last four vehicles have been stick shifts.

doodle wrote:

MediumTex wrote: I drive a stick shift and I like it.

Three of my last four vehicles have been stick shifts.

To each his own I guess. I don't see what the upside is. On the highway you don't really have to shift. In traffic its a pain in the neck to be shifting all the time. You cant eat while you drive or talk on the phone.

If I were on a racetrack, sure Id prefer a stick.....but on the street? I just don't get it.

doodle wrote:

MediumTex wrote: I drive a stick shift and I like it.

Three of my last four vehicles have been stick shifts.

To each his own I guess. I don't see what the upside is. On the highway you don't really have to shift. In traffic its a pain in the neck to be shifting all the time. You cant eat while you drive or talk on the phone.

If I were on a racetrack, sure Id prefer a stick.....but on the street? I just don't get it.

moda0306 wrote:

doodle wrote: To each his own I guess. I don't see what the upside is. On the highway you don't really have to shift. In traffic its a pain in the neck to be shifting all the time. You cant eat while you drive or talk on the phone.

If I were on a racetrack, sure Id prefer a stick.....but on the street? I just don't get it.

The cool thing is, it makes streets feel more like a race track.

Pointedstick wrote:

moda0306 wrote:

doodle wrote: To each his own I guess. I don't see what the upside is. On the highway you don't really have to shift. In traffic its a pain in the neck to be shifting all the time. You cant eat while you drive or talk on the phone.

If I were on a racetrack, sure Id prefer a stick.....but on the street? I just don't get it.

The cool thing is, it makes streets feel more like a race track.

This must be like a preference or personality thing because that sounds like hell to me!

dualstow wrote: What you need is a stand-up car so that you don't spend all that time sitting while driving.

MediumTex wrote:

Pointedstick wrote:

moda0306 wrote: The cool thing is, it makes streets feel more like a race track.

This must be like a preference or personality thing because that sounds like hell to me!

I never give it a second thought.  I could drive a stick in my sleep.

People who hate sticks imagine it will be a much greater PITA than it actually is.

I rarely even think about the distinction in driving experience between a stick and automatic, other than in discussions like this.

clacy wrote: If you feel like you're trapped in a cage, get a jeep with a stick.  So fun.

doodle wrote:

clacy wrote: If you feel like you're trapped in a cage, get a jeep with a stick.  So fun.

Yes, going down the highway at 70 miles an hour with no doors is quite an experience.

MediumTex wrote: Here are the things I like about it:

1. Cheaper to buy upfront.

2. Better mileage out of the same size engine.

3. Fewer transmission-related maintenance and repair issues.

4. Makes a smaller engine feel more powerful.

5. More fun to drive (though "fun" is obviously subjective).

WiseOne wrote:

MediumTex wrote: Here are the things I like about it:

1. Cheaper to buy upfront.

2. Better mileage out of the same size engine.

3. Fewer transmission-related maintenance and repair issues.

4. Makes a smaller engine feel more powerful.

5. More fun to drive (though "fun" is obviously subjective).

Agreed!

To be fair, I developed knee problems from driving a stick shift in LA traffic.  Otherwise managing a stick shift in stop and go traffic is not that much of a hardship, since it gives you something to do in an otherwise thoroughly boring and time-wasting situation.

My brother used to pull out his pipe and bag of weed whenever he was caught in traffic.  He said it almost made him look forward to traffic jams.

clacy wrote: [Speaking of this, I'm amazed at how cavalier people are about smoking weed while driving.  I've seen 3 instances in the last month.  They don't even look around or try to conceal it.  I drive a lot, so I probably see it more than most and usually it's in a metro area either on a freeway or in stop and go traffic.

MangoMan wrote:

doodle wrote: You cant eat while you drive or talk on the phone.

I also find it difficult to text or shave while driving a stick. What's your point?

doodle wrote:

MangoMan wrote:

doodle wrote: You cant eat while you drive or talk on the phone.

I also find it difficult to text or shave while driving a stick. What's your point?

That it is easier to eat food while driving an automatic....

Then again, I text, eat, talk on the phone, rummage through my backpack, flip through my iPod etc while riding my bike......haven't started shaving while riding but it's worth a try