Search found 279 matches
- Fri Nov 20, 2020 11:46 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Non-Alcoholic Beer/Wine/Mock Cocktails
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3397
Re: Non-Alcoholic Beer/Wine/Mock Cocktails
I cannot drink due to flush reaction, so I'm interested to know what other people do. I've found that non-alcoholic beers are uniformly disgusting, except for Heineken Zero. That tastes like real beer, which is barely tolerable. If you're after something that has the taste/texture of wine, I suggest the Cherry Pomegranate juice by POMS. There's enough complexity in the taste that it could pass for something you would sip in a glass. Personally I've redirected my tastes to Mexican Coca-Cola or ginger beer. If you're lucky enough to get the peach flavored Mexican coke where you live, I'd buy a case of that. EDIT: I forgot to mention kombucha. I drank a lot of kombucha for a year or two, but the flavors eventually got boring so I stopped. That...
- Tue Nov 03, 2020 4:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: My dog barks when I'm not home- solutions?
- Replies: 117
- Views: 11282
Re: My dog barks when I'm not home- solutions?
From the description given, it doesn't seem like the barking is the problem. Dogs are supposed to 'watchdog bark' at squirrels and other critters in the yard. Over the last several months that I've been working at home and I let the dog wander, he inevitably sits by the screen door looking out to the backyard. He barks every time he sees a squirrel because that's what he's supposed to do. He wants to chase the squirrel because that's what dogs do. What I've managed to do is TRAIN him to do is stop barking, approach me, and then I'll open the door and he gets to bark, chase, have fun, etc. The best solution I can give you is what others have brought up: Have someone let the dog out. I'd go a step further and use an indoor crate if you leave ...
- Fri Oct 09, 2020 10:35 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Improving home office setup: 1) monitor 2) webcam/audio
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2475
Re: Improving home office setup: 1) monitor 2) webcam/audio
This is my home office setup: $299 - NOUHAUS Ergo3D Ergonomic Office Chair - Rolling Desk Chair with 3D Adjustable Armrest, 3D Lumbar Support and Extra Blade Wheels, Mesh Computer Chair, Gaming Chairs, Executive Swivel Chair (Black) $97 - AVLT Dual 13"-32" Monitor Wall Mount fits Two Flat/Curved Computer Monitor Full Motion Height Swivel Tilt Rotation Adjustable Monitor Arm - VESA/Cable Management $99 - Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers - 2.0 Stereo Active Near Field Monitors - Studio Monitor Speaker - Wooden Enclosure - 42 Watts RMS $99 - TOPPING D10s DAC Mini USB DAC XMOS XU208 ES9038Q2M DSD256 PCM 384kHz Hi-Res Audio Desktop Audio Decoder (Black) $49 - Sabrent 10-Port 60W USB 3.0 Hub with Individual Power Switches and ...
- Fri Oct 09, 2020 10:21 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How to get roadside assistance without AAA?
- Replies: 116
- Views: 14631
Re: How to get roadside assistance without AAA?
Too few people mentioning the two most overlooked ways to get roadside assistance: 1) Cars <5 years old typically have this benefit as part of the warranty. For example, Hyundai includes 5 years with every new vehicle. https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/assurance/roadside-assistance 2) Most major credit cards have this benefit, while high end cards (like CSR) also provide the first $50 off. https://www.chase.com/card-benefits/benefit-details/Sapphire_Reserve/sapphire-roadside-assistance-mc If you have a more specialty case in mind, such as offroading or driving through very rural roads on a regular basis, then I'm not knowledgable enough to help you. Although I would be interested to hear what the added value of AAA or roadside assistance thr...
- Fri Oct 09, 2020 8:49 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Relocation - DFW considerations
- Replies: 55
- Views: 5747
Re: Relocation - DFW considerations
This wasn't a post to compare Colorado to Texas. From a scenery and climate perspective, most people would agree CO is better. Denver is also the cooler city. An eventual move might be in the cards once our household income looks more like $250k after she graduates. Plenty of breweries. Lots of 5k-marathon distance events, and bike rides. The Trinity Trails make it easy to get outside and get around town on foot or riding a bike. West 7th has bars and nightlife. Magnolia is a nice area with great food. The Kimball is awesome. We are members and enjoy their exhibits. Billy Bob’s has great concerts. Bass Hall also has great concerts. There are way more outdoors around here than people realize. Check out DORBA and FWMBA, two local mountain bik...
- Wed Oct 07, 2020 4:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Relocation - DFW considerations
- Replies: 55
- Views: 5747
Relocation - DFW considerations
One month ago, I solicited comments for a potential relocation from Indianapolis to Denver. Since then, my future wife has received an acceptance offer from a similar graduate program at University of North Texas - Health Science Center (UNTHSC) in Fort Worth, TX. In terms of program length and overall tuition, the TX program is far cheaper than the CO program. The programs are otherwise similar in terms of prestige. To put in perspective, the TX program is 6 months shorter and ~$30k cheaper. The difference approaches 6-figures once you factor the opportunity cost of graduating earlier and starting a $100k job sooner. As such, we are now leaning much more heavily on moving to TX. We have put down the deposit for CO, and we still plan to vis...
- Sun Sep 20, 2020 6:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Relocation - CO considerations?
- Replies: 66
- Views: 7102
Re: Relocation - CO considerations?
Bought flights to visit the area in November.quantAndHold wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 11:17 pm About Autora...I would, ummm, get there first and have a look around before I started planning to buy a cheap condo in Aurora. There are large swaths of Aurora that aren’t really that nice.
I’ll update with our findings after that point. Thank you all again for your input.
- Sat Sep 19, 2020 1:06 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Ring for a new girlfriend
- Replies: 83
- Views: 7644
Re: Ring for a new girlfriend
Get yourself to the jewelry district in a large city. Forget the "luxury" brands, they are selling the name. For that amount of money you can get something REALLY nice in the Jewelry Mart for at least 40% off retail--especially the Zales/Jared/Kay type of crap. When you give her a big piece of ice or colored stones, trust me--he friends will oooh and ahhh at it and not the box. And think how clever you are to be a good shopper with connections in the "biz". If you are in L.A. metro PM me, I'll give you my guy's name and number. This +1. My story happened last year be Los Angeles. I wanted to get my then-girlfriend (now engaged) jewelry because I was in town for a work trip that extended into a fun weekend. I went throug...
- Sat Sep 19, 2020 12:36 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Relocation - CO considerations?
- Replies: 66
- Views: 7102
Re: Relocation - CO considerations?
This may warrant a separate thread and is not actionable for the next 24 months, but I'd like to throw my idea out there to get some reactions anyway. Since I have house in Indy that I will most likely rent out (through property manager), and the rental income is expected to cover the mortgage plus a small extra, I was toying with the idea of buying a second property in Aurora, CO. It's not actionable yet because I expect to sign a 12-month lease in May 2021 on an apartment close to Anschutz. However, playing around on Zillow shows a large number of $250k condos in the area, albeit with universally awful schools. The more relevant metric is proximity to a Costco. I currently live in a neighborhood with marginally better schools, but within ...
- Fri Sep 18, 2020 11:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Relocation - CO considerations?
- Replies: 66
- Views: 7102
Re: Relocation - CO considerations?
Thank you all for the insight. We are strongly leaning towards moving at this point. She still has several other interviews in addition to our local IU, including Fort Worth, TX and Toledo, OH. A couple of other upper tier schools she hasn't heard back from are Duke and Northwestern. None of these are places that are more desirable than Denver. Since a couple of posters have given fairly detailed information down the the neighborhood level, I feel it's worth sharing that she will going to a program at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. This is in Aurora, CO. She would like to live as close to the area as possible. Denver is like a lot of cities in the US. It has beautiful upscale nehgborhoods like Cherry Creek and trendy neighb...
- Thu Sep 17, 2020 3:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Relocation - CO considerations?
- Replies: 66
- Views: 7102
Re: Relocation - CO considerations?
The last time I visited was in 2011. She visited in 2018, and briefly in 2019. We will put down a deposit to secure her spot regardless (deadline next week), but I don't expect we'll be able to visit until after October.
Would you have advice on what to look out for during the visit?
- Thu Sep 17, 2020 2:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Relocation - CO considerations?
- Replies: 66
- Views: 7102
Re: Relocation - CO considerations?
If you were an economist, you'd say that the high housing prices serve as the barrier to entry for new people.
- Thu Sep 17, 2020 2:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Relocation - CO considerations?
- Replies: 66
- Views: 7102
Re: Relocation - CO considerations?
Thank you for the input so far. The goal of living anywhere is to maximize the pros and minimize the cons. For example, I live in IN where it's cheap and there's really not much to do. Ergo, I traveled for pleasure ~60 days out of 2019 and spent 3 weekends in Chicago. I've summarized the responses below and will respond with my thoughts. Please don't take anything I say to be offensive - that's not the intent. Pros: Good weather / Good outdoors x5 Good arts and culture / Good peers x2 These are no surprise. I've reached out to some connections that share our religious affiliations, and there seems to be a wealth of networks. From a quantitative perspective, we will likely have a much wider range of peers based on the higher median income an...
- Wed Sep 16, 2020 11:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Relocation - CO considerations?
- Replies: 66
- Views: 7102
Relocation - CO considerations?
My fiancee just got an acceptance offer from a very selective graduate program that leads into a $100k job upon graduation. This program is in Denver, CO and begins in next summer. She's also interviewing with our local college program in Indianapolis IN. For the sake of argument, let's assume she gets offers from both schools and we have to make a decision on whether we want to relocate. The cost for these programs is approx $80k for CO and $60k for IN. From a purely $ perspective, there's no reason to leave IN because cost of living is absurdly low. However, we are excited for quality of life improvements from better climate and more opportunity for outdoor activities. We regularly walk 20k-30k steps every day on vacation. I'm 90% certain...
- Fri Mar 13, 2020 11:08 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Kafkaesque speeding ticket situation
- Replies: 34
- Views: 4504
Re: Kafkaesque speeding ticket situation
I had mail from Northern Ireland requesting information about a traffic offense. There was no picture, just a form to fill out to document my information. It was a third-party (not any govt body) basically asking me to confirm that I was the driver at the time of the offense.
I ignored it. They sent another letter with stronger language that this *could* escalate. I ignored that too. This was over 2 months ago. Haven't heard anything since. Rental car company did not contact me or have any issue with my repeat business.
You'll most likely be fine ignoring it.
I ignored it. They sent another letter with stronger language that this *could* escalate. I ignored that too. This was over 2 months ago. Haven't heard anything since. Rental car company did not contact me or have any issue with my repeat business.
You'll most likely be fine ignoring it.
- Fri Mar 13, 2020 10:48 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?
- Replies: 1800
- Views: 178783
Re: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?
Install bidets. https://www.amazon.com/ID-MAX-Handheld-Stainless-Bathroom/dp/B07VSFHGPZ?ref_=s9_apbd_otopr_hd_bw_bkUNrH&pf_rd_r=7R8STE8YF4WAVPFXD4EJ&pf_rd_p=54ea6d68-276e-5483-af2c-7685eb08b02d&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-10&pf_rd_t=BROWSE&pf_rd_i=686953011 Reduce the need for toilet paper. Helps to ease the paranoia / mass hysteria. The silver lining in a crisis like this would be to wean people off toilet paper. We prepared by joining the Costco checkout line and entertained ourselves looking at everyone else's cart. It was just a normal mid-week grocery run for us. The time to panic would be if (A) utilities get turned off and (B) we experience food shortages. However, I don't anticipate A happening because it didn't...
- Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:07 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cancel flights due to coronavirus concerns?
- Replies: 76
- Views: 9293
Re: Cancel flights due to coronavirus concerns?
We're flying out Chicago -> Barcelona on 4/23, and then back Lisbon -> Chicago on 5/9. Separate one-way tickets from different airlines.
I'm concerned that the inconsistency of quarantine/lockdown announcements might make getting travel vouchers/refunds difficult. I can imagine a scenario where my outbound flight gets cancelled, but things lift on 4/30, and I am still bound to honor the 5/9 flight. Not to mention about half a dozen Airbnbs booked all along Spain & Portugal.
Currently in a holding pattern to wait until official announcements are made, because my cancelling does not get any refunds. Should I be thinking about anything else?
I'm concerned that the inconsistency of quarantine/lockdown announcements might make getting travel vouchers/refunds difficult. I can imagine a scenario where my outbound flight gets cancelled, but things lift on 4/30, and I am still bound to honor the 5/9 flight. Not to mention about half a dozen Airbnbs booked all along Spain & Portugal.
Currently in a holding pattern to wait until official announcements are made, because my cancelling does not get any refunds. Should I be thinking about anything else?
- Tue Feb 04, 2020 11:46 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Any adult Nintendo Switch owners? Thoughts?
- Replies: 29
- Views: 26202
Re: Any adult Nintendo Switch owners? Thoughts?
I'm 28. I bought the Switch last Christmas as a way to get back into video games after not being in that world for a long time. The games I play on it are The Witcher 3 and Pokemon Shield. So far, I have nothing to complain about. The world I'm coming from is a recovering hardcore PC gamer. I now own a Mac and almost never play games on it. The Switch works very well for its intended purpose - which is to provide casual entertainment (i.e. to be a bit more involved than just binging Netflix). It's also a nice platform because there's a hard ceiling on the intensity of the games. You won't be thinking about frame rates and the next big leap in gaming technology, because it's just not the dimension Nintendo competes in. Oh, and you can also p...
- Thu Jul 11, 2019 1:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is Hyundai the value sweet spot?
- Replies: 164
- Views: 23241
Re: Is Hyundai the value sweet spot?
That is a problem with your insurance. Shop around.
Other things that may be behind your rate increases: Adding teenage drivers; Traffic incidents (you know the kind); etc.
- Thu Jul 11, 2019 1:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Automatic Watches
- Replies: 92
- Views: 10117
Re: Automatic Watches
It doesn't really matter how accurate it is right? This is the only home-run jewelry piece that men can wear. So it's jewelry and everything else about the watch is ancillary. If you need the time, pull out your iphone that you know is in your pocket. +1 here. The least important thing a watch does is tell the time. You could use a watch to tell the time. I do that every day. But the value of that thing on my wrist is far closer to jewelry than utility. My Oris probably loses a minute every other week. And if I take it off on Friday and come back on Monday, I will definitely need to reset it. But I like the look of it, and I would hazard that it has gotten some admiring looks, so I keep wearing it. Start wearing a Seiko every day and find ...
- Thu Jul 11, 2019 1:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Employers asking salaries
- Replies: 47
- Views: 7650
Re: Employers asking salaries
This thread seems to be getting a bit confused/derailed. The OP is asking about jurisdictions where companies are prohibited from asking about salary history . Many of the posts are talking about salary expectations . These numbers could be quite different. OP, as far as I am aware, I have not heard of similar prohibitions for the states of NY or NJ. I do remember it got a bit of press when NYC banned asking about history, so I would think there would be some here would have heard if an entire state had done so. So, I would certainly figure out how to approach the question if interviewing outside NYC. Regardless of location, be prepared to be asked the question about salary expectations (as you can see on the thread, there is no consensus ...
- Thu Jul 11, 2019 1:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Buy a new car now or wait: what's the math say?
- Replies: 57
- Views: 6895
Re: Buy a new car now or wait: what's the math say?
I checked out the CX-5 Signature today. Very nice car and a great value. It is $20k cheaper than a similarly equipped german. And the long term maintenance costs should be affordable. Now I need to find a way to get my wife to agree! I think a lot of posters have gotten the math wrong. Their comparing of this model vs that model doesn't make sense. A rear-wheel drive BMW 330 offers a different experience than a front-wheel drive Acura ILX (fancy Honda Civic). Except it only does so under more "enthusiastic" driving conditions. Ask me how I know. For your runabout grocery-getting duties, any modern car with nice seats and climate control is virtually indistinguishable. In order to really answer your question about whether to buy a...
- Wed Jul 03, 2019 11:32 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Hire a driver?
- Replies: 63
- Views: 4623
Re: Hire a driver?
I was at a dinner party a couple of months back where we got into this exact conversation with a surgeon who commutes 1.5 hours each way. One of the suggestions was for him to buy an RV to stay overnight, instead of finding hotel rooms. Under the new bonus depreciation rules, this seemed like a good idea on paper. He could buy a $50k RV and write it off completely against his income the first year. I won't spell out all the reasons why someone might want to do this.
If you're not in the market for an RV, I would just pay for the driver.
If you're not in the market for an RV, I would just pay for the driver.
- Thu Jun 27, 2019 9:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Anybody else unable to afford a home/have six figure income?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 8778
Re: Anybody else unable to afford a home/have six figure income?
1. It is unhealthy to constantly compare yourself to others. But your lizard brain will do it anyway. Learn to stop. Focus on something else. But try not to be annoying about it. I cringe and walk away every time someone says something to the effect of "I don't understand how anyone can spend $XX on YY. What a waste of money!" Don't be that person. 2. One person's home affordability is another person's home value. I learned that from a much wiser man. When it comes to a conflict between aspiring homeowners and actual homeowners, the actual homeowners have all the power and motivation to keep the aspiring out. When in the history of HOAs has anyone ever voted to allow construction of affordable high-density housing in their backyar...
- Fri May 31, 2019 9:08 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Should I encourage my kids to work in high school/college?
- Replies: 224
- Views: 18355
Re: Should I encourage my kids to work in high school/college?
Your story reminded me of the Cobra effect.CyclingDuo wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2019 7:45 pm Prior to that, at a younger age, I wanted to work an odd job that I heard kids could do: trapping gophers. We lived in a rural area, and I had heard from a friend that the County Extension Office would pay for paws (35 cents a pair) and tails (10 cents a tail) if you trapped gophers in farmer's fields.
To repeat my point: I'm interested if there is a study of a random sample of high school kids who worked low wage jobs and their future earnings. I couldn't find anything. Maybe it's folk wisdom that's repeated too often that it becomes ingrained in American culture. Regardless of whether it's true.
- Thu May 30, 2019 2:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Should I encourage my kids to work in high school/college?
- Replies: 224
- Views: 18355
Re: Should I encourage my kids to work in high school/college?
I never worked low wage jobs, either in high school or college. In the summers during high school, I would do things that looked good on my college applications, like taking college courses or volunteering at a local hospital. In college I spent summers doing research with professors, which was a job in the sense that I got paid for it, but I don't think is what is meant by "work" in this thread. I feel like things turned out pretty well for me, and I don't feel I missed anything by not working at McDonald's or whatever. "and I don't feel I missed anything by not working at McDonald's or whatever." The interesting thing is - you don't know what you don't know. I'd like to throw some gas into this fire. You probably did ...
- Thu May 02, 2019 12:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Car insurance shopping - worth leaving USAA?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 3567
Re: Car insurance shopping - worth leaving USAA?
Since I have never filed a claim in my life, they do nothing but take my money every month. But I suppose that is the point of insurance - you don't think you need it until you actually do. That said, if Geico is a decent auto insurer, USAA is likely not worth the extra $1000 a year. I'm tired of my premiums going up by 10-20% every year when I have no additional traffic tickets or accidents and my previous ones should be off my driving record. I have not heard a compelling argument against treating insurance as a commodity (I am somewhat of an insider). The only times when I wouldn't consider them a commodity is when one policy offers coverage I want that nobody else has. E.g. When I bought my new Audi with $0 down, I went with Progressiv...
- Wed May 01, 2019 1:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Off Road Driving Schools
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1177
Re: Off Road Driving Schools
I saw off road driving school in the title and immediately thought of DirtFish (up in Washington state).
Sorry, I think that's a little too exciting for what OP wanted.
Sorry, I think that's a little too exciting for what OP wanted.
- Wed May 01, 2019 1:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Who is buying 1-3 year old used Toyotas and Hondas?
- Replies: 114
- Views: 15272
Re: Who is buying 1-3 year old used Toyotas and Hondas?
Why are you not buying a Golf?
It's a hatchback like you want. The 2016-2018 model years are very well designed and equipped. They were sold with a 5-year warranty (6-years for MY 2018), which transfers to the second owner. They depreciate much more than your Toyotas and Hondas. And they drive better than anything in the class. I cross shopped the Civic, Mazda 3, Golf, etc back in 2013, and I ended up in a Golf. I've traded up through 3 different cars since (long story - kept the Golf for 3+ years).
Aside from the perceived long-term reliability issues - which I must highlight perceived - it seems a no-brainer.
It's a hatchback like you want. The 2016-2018 model years are very well designed and equipped. They were sold with a 5-year warranty (6-years for MY 2018), which transfers to the second owner. They depreciate much more than your Toyotas and Hondas. And they drive better than anything in the class. I cross shopped the Civic, Mazda 3, Golf, etc back in 2013, and I ended up in a Golf. I've traded up through 3 different cars since (long story - kept the Golf for 3+ years).
Aside from the perceived long-term reliability issues - which I must highlight perceived - it seems a no-brainer.
- Wed May 01, 2019 1:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Car insurance shopping - worth leaving USAA?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 3567
Re: Car insurance shopping - worth leaving USAA?
I currently pay $188/month for my Mercedes C300 2015 with a $1000 deductible and 100/300/100 coverage or $1,131 every 6 months. I'm single and 31 years old. My last traffic ticket was in March of 2016 and my last accident was in May of 2013. I have a credit score of 803 and hold a graduate degree. The other day, I decided to shop around and saw that Geico offered the same coverage for nearly half USAA. What is USAA doing for you that is worth $1,000/year? If Geico is offering $600 every 6 months, Root might offer $400. I used to be on Progressive, then switched to Geico when they were cheaper (had a collision claim - not at fault), switched to Progressive when they were cheaper still, and finally switched to Root when they advertised a sig...
- Wed May 01, 2019 12:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Fun-ish Used Boglehead Car
- Replies: 86
- Views: 7611
Re: Fun-ish Used Boglehead Car
+1lazydavid wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2019 5:59 amLol, I love bogleheadsslick_dealer_05 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2019 2:29 am Chevy Volt? fast acceleration + low cost to maintain + great value as used
"I loved my twin-turbo, RWD sporty coupe and want something fun like that again"
"How about a FWD pseudo-hybrid that does a sixteen-second quarter mile, with floaty suspension, numb steering, and mushy and unstable brakes? That's fun."
GTI is safe and boring answer. If OP can expand his budget to $30k, things really open up. If you like the driving dynamics of a powerful RWD European sedan, then you might want to buy a... powerful RWD European sedan.
Nothing new under the sun there. I'd consider a used M235i or similar.
- Sun Mar 17, 2019 2:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Rent a car or buy a throw-away?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2599
Re: Rent a car or buy a throw-away?
You have a Raptor?
Seems like this is the ideal vehicle to be taking out on long drives in the desert. MPG would suck, but consider that it's going to be more comfortable than a rental. Based on the $18k figure some other poster calculated, I'd try to work out the difference in cost between driving your truck vs rental and gas. I suspect driving the truck will be slightly more expensive, but the convenience factor might outweigh that.
- Sun Mar 17, 2019 2:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Haven't bought a car in ages - how does negotiation work these days?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 6437
Re: Haven't bought a car in ages - how does negotiation work these days?
You're going to get more helpful advice if you spit out the year/make/model. What might work for buying a used truck might not work for buying a new sedan, etc.QuantumMechanic wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:33 pm Unfortunately, due to the trimline, color, and option package we want (especially the trimline), there's no on-the-lot inventory for that particular car anywhere around.
- Sun Mar 17, 2019 2:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What's Your Opinion on Nest Thermostats
- Replies: 62
- Views: 8042
Re: What's Your Opinion on Nest Thermostats
1. It senses if someone is home 2. It sends that info to a central website 3. Hackers could gain access to that website and use that info to break into homes Why have yet one more point of vulnerability? A programmable t-stat works fine. If you need wifi, buy a programmable with wifi. 1. I'm millennial, and I paid to have a Nest installed in my house. I tried installing myself, but the previous owner made a mess of the original thermostat wiring. 2. Nest does a good job of keeping track whether the house needs to be heated/cooled based on my settings (whether I'm away; maintain minimum temperature). 3. Ignore the paranoid comments about hackers and people knowing whether you're home. I don't want to get into a debate about this - I'm just ...
- Wed Mar 06, 2019 1:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anyone have a strategy for buying a higher end, low mile used car (especially in remote area)?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1490
Re: Anyone have a strategy for buying a higher end, low mile used car (especially in remote area)?
I already have a 01 911 that I drive daily. The #1 concern that comes to my mind is not the obvious things like maintenance and servicing that other people bring up. And it appears you already know a shop that would take care of all that for you anyway. The #1 concern in my mind is: What are the roads like? When you say you live in a remote area, does that mean gravel roads? Are they poorly maintained and in bad condition? Is premium gas easily available and/or decently priced? There's the sentiment that moneyed folks who live outside big cities have given up on the traditional luxury cars in favor of trucks. Think F-150 King Ranch. Trucks have become close to luxury cars in terms of comfort and features, if you buy one in the correct spec...
- Wed Mar 06, 2019 12:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best quality car - Lexus?
- Replies: 71
- Views: 13979
Re: Best quality car - Lexus?
I have my eyes on the genesis RWD V6 (~23 combined mpg). The V8 would put me at ~17 combined mpg. I'd be happy with the power but hesitate on the cost of gas. At least, those genesis uses regular gas. I've been considering a Genesis. How have the reliability and maintenance costs been for you? RE: Genesis. I don't own a Genesis, but I have test driven both V6 and V8. I say skip the V6 - gas is cheap, and the mileage isn't noticeably better. Keep in mind you don't get the 10yr powertrain warranty, as it drops down to 5yr for the second owner (unless CPO by Hyundai). Reliability should be a little better than Hyundai (probably good), but maintenance shouldreflect closer to Audi prices because these are luxury-ish cars. With a little effort, ...
- Wed Mar 06, 2019 12:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Would you fix cosmetic car damage?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4118
Re: Would you fix cosmetic car damage?
Wanted to bring this topic to a close. I went to CarMax last night and they offered $16k knowing the damage caused. Prior to damage (3 months ago), they gave me $18k while other dealers offered $19k in trade-in value. At this point, I have decided against repairing the damage. The cost of repair simply doesn't make sense compared to the value of the car. Also for the last time, I have ruled out using insurance. The damage does affect the drivability or other mechanical function of the car, so it's not a high enough priority to take the hit of increased premiums. Missed if it is a AWD model, I presume not, V6 - or 4 cyl? Caddy dropped the model, LOCAL dealer has one, an AWD, for $23K with 28,000 miles. Collision repair parts experience here,...
- Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best quality car - Lexus?
- Replies: 71
- Views: 13979
- Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Would you fix cosmetic car damage?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4118
Re: Would you fix cosmetic car damage?
Let's review. You've done $4k (probably more) damage to the car. When you go to sell the car, every penny of the repair cost, and probably more, will come off your bottom line. That's the way it works, especially when you're trading it in to a dealer. I need to address this comment because this is flat-out wrong. The retail price for me to fix the damage is quoted at $4k. That is assuredly higher than what a dealer would pay if they were to fix the damage. Let me rephrase that because it seems that many comments seem to be missing this point: Spending $4k to fix the car does not add (or in this case, restore) $4k to the trade-in value of the car. Let's work with some real-ish numbers to get the point, because it helps with my thought exper...
- Mon Feb 25, 2019 2:19 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Would you fix cosmetic car damage?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4118
Re: Would you fix cosmetic car damage?
I would repair a 2017 Cadillac, yes, except for perhaps the most minor of cosmetic issues (paint scrape, small dent). Those cosmetic issues however will hurt your trade value, both directly (they'll estimate what it costs to fix them and deduct that from your offer) and indirectly (they'll assume your car hasn't been treated with white gloves and thus not give you the benefit of the doubt on subjective condition grades). So the question really is, do you want to pay for the repairs now or pay for the repairs when you trade in the vehicle and don't receive a good offer? Thanks, I think this is the most helpful comment so far. I understand the hit to trade value - that's what I'm assessing. Paying for it later is always better, assuming the ...
- Mon Feb 25, 2019 10:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Things to do in Indiana
- Replies: 64
- Views: 6466
Re: Things to do in Indiana
We've found that things don't need to be spectacular to be interesting. As a matter of fact, some of the more obscure places we've been and things we've seen, especially those with historical significance, have been the most enlightening and memorable. Another advantage to these places is that they tend not to be overrun by people which is typical for the more well known sites. Sure, you can find wonder in the mundane. The trick to not be overrun by people is to go early and off season. I live 10 mins away from Eagle Creek (municipal) park. One month ago, I visited early in the morning and was treated with a spectacular winter view. The water was frozen, the frost was hanging from trees, the sun was bright, the snow was shining, etc. Which...
- Mon Feb 25, 2019 10:08 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Would you fix cosmetic car damage?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4118
Would you fix cosmetic car damage?
Over a month ago, I was driving through a bad snowstorm and lost control of my car as I negotiated to an exit ramp. My car (2017 Cadillac ATS) hit a concrete barrier at ~20mph. The impact was loud and things went flying in the cabin. At the time, I was afraid the car had suffered terrible damage. After getting to safety and upon closer inspection, I found the following issues: - Impact was a glancing blow on front passenger side - Scrapes/scratches on headlight surface and front bumper - Front bumper has 2" crack below headlight - Front bumper is <1" sagging on passenger side (not noticeable from a distance) - Front passenger side fender is bent, such that it pops out slightly (this took the brunt of the force transfer on impact) ...
- Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:52 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is Hyundai the value sweet spot?
- Replies: 164
- Views: 23241
Re: Is Hyundai the value sweet spot?
So I'm curious- as the Genesis brand is the luxury Hyundai brand, is the "upgrade" on par with what Toyota has done over the years with the Lexus? I've rented, driven, and test driven many cars over the last year - mostly luxury sedans. Hands down the one I would buy with my own money is the Genesis G70. I know older folks will be partial to Lexus, but I simply couldn't stand how stupidly their interiors were designed. Their powertrains are uninspired, but they are fairly cushy so it's a matter of what's your driving style. There's a culture difference between the Japanese vs Koreans. The Japanese have been very insular and reluctant to accept new technologies (i.e. Toyota has just added Apple Carplay to their lineup for 2019, wh...
- Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:39 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Things to do in Indiana
- Replies: 64
- Views: 6466
Re: Things to do in Indiana
Lived almost 6 years in Indianapolis. Seen about half the things people have suggested. They range from mediocre to good, but nothing impressive if you've seen real wonders. A lot of the museums and parks are good for the Midwest, but ultimately pale in comparison to the really impressive museums (think Chicago) and parks (think states out west - Dakotas, Nevada, etc.). I'm guessing the OP is retired and has all the time in the world, so they aren't picky about finding oddball things to do. I'll do my part to add some value to this conversation by sharing some good food options in the Indy area: - Caplinger's Fresh Catch: the fish sandwich is good, but what you really want is their king salmon. Ask them to make it for you by the pound. Cost...
- Mon Dec 03, 2018 9:45 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Crawl Space Fixin's - Do you really need it?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 3027
Crawl Space Fixin's - Do you really need it?
Over half a year into my first house. Many adventures along the way, and many dollars spent obviously... I find myself thinking about addressing my crawl space because it was one of the items in the inspection that was a major concern. House is in Midwest. Built in 1981. $150k market value. Current issue is that there is standing water throughout my crawlspace. There is a pit and sump pump (which I will upgrade regardless), but no real drainage system and no vapor barrier. I've gotten a quote for installing these items, but have trouble justifying the cost compared to the value of the house. The quote was $6k for full drainage system (or $2k for partial) and $2k for vapor barrier. I would guess that the previous owners never worried about t...
- Mon Dec 03, 2018 9:23 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Why is Costco gas so much cheaper
- Replies: 119
- Views: 14198
Re: Why is Costco gas so much cheaper
I have had the best Costco gas experience, which sounds completely atypical from just about everyone else's posts on the subject. I live 3 miles away from my local Costco. There's never been a line to fill up in the last 6 months I've been a member. I require premium gas, which is at least $0.30 cheaper than Shell/Marathon across the street.
I'd estimate that I use ~60 gallons of fuel per month for commuting, which works out to about $20/month in gas savings just by filling up at Costco. It's not bad for basically no work, but it's not as dramatic as $1k/year.
I'd estimate that I use ~60 gallons of fuel per month for commuting, which works out to about $20/month in gas savings just by filling up at Costco. It's not bad for basically no work, but it's not as dramatic as $1k/year.
- Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:59 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need advice on (2) jackets.
- Replies: 32
- Views: 3343
Re: Need advice on (2) jackets.
This happens to be the case for the black patch. People of discerning taste have figured that the colored patch is too obvious.ResearchMed wrote: ↑Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:53 am There is also a type that has a black patch, much less obvious. They were sold out on that in the style I wanted.
RM
OP, I would go with #1. Buttons are preferable to velcro, even though velcro is functionally superior. I would also go with a color that's not black.
- Thu Nov 15, 2018 9:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Lexus NX vs RX
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2181
Re: Lexus NX vs RX
Feel like asking for advice was just inviting a bunch of sanctimonious comments.
I drove for 4 years in the city without getting any issues, but that was with a cheap car with tiny rims. I'm learning expensive lessons in driving nice cars that come with big rims as features. If you live in a part of the world where the city fixes the roads, good for you.
I will add offroad-ish trucks to my consideration.
I drove for 4 years in the city without getting any issues, but that was with a cheap car with tiny rims. I'm learning expensive lessons in driving nice cars that come with big rims as features. If you live in a part of the world where the city fixes the roads, good for you.
I will add offroad-ish trucks to my consideration.
- Thu Nov 15, 2018 9:49 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Lexus NX vs RX
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2181
Lexus NX vs RX
I'm exploring swapping my fast-ish sedan (2017 Cadillac ATS) for one of the above cars in the title (Lexus NX or RX). I am soliciting opinions on those models specifically, or comparable models of CUV/SUVs at similar values. Most dealer prices for used ~MY2015 (<60k miles) models vary between the $25k - $30k range. I'm looking for personal experience current of previous owners have with regards to my two main criteria: 1. Resistant to potholes. I've already lost one tire this year, and I'm currently riding on at least one bent rim. On my previous car, I had to fix five. 2. Too slow to get into trouble. I've contributed to the coffers of 3 different municipalities this year. Bonus question specific to the NX/RX: How can I tell if they are eq...
- Mon Nov 12, 2018 3:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Stop paying on life insurance policy?
- Replies: 33
- Views: 3094
Re: Stop paying on life insurance policy?
Consider that the reason the insurance is so cheap is because the actuaries have figured that the probability of payout is also similarly low.
+1flarf wrote: ↑Mon Nov 12, 2018 12:29 pm I'd say keep it just because it would make things easier for your family. Your spouse and children won't have to worry about making any investment decisions for a long time; they'll be able to process everything at a pace that makes them comfortable while financial matters remain largely on autopilot.