Search found 138 matches
- Thu Dec 19, 2019 11:26 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Traveling to South Africa - money tips
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1012
Re: Traveling to South Africa - money tips
No Apple Pay as they have their own form in most areas. I just used Chase Sapphire and Revolut. Also used Ally to take out a little. Have a bunch of small rands like 2-5 rands for car guards. Don’t have anything visible in the car when driving or parked. Even in gated areas! Keep the doors locked when driving as well.
- Sat Nov 16, 2019 6:18 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Bigger car for baby?
- Replies: 62
- Views: 4125
Re: Bigger car for baby?
My wife and I are in the same situation! Kind of.... We have a Uppababy Mesa car seat with one base, as they are so easy to clip in and out I didn’t bother with a second. As for the cars, I drive an 03 Golf TDI that I get free fuel for so drive as my beater until it dies. Putting the car seat in the middle works but still tight. Next car is an 07 Audi A4 wagon, which we thought would be just fine but is very tight with the car seat behind the passenger. My wife is tall so it’s pretty cozy! The last, is an 2013 Passat TDI and that is where it’s at!! Tons of backseat room for changing and nursing. We can have passengers with ease. Plus they get great fuel economy. Not that it helps you, but if your older car is worth $6k, you could pick up an...
- Sat Nov 16, 2019 12:05 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anyone switch from oil to propane?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2153
Re: Anyone switch from oil to propane?
Why not do mini splits (heat pumps) Or a hybrid system that does heat pump with propane backup forced air. This way you can do heat and AC, for much cheaper!
This is what we are doing in our new house build, no propane or oil for any part of the house with grid tie solar. We will have a wood stove though.
This is what we are doing in our new house build, no propane or oil for any part of the house with grid tie solar. We will have a wood stove though.
- Fri Nov 15, 2019 4:36 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What tools do you use to track your finances?
- Replies: 80
- Views: 8661
Re: What tools do you use to track your finances?
Mint to track all the CC transactions and categorize them for budgets, then Vanguard to track investments. Fast and easy!
- Sat Nov 09, 2019 5:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: visiting Maine in November
- Replies: 27
- Views: 2599
Re: visiting Maine in November
In a few weeks, it might actually get a little warmer, as right now is just a cold arctic blast! My picks would be Acadia as a good day trip over Freeport, although Freeport is nice for shopping, it doesn't have what Acadia has for scenery. You can go shopping anywhere, and LLbean is the same china crap as all the other stores now, sadly! As for a little local, go to Lincolnville general store for lunch, which is close. Owls head transportation museum is good and you can go to the lighthouse which is only about a 15min visit. Walk the Rockland breakwater if it's not freezing, and go to the Farnsworth. All these are close to each other, as well as Primos for dinner if your in Rockland, dollar oyster night on Sundays. Also if you like Sushi, ...
- Sat Oct 26, 2019 7:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Advice: building loan vs equity loan?
- Replies: 0
- Views: 321
Advice: building loan vs equity loan?
My wife and I are moving forward building on our land in the coming months. I wanted to ask the forum what you all thought about looking forward financially. The simple hard numbers: Land value with improvements: 120K Approx. Total assets: $200K (60K in IRA 85/15, 100K in taxable 85/15, the rest in cash) Income: 40K single income, down from a six-figure dual income (moved back home due to a new baby) The house we are building is small and almost all DIY except the foundation, thus probably in the 150K-175K range. Talked with a local bank about a building loan, yet they want over $2K to get a construction loan at 4.6%. We would be looking at around $100K-125K loan just to soften the outflow a bit in case things get out of hand, which they te...
- Sat Oct 19, 2019 9:46 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Apparently Left Store without Paying
- Replies: 12
- Views: 5108
Re: Apparently Left Store without Paying
I just had the same kind of thing happen to me the other day. Put a bunch of things into the cart but the car seat for the little one was in the cart as well. When we got out to the car, I realized a product had gotten under the car seat. I went back into the store and scanned it into the self-checkout and back out to the car.
- Thu Oct 17, 2019 9:15 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Friend's car caught in flood ?
- Replies: 107
- Views: 11718
Re: Friend's car caught in flood ?
Wow, that was not the wisest move. No way on this planet I would put over $2K into an old flooded Camry and ive been a mechanic for many years.
Where he lost the engine was letting it run in the flooded water, if he just shut it down, no problem! hydro locked is the biggest killer of floods.
Where he lost the engine was letting it run in the flooded water, if he just shut it down, no problem! hydro locked is the biggest killer of floods.
- Thu Oct 10, 2019 9:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: $575 to replace rear brake pads and rotors on a 2017 Subaru Forester?
- Replies: 64
- Views: 10988
Re: $575 to replace rear brake pads and rotors on a 2017 Subaru Forester?
looks like you already had the work done. if the rotors didn't get damaged, a new set of pads would be just fine, as always ceramic is my recommendation due to low dust. As you can see from the photo, an extremely easy swap.
- Thu Oct 10, 2019 8:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: $575 to replace rear brake pads and rotors on a 2017 Subaru Forester?
- Replies: 64
- Views: 10988
Re: $575 to replace rear brake pads and rotors on a 2017 Subaru Forester?
Crazy high, but its a dealer so they are crooks in the auto industry. Like others have said, very odd to need rear brakes at this age, and rotors can do two pad sets easy before needing to be changed.
I can usually do pads and rotors for $50 a corner with ceramic pads (dealer won't do those). Extremely easy job, that shouldn't take most shops more than an hour max.
Doesn't matter if the vehicle is under warranty, you have a right to repair anywhere! but if you wanna pay for crazy overpriced parts and labor, dealers where it's at.
I can usually do pads and rotors for $50 a corner with ceramic pads (dealer won't do those). Extremely easy job, that shouldn't take most shops more than an hour max.
Doesn't matter if the vehicle is under warranty, you have a right to repair anywhere! but if you wanna pay for crazy overpriced parts and labor, dealers where it's at.
- Sat Oct 05, 2019 11:25 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: burner phone for failing iphone?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2293
Re: burner phone for failing iphone?
just do the battery swap yourself, TONS of guides online and its cheap.
- Wed Sep 25, 2019 8:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Where do you buy parts for DIY Auto repairs
- Replies: 46
- Views: 4888
Re: Where do you buy parts for DIY Auto repairs
Most of my parts are scattered between, - FCP (lifetime warranty even when it wears out!!) - Advanced Auto (WAY overpriced on a lot of things, only worth it when something is MSRP and you use a coupon code) - eBay (there are some off brands that you should stay away from, but good used parts are worth it) - Lots of googling with part numbers looking for alternative sources I have bought tens of thousands of dollars worth of auto parts over 25+ cars I have owned (I'm only in my early 30s :o ). It has a lot to do with knowing what brands to go with and what brands to not, along with lots of forum reading. I avoid the dealership at ALL cost, they are the largest scam in the auto industry, charging prices that shouldn't even be legal. They have...
- Thu Sep 19, 2019 8:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best places to live to raise a family (cost doesn't matter)
- Replies: 95
- Views: 11908
Re: Best places to live to raise a family (cost doesn't matter)
My top places would be:
- New Zealand, hands down the one place I would move to tomorrow if I could legally work there. It's worth taking at least a few months to explore and find a place you fit in.
- Zurich would be my next choice but would miss the coast.
- Antique, WI would be my winter spot
- Palma as a summer spot
As you can tell, not a real fan of the states!
I have thought about this A LOT since my past work has allowed me to travel and work out of a lot of different locations. Realistically, I would do summers one place and winters in another. Probably do, Antique to Palma
- New Zealand, hands down the one place I would move to tomorrow if I could legally work there. It's worth taking at least a few months to explore and find a place you fit in.
- Zurich would be my next choice but would miss the coast.
- Antique, WI would be my winter spot
- Palma as a summer spot
As you can tell, not a real fan of the states!
I have thought about this A LOT since my past work has allowed me to travel and work out of a lot of different locations. Realistically, I would do summers one place and winters in another. Probably do, Antique to Palma
- Sat Jul 13, 2019 8:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Quick: How to sell paper stock?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 742
Re: Quick: How to sell paper stock?
Thanks guys!
Edit: nevermind, found the transfer agent, although Canada based which is real odd. Agent is, CIBC Mellon Trust.
Edit: nevermind, found the transfer agent, although Canada based which is real odd. Agent is, CIBC Mellon Trust.
- Sat Jul 13, 2019 2:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Quick: How to sell paper stock?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 742
Quick: How to sell paper stock?
I have two shares of sony from long ago, in paper form
Any ideas on how I can sell these? as I asked Ally brokerage and it would cost more then they are worth to transfer them to online.
Any ideas on how I can sell these? as I asked Ally brokerage and it would cost more then they are worth to transfer them to online.
- Mon Jun 17, 2019 9:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Extend MacBook Battery Life by plugging in as much as possible?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 5386
Re: Extend MacBook Battery Life by plugging in as much as possible?
i had a little over 800 with about 90% capacity left, which worked great!
download coconut battery and just keep a log to see how the battery is doing. Doing a complete discharge and a full deep recharge seems to help every once in a while.
download coconut battery and just keep a log to see how the battery is doing. Doing a complete discharge and a full deep recharge seems to help every once in a while.
- Thu Jun 13, 2019 10:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 50 or 75 gallon water heater?
- Replies: 67
- Views: 15027
Re: 50 or 75 gallon water heater?
you can get more out of your hot water tank by installing a mixing valve and raising the temperature. As for tankless, you can get electric tankless, which helps not having the added complexity of NG or LP.
- Sun Jun 09, 2019 8:02 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Things to do in Maine
- Replies: 87
- Views: 10863
Re: Things to do in Maine
I can add a few things, as ive done the Boston drive a million times! Dont go inland, its really not worth it with such short time frame. Lets hit some of the beaches real quick, just incase the weather is nice. - As stated above, good beaches in York, grew up going there every summer as a kid. - Higgins: outside of Portland, ok beach - Popham State park: check the tides as its great for kids in the little tide pools when tides out - Pemaquid Beach: nice little beach but might not be worth the drive off route 1 unless your going to see the lighthouse - Birch Point: outside of rockland, very tiny little beach, nice spot if your in the area to do Rocklands breakwater walk - Lincolnville: to the right of the ferry terminal is a nice spot and y...
- Tue Apr 09, 2019 2:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Buying and Reselling Used Car Every Year as a Used Car Buying Strategy?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1756
Re: Buying and Reselling Used Car Every Year as a Used Car Buying Strategy?
I used to do this all the time when I was younger. This was before Craislist was so crazy and competitive, now its really not worth it.
I would find vehicles for around $500-$1000 that needed major repairs like transmission, engine or cylinder head. Repair items that would cost a fortune to have a shop do it, yet cost hardly anything as a DIY project. Although, I did have a few that only needed very minor repairs and netted thousands after the sale. Was it worth it? when your young, poor and don't have much opportunity, yup! it was great.
I would find vehicles for around $500-$1000 that needed major repairs like transmission, engine or cylinder head. Repair items that would cost a fortune to have a shop do it, yet cost hardly anything as a DIY project. Although, I did have a few that only needed very minor repairs and netted thousands after the sale. Was it worth it? when your young, poor and don't have much opportunity, yup! it was great.
- Sun Apr 07, 2019 8:38 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Google problem on Imac
- Replies: 45
- Views: 2790
Re: Google problem on Imac
Why not see if you can register the yahoo email again? That way you have that email to use as a recovery. Once that is done, switch the recovery over to your email. As I tell my parents, keep a notebook of your passwords! And use safari or chrome features to save passwords EVERY time.
- Sun Mar 24, 2019 6:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: East coast road trip with young kids, any stops?
- Replies: 27
- Views: 1999
Re: East coast road trip with young kids, any stops?
My vote is to look into Newport, RI as there is a lot to do if its a nice day. Walk around town, go to the beaches, Cliff walk, take a drive along the water at Benton point. Just get Waze up and running before you head onto the island!
- Tue Mar 19, 2019 5:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Suggestions for Landline Alternatives (Ooma, Magic Jack, etc.)
- Replies: 56
- Views: 5959
Re: Suggestions for Landline Alternatives (Ooma, Magic Jack, etc.)
My vote is OBI with GV since it works extremely well and no you don't need to tweak it anymore! that was an issue a while ago, everything as been solid after the whole GV scare.
The other option is to get a cheap granny cell phone with unlimited calling, as that will work even if the power goes out.
The other option is to get a cheap granny cell phone with unlimited calling, as that will work even if the power goes out.
- Mon Mar 11, 2019 8:29 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: $1800 preventive maintenance for car vs running it to the ground
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2079
Re: $1800 preventive maintenance for car vs running it to the ground
There is a third option, just have an independent mechanic replace the tensioner with the revised one, and while they are in there inspect the guides. It will take less time and parts.
Here is how to check it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G65J1aE ... e=youtu.be
TONS of topics on this in the VW/Audi forums, do some reading.
Here is how to check it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G65J1aE ... e=youtu.be
TONS of topics on this in the VW/Audi forums, do some reading.
- Thu Mar 07, 2019 11:08 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Tech Support needed - moving Google Drive contents to New computer
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1219
Re: Tech Support needed - moving Google Drive contents to New computer
I don't know if this is still true, but Google Drive files won't sync if you manually copy to a new computer. This is the reason I ditched Google drive since I switched computers and internet is not fast everywhere in the world!
So, if Google still has this issue, you are stuck with leaving your computer for a day or so in order to download the 100GB.
So, if Google still has this issue, you are stuck with leaving your computer for a day or so in order to download the 100GB.
- Sun Mar 03, 2019 2:41 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How much does owning vehicles (cost/month)
- Replies: 53
- Views: 4845
- Mon Feb 25, 2019 2:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Our landline number was ported over to someone else!
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2579
Re: Our landline number was ported over to someone else!
Most of the time, the pin is the last four of your number.
- Mon Feb 25, 2019 2:11 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Our landline number was ported over to someone else!
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2579
Re: Our landline number was ported over to someone else!
Do the same back, port it out of t-mobile to another account like google voice. Do the same that they did to you, as its pretty easy to port out. Also you could try using NumberBarn to port it out.
- Fri Feb 01, 2019 5:40 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Regular Gas in a car requiring Premium Gas (Lexus LS)
- Replies: 23
- Views: 11078
Re: Regular Gas in a car requiring Premium Gas (Lexus LS)
Remember, its probably pretty cold where you are so the effects of low octane fuel will be little to no concern. It's more of an issue when its hot out and your at low throttle going up a hill, once cruising at low load its not an issue.
- Wed Nov 21, 2018 2:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Credit Card for International Travel
- Replies: 67
- Views: 17224
Re: Credit Card for International Travel
At the moment, for my wife and I, we currently spend 90% of our time out of the country. Our setup is below, although I would like to look into the above methods that look interesting.
- Two Chase Sapphire accounts, so if one card is lost, the other can be used.
- Google Fi on iPhones for data and text (beats having to source a SIM for every single stop in any given country)
- Ally debit for cash withdrawals since they refund some ATM fees
Coming soon though is Revolut debit card which should be a great travel card for currency exchanges.
- Two Chase Sapphire accounts, so if one card is lost, the other can be used.
- Google Fi on iPhones for data and text (beats having to source a SIM for every single stop in any given country)
- Ally debit for cash withdrawals since they refund some ATM fees
Coming soon though is Revolut debit card which should be a great travel card for currency exchanges.
- Fri Oct 26, 2018 2:37 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How many of you have cut the cord?
- Replies: 244
- Views: 39058
Re: How many of you have cut the cord?
born in the mid-eighties and have never had cable or a landline.
- My wife and I are building a new house and there will be no landline or cable run to the house, just a fiber connection and even that might be gone with 5G that MIGHT takeover fiber later on.
- The inlaws town just had the old copper cable removed and its only fiber now.
Paying to watch commercials does not seem fair!
- My wife and I are building a new house and there will be no landline or cable run to the house, just a fiber connection and even that might be gone with 5G that MIGHT takeover fiber later on.
- The inlaws town just had the old copper cable removed and its only fiber now.
Paying to watch commercials does not seem fair!
- Sat Jan 13, 2018 11:44 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: why do banks bother offering lousy CD rates?
- Replies: 50
- Views: 7222
Re: why do banks bother offering lousy CD rates?
it took me a long time to get my parents out of their .01% B&M account and into at least Ally. Very hard for them to understand the concept that the B&M bank was making a killing off of them. Their IRAs are still trapped in crappy CDs from the same bank.
In my opinion these banks take advantage of the elderly and young unsuspecting people. It’s a shame...
In my opinion these banks take advantage of the elderly and young unsuspecting people. It’s a shame...
- Sun Jan 07, 2018 9:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best Phone Plan for 1 person
- Replies: 86
- Views: 5972
Re: Best Phone Plan for 1 person
so many great MNVOs out there! Personally, I go with Verizon MNVO due to coverage, but t-mobile MNVOs are very good. I can never get my head around google fi as they are so expensive in comparison, unless your. vERY light data user.
My tops are (Verizon)
Boom
Totalwireless
USmobile
Pageplus
Lots of others but it takes time and research to figure out the pros and cons...
My tops are (Verizon)
Boom
Totalwireless
USmobile
Pageplus
Lots of others but it takes time and research to figure out the pros and cons...
- Sat Dec 30, 2017 8:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Where I need to keep my Emergency cash
- Replies: 24
- Views: 3364
Re: Where I need to keep my Emergency cash
My vote is Ally, great bank! The 11m no penalty or the 12m at 2% with penalty.
There might be better offers that come and go, but having Ally as my primary bank has been excellent. Keep it simple is the key...
All autopay
Ally savings (1.25%)-->CC bill (2%)-->All POS and Bills
Easy!
There might be better offers that come and go, but having Ally as my primary bank has been excellent. Keep it simple is the key...
All autopay
Ally savings (1.25%)-->CC bill (2%)-->All POS and Bills
Easy!
- Thu Dec 28, 2017 6:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Keeping a checkbook register
- Replies: 135
- Views: 15213
Re: Keeping a checkbook register
Ok, a vender is a lot different then a CC company charging a set amount to a savings or checking account.TwstdSista wrote: ↑Thu Dec 28, 2017 6:33 pm Is that where I let Chase come into my bank account and take the money? Because I won't do that. My sister had a vendor take more than they were supposed to once and then they told her it would take 6-8 weeks to put the money back. No thank you!
- Thu Dec 28, 2017 6:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Keeping a checkbook register
- Replies: 135
- Views: 15213
Re: Keeping a checkbook register
Switch to electronic autopay?TwstdSista wrote: ↑Thu Dec 28, 2017 6:17 pm
I think they don't play well with my credit union's bill pay program. They are the only vendor in my bill pay list who receives a physical check, the rest are all electronic. It can actually take two weeks sometimes. I don't understand it, I just deal with it.
- Thu Dec 28, 2017 6:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Keeping a checkbook register
- Replies: 135
- Views: 15213
Re: Keeping a checkbook register
If your not interested in alternatives, then what’s the point of this topic. If I didn’t have mint, I still wouldn’t keep record as I would just see my balance on my phone via any of the apps for all accounts. Plus I don’t keep that close of a margin for any accounts.
How does chase take a week to process a payment? All mine go through very quickly when the process.
How does chase take a week to process a payment? All mine go through very quickly when the process.
- Thu Dec 28, 2017 5:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Keeping a checkbook register
- Replies: 135
- Views: 15213
Re: Keeping a checkbook register
No checks used here..
All autopay, and everything gets funneled through credit cards for CB. All accounts linked to Mint so transactions are catagorized and I can inspect for anything out of place ASAP.
All pretty much hands off, why write checks and pay for stamps when autopay exists. Keep it simple!
All autopay, and everything gets funneled through credit cards for CB. All accounts linked to Mint so transactions are catagorized and I can inspect for anything out of place ASAP.
All pretty much hands off, why write checks and pay for stamps when autopay exists. Keep it simple!
- Mon Dec 18, 2017 2:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Advice: Proper planning for state resident status with new home
- Replies: 1
- Views: 374
Advice: Proper planning for state resident status with new home
My wife and I recently bought a piece of property in Maine, yet we are based out of NH and travel a lot for work. We plan on building a house with a loan, yet the bank does not like loaning on "investment" property. This is our first property with a long term goal of living in it half of the year, thus keeping our residency out of state. The issue with this is again, trying to get a bank loan, as technically it is not a primary residence for tax purposes, yet it's our only property. So my question is, can I apply for a loan stating primary residence yet still retain out of state domicile? Since we do plan on living there but not right away. I would like to know my game plan before opening my mouth at the bank with processing the l...
- Wed Nov 01, 2017 4:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cheap low speed unlimited data
- Replies: 16
- Views: 2415
Re: Cheap low speed unlimited data
Nettalkconnect is a t-mobile MNVO for $40 a month unlimited.
- Sat Oct 28, 2017 3:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Repair (new engine) 2005 Mazda 3?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2444
Re: Repair (new engine) 2005 Mazda 3?
Did you get any info on what the actual issue is? Also, again how many miles per quart? As you can go many many miles for much cheaper by just adding oil.
Say your oil change interval is 5k miles (which is short) at $25-$35 per oil change
Vs adding a quart of oil every 1k miles at $3 dollars a quart. That comes out to be $15 bucks every 5k miles. Never change your oil and it would actually be cheaper! Even if it’s 1qt per 500 miles, your still ahead. What is that $150-$300 per 50k miles, yet it’s a zero sum game as you wouldn’t have to do oil changes, ever!
Say your oil change interval is 5k miles (which is short) at $25-$35 per oil change
Vs adding a quart of oil every 1k miles at $3 dollars a quart. That comes out to be $15 bucks every 5k miles. Never change your oil and it would actually be cheaper! Even if it’s 1qt per 500 miles, your still ahead. What is that $150-$300 per 50k miles, yet it’s a zero sum game as you wouldn’t have to do oil changes, ever!
- Sat Oct 28, 2017 11:51 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Repair (new engine) 2005 Mazda 3?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2444
Re: Repair (new engine) 2005 Mazda 3?
I would favor a re-manufactured engine over a rebuilt one depending upon the price difference and how long you want to keep the car. A rebuilt motor only replaces defective parts. http://reman-engine-dcvamd.com/remanufactured-vs-rebuilt-and-new.html That is complete BS, any rebuilt motor goes through the same procedure as a “reman”. Name a part that wouldn’t be replaced in a rebuild over a “reman”? Any rebuilt motor will have new rod and crank bearings, OS piston and rings, complete reseal, valves lapped and new valve stem seals.If it has VVT, that should be replaced depending on manufacture reliability. I’ve rebuilt motors, and a “reman” would be no different then what even an DIY mechanic would do. For this situation, a cheap junkyard en...
- Fri Oct 27, 2017 5:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Repair (new engine) 2005 Mazda 3?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2444
Re: Repair (new engine) 2005 Mazda 3?
How did they diagnose it? I would get a compression test and leak down test. That will give you some idea of what is really going on. Supper easy to do by any shop. How much does it burn? 1qt every 500, 1k or 3k miles? Since, you could go to a 40 or 50 weight oil and just keep adding. It would be cheaper and you would never have to change the oil, just the filter if you really cared. If the motor is already in poor shape, who cares? Run it with a heavy weight and keep adding. Not much you can do to cause this unless you ever ran it with the oil light on? Which in turn wipes out the rod bearings before the cylinder walls, so that’s probably not it either. Edit: it could also be valve stem seals, which is actually better since that would just...
- Wed Oct 25, 2017 4:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: metal roof: standing seam vs interlocking panels
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2543
Re: metal roof: standing seam vs interlocking panels
Keep this in mind since your in snow country. The standing seem metal roof makes an amazing snow slide! Depending on roof height and pitch, the snow comes off like a rocket. Make sure you talk to a good roofer about putting stop rails up. Either on the whole house or just over doorways so you don’t hurt yourself or others. If you have dormers in a stop rail section, make sure that the dormers or correctly flashed and sealed. Why? Because if you keep the snow on your roof, it can melt and work its was between the flashing. I’m not an expert at this, just issues that I have seen at my parent-in-laws house. They have no stop rails and the snow comes off so fast it sounds like half the house caved in at times. Personally, I love standing seem a...
- Thu Oct 19, 2017 8:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: idiot proof router?
- Replies: 53
- Views: 6601
Re: idiot proof router?
When everyone are talking about getting a switch, these are extremely simple. There is NO setup, software or anything, just plug in and go. It’s called an unmanaged switch, that takes one Ethernet port and turns it into however mean you want.
Any basic router these days is dead simple to setup! The mesh network units like Googles, is probably your simplest if reading isn’t your thing.
Any basic router these days is dead simple to setup! The mesh network units like Googles, is probably your simplest if reading isn’t your thing.
- Thu Sep 14, 2017 7:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Large portable generator vs. permanent natural gas generator for home
- Replies: 67
- Views: 11257
Re: Large portable generator vs. permanent natural gas generator for home
Boat and house both off grid...smitcat wrote: ↑Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:52 pm Most folks cannot do well with diesels but since you have the knack perhaps you can say why you produce your own power since its is cheaper to pull it off the grid?
FWIW - spark plugs are quite easy - fresh gasoline is often plentiful for many of us and carbs never get dirty when they are run dry.
Adjusting governors, dealing with injectors and diesel fuel filters often trips up the garage diy crowd.
- Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Large portable generator vs. permanent natural gas generator for home
- Replies: 67
- Views: 11257
Re: Large portable generator vs. permanent natural gas generator for home
- Diesel is a lot safer to store then LPG and you wouldn't need as much due to efficiency
- Diesel gens are less maintenance intensive, not more
- Yes, buying new, diesel gens will cost more
I'm pretty much off grid 90% of my life, so maintenance, load balancing and usability of systems is just part of my life style.
Just a different perspective to throw into the mix.
- Diesel gens are less maintenance intensive, not more
- Yes, buying new, diesel gens will cost more
I'm pretty much off grid 90% of my life, so maintenance, load balancing and usability of systems is just part of my life style.
Just a different perspective to throw into the mix.
- Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Large portable generator vs. permanent natural gas generator for home
- Replies: 67
- Views: 11257
Re: Large portable generator vs. permanent natural gas generator for home
Maintaining a diesel is a lot simpler then a petrol based gen.
No spark plug to change
Less frequent oil changes
No carb to clean or have fuel go bad in the bowl
Parts would all depend on the type of gen you had, one with a yanmar block would be very simple. Tons of tractors with the same motor!
Yes, noise is an issue... I'm running a northern lights with 12K hours, try that on a petrol!
No spark plug to change
Less frequent oil changes
No carb to clean or have fuel go bad in the bowl
Parts would all depend on the type of gen you had, one with a yanmar block would be very simple. Tons of tractors with the same motor!
Yes, noise is an issue... I'm running a northern lights with 12K hours, try that on a petrol!
- Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Large portable generator vs. permanent natural gas generator for home
- Replies: 67
- Views: 11257
- Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Large portable generator vs. permanent natural gas generator for home
- Replies: 67
- Views: 11257
Re: Large portable generator vs. permanent natural gas generator for home
Personally, I am on the cheaper side and would only buy and run a diesel generator. Higher output, much longer lasting, fuel stores easily, and a lot more efficient then any other fuel source.
- Fri Sep 08, 2017 7:09 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Flaunt Your High-Mileage Car
- Replies: 945
- Views: 150242
Re: Flaunt Your High-Mileage Car
I have had a few..
98 Volvo S70 turbo 300K
98 Volvo V70 T5M 250K
01 Golf TDI 5spd 285K
83 Mercedes 300CDT 230K+ and the odometer stoped working!
I have never owned a car with under 100K miles, and most of my cars in my younger years were 200K+
98 Volvo S70 turbo 300K
98 Volvo V70 T5M 250K
01 Golf TDI 5spd 285K
83 Mercedes 300CDT 230K+ and the odometer stoped working!
I have never owned a car with under 100K miles, and most of my cars in my younger years were 200K+