Johnny Depp and wife Amber Heard smuggled their pet Yorkies into Australia, which is a big no-no. They were busted for it. After much legal wrangling, Depp and Heard agreed to do a PSA/apology video about why you really shouldn’t sneak critters into Australia. The pair did not seem happy about it.
Here’s the PSA remixed as a hostage video from YouTuber Natalie Tran:
Well done, Ms. Tran.
In other news, I’m going to be car shopping with my kiddo this weekend. She’s narrowed her list of desired vehicles to Nissans, Mazdas and Hondas. Anyone got good or bad things to say about those makes?
I had a Honda once that was very dependable, but this was ages ago. It may have had a rumble seat!
Got any big plans for the weekend? Open thread!
[H/T: Buzzfeed]
Carolina Dave
Mazda3. Almost 40k on the car. Love, love, love it. My brother the mechanic loves all things Honda. We are also a Toyota family with 2 4Runners with 300k miles.
Andy
You people here are as deranged as the right-wingers against Obama, back in 2008 and beyond.
redshirt
Yorkies?!
Monsters!
Major Major Major Major
@redshirt: At least it wasn’t bunnies. Glad you’re having lovely weather, by the way.
Bishop Bag
Honda! We had a 2000 Odyssey that ran forever and I got my daughter a 2009 Civic for college and hauling the baby around in. Very dependable! Great car!
redshirt
@Andy: Cuz they like Yorkies? Agreed. Burn it down!
lamh36
I’m working this weekend, but today is the beginning of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which I think is billed as one of the largest outdoor festivals in US, in terms of numbers and artists?
It’s usually held the last weekend in August and the First Weekend in May. So anyone coming to NOLA or anyone know anyone coming for Jazz Fest
Mnemosyne
I know all of the monarchists on here want to see this adorable picture of Prince George (in his jammies!) greeting President Obama.
Looking at some of the other pictures in the feed, I never realized how tall Prince William is. He’s at least the same height as the president, and maybe even a little taller.
schrodinger's cat
My last car was a Nissan Sentra, very reliable.
Mnemosyne
@lamh36:
My boss is going next weekend. She goes every year with a group of her friends from college and wouldn’t miss it for the world.
redshirt
I don’t think you can wrong with any Japanese brand.
jo6pac
My friends daughter has a MX-3 and I know it has well over 100,000. They drive into Calif. to visit a few times a year from Vancouver Canada.
Good Luck and try and have fun
Percysowner
WE bought Mazdas for a long time. Got at least 100,000 miles out of each one with little to no problems.
Andy
@redshirt: I wish Cole would shut it down. I’ve been here since the transition, and it’s a cesspool now.
FlipYrWhig
Partial to the Honda Fit in our household.
MattF
I bought a Honda Accord in 2000; bought my second Honda Accord last December. So far, I like the second one even more than I liked the first one. The second one is bigger and heavier but the mileage is better (by about 10%). They’re good cars.
FlipYrWhig
@Andy: Seems easier to shut yourself down, then.
Iowa Old Lady
@Mnemosyne: That’s a cute pic.
Andy
@FlipYrWhig: I hate you.
Tracy Ratcliff
’95 Honda Civic at 300,000 miles with pretty much basic maintenance
SiubhanDuinne
@Mnemosyne:
Really cute. Obama is wonderful with little kids, and that little George is just adorable. I saw somewhere that he got to extend his bedtime by 15 minutes in order to meet POTUS and FLOTUS. Just this once.
The Thin Black Duke
What the hell is Andy goin’ on about, huh?
redshirt
@Mnemosyne: As my twitter feed described the picture, “L’il Hef”.
indycat32
I highly recommend Honda. I’m on my third, almost 100,000 miles on it and no expense other than routine maintenance
redshirt
@Andy: A cesspool how? Do you happen to support Bernie Sanders by any chance?
pacem appellant
Nissan Leaf. You know she ain’t getting too far from home, at least not without stopping for a few hours to refuel.
boatboy_srq
Nissan: reliable, but boring. (Ditto for Toyota, but since you’re not looking at those nevermind).
Honda: reliable, fun, theft magnet (if you get one, and I highly recommend them, make sure to get wheel locks even if you stick with the basic steel rims).
Mazda: just like Honda except every single control is in a different place (going from one to the other is a guarantee of significant confusion).
My money’s on Honda: my family were all Honda from 1983-1997 and loved them. The new Civics are amazing, and the CR-Z is a really impressive two-seater.
SiubhanDuinne
@Mnemosyne:
His grandfather, Prince Philip, is quite tall — or was before old age began to shrink him a bit — and on the other side, his mother was a pretty tall woman (at one time she wanted to be a ballerina but grew too tall to partner). So he’s got the genes. Catherine is tall, too, so I imagine their kids will be as well.
hedgehog the occasional commenter
Honda. I have an Accord (2007), mr. h has an Odyssey (2006). Both good, reliable, no problem cars.
Betty Cracker
@Andy: Thanks for your input, Captain Non Sequitur!
ruemara
My mechanic booted my car out of his shop. And I think the car has pulled shenanigans on both of us. Bonus side, he didn’t charge me after 7 days of failing to find why el carro wouldn’t start last Friday, and now my car is starting fine and doesn’t have that bizarre wheeze start then fail. Is there a 24 hr motor flu?
@Andy: We’ll all miss you, person we’ve never heard from before. Nothing will remove the shame of how we failed.
Plans for the weekend? My friends want to go bowling. Other friends want to go karaokeing. I’m going to resist more off tune caterwauling by myself, bowl & buckle down to wrap this last script and apply to a few new writing opportunities. I think it’s time. The fellow may not be wrong about me needing to make a clean break and jump into the creative life in full. But if he thinks I’m going to do stage work, he’s nuttier than I am.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@Mnemosyne: Yet another demonstration that POTUS is magical with children. Even the UK – and royal at that – ones, known for their stoic and aloof attitudes with adults.
lamh36
I said earlier this week, that I’m not one for Westerns, but Denzel might pull me into the theatres!
Welp…if you gonna bet on someone bet on Denzel Washington and Anthony Fuqua!!!
This look good…and it’s just a teaser.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN – Teaser Trailer (HD) https://youtu.be/deSRpSn8Pyk via @YouTube
guachi
Mazda 3 or 6. Or for a CUV the CX5 is the best CUV out there. I owned two Mazda 3s and they were both fantastic. Great fun to drive and the hatch has good storage. The CX5 is, for a CUV, actually fun to drive and it has GREAT fuel economy (as does the Mazda 3).
Toyota seems to have lost the plot but the new Honda Civic is pretty good.
But… MAZDA all the way. You’ll enjoy driving that car every time you get in.
Oh, and Mazdas have great reliability.
In politics, here’s a link to Al Giordano tweets about Sanders and its culture of losing.
https://storify.com/zatchry/the-divide-on-the-electoral-left-between-sanders-c
Major Major Major Major
@redshirt: It’s a pool full of cess, obviously.
I cess you cess we all cess for… eye… cess
Andy
@redshirt: The fact that Cole has to put up qualifiers to his living arrangements in a previous post about his cat, is all you the evidence you need.
smintheus
If she’s not embarrassed easily, you might mention the Wankel Rotary Engine.
Olivia
Stay away from Nissan. They just don’t hold up. I have had good luck with both Mazda and Honda, with Honda being the best. You can look at Consumer Reports for the worst and best buys in used cars.
redshirt
@Andy: I don’t get your anger.
A Ghost To Most
Mazdas have zippier engines and sportier ride, Toyotas and Subarus are dependable, if boring. Nissans can be undependable, especially for a Japanese car. Consumer Reports has an excellent yearly car issue.
I own Toyotas.
gogol's wife
That video is hilarious!
Trollhattan
@Betty Cracker:
Any chance of steering (heh) her to a Volvo? I’d want my kiddo in the safest car I could possible coerce her into being seen in.
Major Major Major Major
@redshirt: He just left a delightful comment on my blog!
gogol's wife
The comment about Cole’s living quarters makes me think this is DougJ.
Betty Cracker
Clarification on the car question: our budget is around $10K. Apparently you can get a new Nissan for that (Versa) and a low-mileage, fairly recent model used Honda or Mazda. Kid is gravitating toward Honda Civics and Mazda3s.
Ella inNew Mexico
Got my Girlie-girl a cute little 2008 Mazda 3 when she went to college up the highway and needed something reliable.For $5000 it is a very nice basic model, she loves it.
We did have a weird thing happen with it this spring, though. She called saying she was having what sounded like a power steering failure shortly after she bought a new battery for her car. The car was really hard to steer as she would slow down to turn or for a light. Scared the hell out of her so she parked it until my hubby had a day off to drive to Abq to turn his magical mechanic powers on it.
Turns out, the battery she was sold at Autozone that supposedly was rated for her car was not powerful enough to keep the power steering pump running when the engine slowed down. Her dad ended up driving 500 miles round trip that weekend essentially to buy her a bigger battery.
But hey, he got to spend some much deserved time with the only daughter. :-)
? Martin
Honda Element. Love it. Made in Ohio. Sad it’s made no more.
LA Times reminds of of Prince’s cover of Creep at Coachella many years ago. You’re welcome.
gogol's wife
@efgoldman:
Ugh. Horrible.
lamh36
@Mnemosyne: I was just looking at that and being a petty betty, I remarked to a friend that POTUS has more hair on his head than Prince Will…just saying ;-)
redshirt
@Major Major Major Major: That’s a big compliment given how many douche’s are on the internet. Congrats!
Betty Cracker
@gogol’s wife: Yep. A spoof too far, that line.
K488
I had a Mazda 626 back in the day that gave me 272,000 miles; followed that with a 2000 civic that gave me closer to 280,000 miles. No problems with either until right at the end, when each died completely and suddenly. Had a CRV until someone rammed it and totaled it (not the CRV’s fault), and now have a pair of Honda Insights; love them both (each with about 100,000 miles). Total reliability all down the line. Don’t know about recent Mazdas, but the Hondas I’ve had have been terrific.
gogol's wife
@lamh36:
Someone in some article I read yesterday said Prince William is just another bald bloke in a suit now.
Trollhattan
@gogol’s wife:
Yup, I’m laughing here….
lamh36
$300 Mill…WHOAH!
That’s MJ numbers before the overspending…and Prince didn’t seem to have the same money issues as MJ
Gin & Tonic
@Andy: The door’s over there.
NotMax
Steered Mom to a Mazda 3½ years ago when she was getting rid of the Honda. The sedan, not the hatchback.
“Best car I’ve ever owned,” she keeps saying ever since.
Bonus is distinctly nicer quality of cabin appointments for your buck than from either Honda or Nissan.
Also too, remember to check MPG. Gas prices may be relatively low now but that ain’t a-gonna last. (41 MPG on the Mazda 3 she has is the norm she’s getting.)
Brachiator
I’m just getting mentally prepared for more of that great, wonderful, youthful show I post about so enthusiastically from time to time. Yeah, that’s right.
Talkin’ bout “Game of Thrones.”
Did anyone post up that trailer for the remake of The Magnificent Seven? It can be seen here.
I try not to put too much into an early teaser, but I hope it’s more than Unforgiven meets The Equalizer Out West. And it appears that Chris Pratt is contractually obligated to be the joking badass in every movie he makes. Just make him the new Indiana Jones already and let’s move on.
Major Major Major Major
@redshirt: I think I’m going to approve it.
Betty Cracker
@Major Major Major Major: I edited your comment above. Sorry to be heavy-handed, but I’m not comfortable with folks publishing others’ IP and email address, even if they are assholes.
redshirt
@efgoldman: An ongoing experiment.
wuzzat
Another vote on the Mazda 3. I get about 40 MPG highway on the thing, and 34 MPG combined (and I live in the Boston area, so unless your daughter lives in a similarly fucked up traffic situation, she’ll get better mileage than that). They’ve got top-notch safety ratings, the car handles well, and it’s a fun drive.
A Ghost To Most
@Betty Cracker:
Do not get a last generation Civic! Meaning the 2012-2105-ish. It’s the worst Civic in 20 years. The new one is really good, but the last generation is not, according to CR.
Major Major Major Major
@Betty Cracker: Didn’t even think about that. Makes sense. Apologies.
JanieM
“We” were mostly an Accord “family” for years (long story), and the cars were reliable and long-lasting.
I’m on my own now, and the last Accord I had (acquired second-hand) was still a great car but the seat was absolutely unworkable for my back and hips (with which I have various problems). The car I would have liked seat-wise was my daughter’s Nissan Versa, but I didn’t want something so small for highway driving (and shortly after that her dad helped her get a sturdier car for that reason).
What I ended up with after lots of research, including CR, and test-drives in ten cars (five makes, two models each) was a Nissan Altima. I’ve had it for three years and two months without a problem (~35000 miles). We’ve had several Nissan cars in the family over time (mine and a couple of Versas) and they’ve been reliable and problem-free. I’m hoping to keep my Altima for-nearly-ever.
(Now I’m knocking on wood……)
ETA: I get a little over 30 mpg overall (highway and town driving).
grrljock
I had a Mazda 323 for a long time, now in my 12th year ownership of my Civic Hybrid. NO experience with Nissans. If you do go with a Honda, just confirm that it’s had its airbag replaced (should be performed free at any dealership)!
NotMax
@NotMax
Correction. That first line ought to read:
Steered Mom to a Mazda 3 1½ years ago when she was getting rid of the Honda. The sedan, not the hatchback.
Suzanne
I’m on my third Honda (CR-V), and I’ve been mostly happy. Mr. Suzanne is also a repeat Honda owner. I had a Toyota that was reliable but unexciting.
benw
@Betty Cracker: I’ve had two Honda Civic Hybrids that were very reliable, bought both used for around $10k each. In warm weather (not running the A/C) they routinely average over 50 mi/gal. Good luck!
Gin & Tonic
@Betty Cracker: Well, the IP address provided by Major^4 geolocates to Colorado, so I’m thinking not Doug!
sacrablue
My spouse drives a Nissan Altima hybrid (2009). No major expenses so far. He needs to replace two tires this weekend, but otherwise mostly just regular maintenance.
Also, just got a robo-call from Donald J Trump telling me how unfair the California primary is because it is closed. We need to hurry up and re-register as Republicans so that we can vote for him. So unfair.
singfoom
Had a Nissan Stanza back in the day until it sprung a rear head gasket leak that would cost more than the car to fix.
Love my Subaru Forrester so far.
Betty Cracker
@Major Major Major Major: No worries!
@JanieM: Is the Versa flimsy? We’ll probably test drive one, but honestly, I don’t recall ever seeing one before. Not even sure I’ve heard of that model. I definitely don’t want her driving a flimsy car.
Ella inNew Mexico
@Mnemosyne: I’m embarrassed to admit I am in love with those two kids of William’s–they’re simply scrumptious. Little George could be my second son’s clone, which makes it even worse. That photo of the Queen with all her great grand-kiddos was just adorable, too.
It’s not even that they’re Royals. They’re just too darn cute.
Mnemosyne
@lamh36:
I was being nice but, yeah, the poor guy is going to be totally bald by the time he hits 40. It runs in the family, so George should enjoy his full head of hair while he can!
hamletta
I have a 2008.5 Mazda3 5-door w/manual transmission. It’s a li’l rocket! Only thing wrong is the bass drops out of the stereo all the time. It’s a firmware issue in the head unit, and I missed the recall deadline.
Betty Cracker
@Gin & Tonic: That’s why I don’t want IP addresses published. It smacks of doxxing. Let us speak no more of it, okay?
boatboy_srq
@Betty Cracker: In that case, stick with used (CPO?) Honda or Mazda. Versas aren’t worth the tin cans recycled to build them (you’re better off bringing in a Renault Megane, which closely resembles it, as a more reliable/durable alternative). Versa is equivalent in the US to the Toyota Yaris / Honda Fit (although the Fit seems much better built than the other two).
You’ll probably get more bang for buck from the Mazdas: Honda resale value is stupidly high (good for sellers, horrible for buyers), though you’ll almost certainly get a good car.
Trollhattan
@sacrablue:
What, he’s a-feared CA Republicans are all out Cruzing? Are they really that batshit? I thought it was all guns and Mexico walls all the time (you know, the Donnelly crew). They seem pre-Trumpified, but I pay no attention to any state polls.
lamh36
DAMN!!!!
schrodinger's cat
@Betty Cracker: How about the tiny Prius? You can just turn it on like a computer!
seaboogie
Honda girl here…Had a Civic Si that I traded in years ago for an early Model CRV (for transporting da big pooch) that I drove for 16 years. Have a 2013 Civic that I adore – my Platonic Ideal of a personal car – fun to drive, absolutely reliable and kind of sporty too. Love all the bluetooth gack in it and especially appreciate the simplicity and intuitive quality of the three big knobs and a couple of buttons on the dash – you don’t drive off the road while trying to find some little button that you need to change the temperature. This is an important consideration for many, but especially useful for a younger, less experienced driver.
I borrowed a friend’s newer Mazda SUV a while back to transport a dresser. Couldn’t figure out how to turn the temperature down while on the fly, so I just said screw it and rolled down the windows, even though it was raining. Dang thing looked like an airplane cockpit.
HinTN
@lamh36: Why yes, Mrs H and I are driving down tomorrow. Going Sunday and Thursday, staying with a friend in the Marigny. Happy Fest!!!
Brachiator
@schrodinger’s cat:
I used to have a Mazda 323. Absolute workhorse. Drove it til it was totally done. But Nissans were good too. Lot of auto mechanics bought them for wives and kids as second cars.
Trollhattan
@Betty Cracker:
A friend just got a Versa as the “Cheapest disposable commuter I could possibly find” and it’s pretty much the automotive equivalent of a Tyvek painter’s smock. If I had to choose in that category, I’d probably go with a Fit, presuming is actually did. Fit, I mean.
Mnemosyne
@Betty Cracker:
If you’re worried about that, check the government crash test ratings. Cars that feel “flimsy” to us can be more safe than an SUV if it has the right combination of airbags and crumple zones.
Ruckus
@Andy:
Never noticed it being a cesspool until you mentioned it. Wonder if you had anything to do with that? And by the way if you don’t like swimming in a cesspool, I’d bet we could take up a collection to pay for your cab ride to the city of anywhere else.
A Ghost To Most
Ok, from the CR car issue
Good, reliable used cars <10k
Ford Focus 2009-10
Pontiac Vibe 2006-9
Scion xB 2008-9
Acura TL 2006
Acura TSX 2006
Hyundai Sonata 2007-9
Mazda 6 2009
Honda CR-V 2006
Toyota Sienna 2006
HinTN
@A Ghost To Most: Agreed, would not have anything but Toyota, unless I could find a mint condition Crossfire convertible.
The Golux
My son has a Honda Fit. Awesome car, and even better now that you can get a 6-speed manual. It holds an astonishing amount of stuff; I’ve used it for hauling my band gear, which normally fills the back of a Honda Odyssey (i.e., behind the rear seats). On the other hand, my sister-in-law, niece and nephew have Mazda 3’s, and they’re fantastic cars.
Mike in NC
Have always owned Hondas except for when I worked at EDS and we got a special employee discount on Saturns. But it was actually pretty mediocre.
Juju
I drive a 2002 Subaru Forrester. Subarus are built like tanks and have very high safety ratings. I am thinking of giving my Forrester to my niece because I tend to drive my mother around in her car, and have use of her car, a really cush car. I still love my Forrester, though. I go back and forth about what to do with my low mileage Forrester.
Andy, take a breath, count to ten and let it go. They’re only comments on a blog, not the Gettysburg address.
lamh36
@efgoldman: I believe so…wasn’t the entire “Slave” on the face and symbol era because he wanted control of his masters and onwnership of his music rights.
It’s why much like MJ, you don’t hear Prince songs in commercials. I’m no lawyer, but I’d guess unless he willed it otherwise, that may change depending on who his heir is and what they want to do?
BJ lawyers, what say you?
HinTN
@Trollhattan: You ever pay their repair bills? We have Toyota do all maintenance except oil change and tire rotations and we’re very satisfied 150,000 (+) mile owners.
satby
@efgoldman: I’m keeping thoughts of strength for you, because that sounds lousy.
HinTN
@Betty Cracker: Get the Civic!
cope
Two Honda Fits in our garage. Love them (low price, mileage, interior space, fun factor with the 5-speed, no problems 112 k miles down the road). However, if I ever buy a new car again (at my age that may be problematic) I would look at the new Honda HR-V, a mini-SUV based on the Fit frame. I would like to be sitting a bit higher off the ground.
enplaned
Total dick move by Depp & Heard. Australia & New Zealand do not have many of the agricultural pests that afflict the rest of the world. People bringing their critters, plants, unprocessed food etc, into Oz or NZ put that at risk.
Liking your pets is one thing, liking your pets to the point of putting the economic livelihood of entire nations at risk — double-plus bad.
satby
We’re off suicide watch here at Casa O’Crazy; Qunoot’s shoes arrived today in time for prom.
I know I wore really high heels when I was a teen/young adult, but now shoes like that look like stilts to me. She’s going to be adorable in them.
Brachiator
@sacrablue:
Most Californians don’t seem to have a big problem with this.
And so far, Trump is polling better than Cruz in most areas. One thing, though, is that Cruz has already made a couple of trips to California, and has appeared on some of the more popular conservative-leaning radio shows. Cruz is also working delegates hard. Even though Trump changed some of his campaign people, he still has to make up for lost opportunity.
Bonus fun fact. Guesses are that large numbers of people have registered for the foul ultra right wing American Independent Party instead of registering as politically Independent (or Decline to State). These dopes have until May 23 to undo their mistakes. Could be as much as 73 percent of this fringe party’s membership.
sacrablue
@Trollhattan: My husband and son are both decline to states, so I get all of the robo-calls. My son saw “Donald J Trump” on the caller id and laughed at me for answering the phone. The only CA poll I have seen had Donald in the lead with the other two nearly tied. I’m not answering the phone again today, that was too traumatizing.
A Ghost To Most
@HinTN:
I have an armored 2006 4Runner that I use mostly in the mountains and snow, a RAV4 that my wife drives,and 2nd gen Prius for commuting.
PST
I shopped last summer for the first car in 15 years or so. I thought all the popular midsize sedans were quite similar and very nice. I drive a lot of rentals, and I don’t see much difference. We ended up buying an Altima, which I like very much. Left solely to my own devices, though, I might have got a Hyundai Sonata. It seems as nice as the Japanese brands when I rent one, and is reviewed similarly, but a little less money at each feature level.
Ben Cisco
Been driving Hondas since ’94. Sold the first (’92 Accord) to a former co-worker of mine and HE just sold it three months ago. The second (also a ’92) was running when Mrs. C gave it up when she stopped driving. Kept the third (’02 Accord) until I traded it in for the ’11 Pilot I’ve got now. All solid, and you can plow fields with those engines.
guachi
If you have $10,000 and the options are a Civic or a Mazda 3 then there really is only one choice – the Mazda. The Civics you can get just aren’t that good and they’ll be overpriced. Like someone else commented, the last generation Civic is the worst in a very long time and the previous generation was little better.
On the other hand, the Mazda 3 with the Skyactiv engine has outstanding fuel economy and all versions of the Mazda 3 are super fun to drive. I’ve owned a 2004 and 2010 Mazda 3 hatchback and it was a great car. For 10k, a used Mazda 3 it’ll be a steal.
Ahasuerus
I can heartily recommend Honda. We had 3 Accords from 1980 through 2005; they just kept running, and the only reason we got rid of them was because we wanted something new after 8-9 years of reliable service. We sold all three of them to friends, and they remained friends, so I guess that says something about the cars.
I did have a Mazda RX7 way back in the early 80s. Build quality was not quite to Honda standards, but good lord was that car fun to drive.
HinTN
@A Ghost To Most: I’m assuming for $10K she’s getting an older model that those. A Civic with 100K on it and good records would be a good car. I buy Toyota’s with that mileage and run them to 300K.
JanieM
@Betty Cracker: Betty — When I was car shopping, Consumer Reports was down on the Versa, saying they weren’t as good as they used to be. But also yes, it felt flimsy to drive. Passing a semi on the highway was no fun. But I haven’t driven one for several years, so I could be out of date.
Trollhattan
@HinTN:
My Swedish experience is with Saab, which have been yuugely reliable over those decades and I can also attest, safe in a crash. Since Saab is no more I’m extrapolating to the Volvo experience of family and friends. Swedes take a backseat to no-one on safety and treated well, often go a quarter-million.
Major Major Major Major
@Juju: My Forester was awesome, back when I drove. Subarus are great cars.
Trollhattan
@sacrablue:
“Never pick up the phone” is the new “Never leave the boat.”
A Ghost To Most
@cope:
CR rates the HR-V highly.
elmo
@Olivia:
Co-sign. I really want to like them, too, and I am heartsick about the way my Titan is falling apart. No other full size pickup has the style of the Titan, and they come standard with power rear sliding window!
Back to Chevy for me. Silverado.
hamletta
@efgoldman: What lamh said. Also, there’s a vault with hundreds of recordings that he was maybe going to release someday. Saw an engineer today who said he once mixed 175 — 175 songs that were in the vault and needed a basic mix so Prince could listen to them.
I hope he had a will that spelled out what to do with all that material chapter and verse, because that could turn into a cluster real quick.
singfoom
@Juju: We’ve got a 2015 Forrester because it was the highest safety rating for driving our new twins around in.
Love that car.
satby
@Betty Cracker: I just drove a Nissan Versa Note rental to Florida and back, nice little car and it fit all 3 of us, our luggage (only one of us packs light ;) and assorted bags of stuff I was bringing home from cleaning out my mom’s condo. So I liked it, and they are reasonably priced.
different-church-lady
@guachi: I’m currently in a 2004 Mazda 3 five door. Still fun to drive, but the suspension is not holding up well — everything is rattling like hell. And the thing EATS tires, and tires for that thing aren’t cheap.
gelfling545
@schrodinger’s cat: Apparently there’s a “thing” among young people in my area for buying older, used Nissans because of reliability, longevity & price.
gogol's wife
@sacrablue:
Yeah, I’d rather hear Rachel from Card Services than Trump on my stupid phone.
HinTN
@A Ghost To Most: Yep, I’ve got an 06 Tundra that I bought last year because I needed a truck and an 09 Camry that we bought in 13. Both bought with over 100K.
MattF
@gogol’s wife: We’re all being trained to not answer the phone.
Ruckus
@ruemara:
Have owned a number of Hondas over the years. Problems with a couple. One you’d probably like. The 78 engine would stop while you were driving. Sometimes wouldn’t start for 15-30 minutes after stalling. Was totally unpredictable, could go for weeks without a problem, then 2 or 3 times in one day. The ex loved this feature, it was her car. Took it in to 4 dealers, none could find the problem. So I decided to drive it till it stalled on me and try several things. First day I made 1 block and the first thing I tried worked like a charm. The part cost $12. Fuel pump relay. Second Honda that was bad, the paint started to go to crap after less than one year. Honda was max dicks about it. But it turned out OK when the car got stolen and stripped.
Betty Cracker
All 5 other Hondas were gems. Have owned 2 Toyotas as well and they were both crap, one we lost an arbitration on getting it fixed. Not a Toyota fan. Owned 2 Nissans as well. One a perfect vehicle, the other a lemon. I’ve had the best luck with Fords over the years but I’d go with Honda. I’m looking at another car as my POS full sized van it nearing the end of usable/affordable (if you don’t account for fuel costs, then it’s always been less than affordable) life. Thinking that this will probably be my last car, given the large amount that SS returns to me every month. food and shelter being a bit more important.
Gin & Tonic
@Betty Cracker: Point taken.
Emma
@Mnemosyne: You know what I love the most about these turbulent years? When it comes to history, this will be the Age of Obama. And there is nothing the racist peckerheads can do to stop it.
A Ghost To Most
@HinTN:
Yes, and an older than last generation Civic would be a good choice. I actually owned new a 1975 Honda Civic, and still own a beater 2000 Civic.
HinTN
@Trollhattan: Volvo is a fabulous vehicle if you can pay the freight when you need parts and work. Very solid, very safe.
divF
I’m consistently impressed with how naturally Obama does the dance in connecting with small children. You see it in the picture with George – Obama gets down to kid level, makes eye contact, gets close (but not too close), works with Dad (William). In the series of photos with Obama + kids, you see it again and again. He’s a pro.
joes527
@A Ghost To Most:
I’m loving my Subaru Outback, and don’t find it boring at all. It replaced a 2015 Honda Odyssey. (which was totaled) You want to talk about boring …?
The Honda Odyssey is actually a pretty good van, even if they did mess up the seating in the back a few years ago. My other Honda is an Insight (It isn’t a Prius … it is an Insight) But they don’t make those any more.
different-church-lady
I DEMAND THAT SOMEONE ON THIS COMPLETELY UNRELATED THREAD EXPLAIN TO ME WHY NEW YORKERS HAVEN’T HEARD OF BERNIE SANDERS!!!
ThresherK
The latest rounds of Nissan Sentra and Altima have reliability records which made me pause, and I was partial to them after getting 250,000 on our ’02 Sentra.
Also, if you’re buying a car brand new, perhaps think about synthetic oil.
Mnemosyne
@satby:
I was running around work showing off my new Batgirl knitting bag. Yes, I am still 12 at heart.
HinTN
@different-church-lady: bwahahaahahaha
gogol's wife
Stephen Colbert did a similar thing on Johnny Depp, but it’s not as funny (except for the actual Johnny Depp video). Has Colbert lost his way? I never hear anyone talking about his show.
CaseyL
@Tracy Ratcliff:
Makes me happy to see this, as I have a ’95 Honda (Accord wagon) with just 113K miles on it – 300,000 seems a long way away. Though finding replacement parts is becoming a thing, since Honda doesn’t make that model anymore.
Major Major Major Major
@different-church-lady: Because Obummer kicks puppies and Debbie Whoreman-Schultz personally jammed every phone line and ISP in the state and burned every newspaper for the last six months.
You can look it up on US Uncut.
Mnemosyne
@divF:
The presidential video that still makes me laugh every time is when he takes the fussy baby from Michelle during some meet-and-greet and the baby immediately calms down. From Michelle’s expression, I suspect he was always able to do that with their girls when they were infants.
lahke
My experience has been with Hondas, and it’s been great. First Honda Civic, a 1988 that lasted over 200,000 miles and 17+ years. Next Honda Civic was a 2003 hybrid that I bought used and drove till the transmission died. When I took it in for repairs, they wanted to replace the hybrid battery too (due to age alone–no problems with performance), so I bought a new Fit instead. It feels less stable than the Civic, but that might be because I was used to the weight and stability that big hybrid battery gave me. I loved the acceleration the dual engines provided, but they re-engineered the Civic body so that you have less view of the road ahead right in front, and there’s almost no rear view visibility anymore. As an older driver, I feel the need to be get early warning on everything coming at me. The Fit not only has a big rear view window, but the headrests on the back seats retract down so that you can actually see out of it. Lack of rear view visibility is why I decided against the Prius too–what are these guys thinking of when they design these things?
A Ghost To Most
@singfoom:
[email protected]singfoom: The Forester is a great car. If we had to replace our RAV4, the Forester is what I’d buy.
singfoom
@different-church-lady: C’mon, now he’s going to show up and show all of us neoliberal down punching racist villagers what for. Why’d you have to do that?
redshirt
@divF: It’s not just with kids, either. The man has a gift.
Brachiator
@lamh36:
Yep. And supposedly Prince has a ton of material, entire albums, a couple of movies, in his Vault. One critic guessed there was enough material to release music for a hundred years. May be an exaggeration, but still.
Do we know anything about Prince’s will, yet, if any?
Some Jackson songs have been used in commercials. And for a time he owned the Beatles publishing catalog and some other artists, and I think some songs he controlled were used in commercials (though not necessarily Beatles songs). Princes heirs might be able to get more using songs in commercials compared to the relatively low royalties paid by Spotify and other streaming sources.
I hope whoever has the rights to this wonderful music are less stupid about it than the heirs to the Jimi Hendrix catalog.
PsiFighter37
As a non-car owner (life as a Manhattan resident), I would go with Honda. Best car my parents had, both used and new.
That said, they do both drive Subarus now, and those cars seem pretty well-made. My point of reference is against the cars I rent when traveling, though, so that might not be a high bar to clear.
Speaking of travel – about to take off to Los Angeles for the weekend…visiting my (very Republican) grandmother. Apparently she was a Carson supporter and had her mind blown when he endorsed Trump. I never talk to her about politics after she sent me some real wingnut conspiracy shit about Obama’s origins prior to the 2008 election.
different-church-lady
@singfoom: CONSISTENCY IS THE HOBGOBLIN OF MY MIND!!!
Wait, wasn’t that a song from Their Satanic Majesty’s Request?
A Ghost To Most
@HinTN:
I sometimes wish I still had my 90 pickup. They are so handy.
Prescott Cactus
Betty, (and all)
If you have the time, look and see if the model was made in the USA. Buying locally helps for food and autos. Union made, by workers who get good health and retirement benefits would be excellent also. YMMV.
Do what you can, when you can, if you can.
ThresherK
@Mnemosyne: But will Commissioner Gordon ever realize you’re his daughter?
different-church-lady
@Mnemosyne: One of my lasting memories of Obama will be the photos from inside his suite on election night 2008. Even after he won, the only pictures of him smiling are when his family is in the room.
Soylent Green
I am shopping for what will replace my “dieselgate” car (Audi A3 TDI) now that VW has pledged to buy it back from me. Looking at super-duper 4×4, the new Toyota Tacoma TRD off-road model.
Juju
@singfoom: Subaru makes a great car. I use mine for transporting dogs, not babies, but if I had babies I would definitely have a Subaru. I think they would be good for new drivers as well. That is one reason I’m considering giving my niece my Subaru.
Technocrat
@divF:
This makes me chuckle every time I see it:
“It’s a prototype”
You get the feeling that he likes kids. Not everyone does, and it’s awkward to fake.
A Ghost To Most
@joes527:
They tend to handle well, but not nearly like a Mazda. Boring also means dependable. I buy boring Toyotas, and would gladly buy a boring Subaru.
Virginia (fka Abo Gato)
Gotta go with Nissans here. Story: got our son a Sentra. Great car, he loved it and no problems. He was rear ended several years ago, the other guy doing at least 60. Hit him on the right rear and pushed his car off to the right of the highway onto a slope. The Sentra rolled at least once and he got out of it, shaken up but other than the usual neck and back pain from that kind of impact, unhurt. Of course he had his seatbelt on. He was alone too which was very good. The right rear was pushed in up to the front seat. Anyone who would have been sitting there would be dead as well as a front passenger since that was was the primary impact of the roll over. He got an Altima and has been very happy with that car and no problems with it. My husband has an Xterra which is awesome at the beach. I drive a 370 Z which is way fun. Nissans for all at our house!
guachi
I see a lot of Honda love from people that had Hondas a long time ago, but the last generation Civic was a straight up bad vehicle. It should be on no one’s radar. The previous generation was bested by the Mazda 3 and the Impreza and Elantra are definite competitors. In used format, the Honda and Subaru are probably overpriced. While the Mazda and Hyundai (in particular) represent much better values. Hyundais have gotten really good.
lamh36
@Brachiator: Wait, what did the Hendrix heirs do?
As for Prince…he was so flamboyant on stage, but extremely private off stage…not MJ recluse, just private…so it’ll be interesting when the will becomes available. IDK, but from all accounts, he seemed to be REALLY good with his personal finances and businesses, so I’d think he’d have a clause in his will to guide his heirs on what to do?
As for interviews about it, I saw one recent one on The View I think, where he basically, said the music will be released eventually, maybe he’d personally release it himself, but likelythat would depend on whoever is left after him.
Mahn…if there isn’t any plan forward, like someone said above, it will be a clusterfuck.
Mnemosyne
@Prescott Cactus:
That’s kind of a tricky question for me sometimes. I would rather buy a Toyota that was made in California than a Ford that was made in Mexico.
(Though my current car was made in Japan anyway.)
A Ghost To Most
@Soylent Green:
The newly redesigned one? That’s supposed to be a really good upgrade from last gen (I’ve only seen pictures)
Mnemosyne
@Technocrat:
The person I was surprised to find out really likes kids is Fran Lebowitz. She has such a persona as a New York sophisticate, but she genuinely likes kids and thinks they’re more interesting conversationalists than most adults (and she’s right, too).
Soylent Green
Some of youse are giving Nissan a bad rap. I had nothing but praise for several models and 15 reliable years of owning their compact pickup. Would be shopping for one now if they weren’t dragging their feet on refreshing the Frontier model.
WereBear
It doesn’t matter how much research one does. Driving the car makes a huge difference. Does it fit the person who will be driving it?
I’ve had cars who seemed to fight me and it was a struggle to keep them out of trouble, and then I’ve had a fit like a glove.
That’s what will decide her.
gelfling545
Weekend plans are gardening tomorrow – a local nursery had their 99¢ perennial sale & I didn’t need much of anything I spent $50 – on Sunday and prom dress shopping with the granddaughter, her mom & her aunt. She has it marked on her calendar as “Mall with the Matriarchs”.
Bishop Bag
@Betty Cracker: We got the 3 year old Civic in 2012. $11,000 with 38,000 miles on it. They will always turn around 3 year lease vehicles for a decent price. Get the car fax before you decide to buy.
machine
Whatever became of Elon James White’s involvement here at BJ? Haven’t seen much of him lately.
PhoenixRising
We’re a Honda family; the recent gen-Civics were expensive for how loud they are so we bought another CR-V. Super-reliable, but the used market for all 3 nameplates you mentioned is overpriced for its safety features.
For the teen, she’s driving the Chevy Spark once she’s fledged. I mean, she’s driving it now, but not without one of us in the car yet.
It has more airbags than seat belts. Safest car in its class and the one above it in weight/size. 39mpg freeway, 35 in town. The 5 speed is close to your budget for new. Have her pick a color (I got to choose, 3 years ago, when we needed a new car suddenly right after the old Honda became garbage on impact).
A Ghost To Most
@Soylent Green:
Check repair records on Consumer Reports,based on hundreds of thousands of cars. The data says otherwise. Nissan is clearly less reliable than the other major Japanese brands (Mitsubishi is worse).
cat copeland
@Andy: It’s the end of the world as we know it!!!!
Eric S.
Very late to the post but I’ll jump to the end with my car opinions.
Honda: The most reliable and most sensible choice. Also,in my opinion the most bland and boring. They are a transportation appliance. Now there’s not anything necessarily wrong with that. If you just want something that week go point A to point B they are great cars.
Mazda: Good reliability. In my opinion they are the best looking cars coming out of Asia. I have read on some car forums they may have some long term rust issues but I can’t confirm that.
Nissan: as a former owner of 4 of them I’m sad to say I can’t really recommend the cars. The 370Z is interesting but may not be appropriate for a teenager. My GF has a Juke and Dad has a Rogue. Both are excellent CUVs. I’d recommend either of those.
Miss Bianca
@Carolina Dave: Honda Honda Honda!
MomDoc
@hamletta: This morning, Jimmy Jam was on the Tom Joyner Show talking about the vault. He seems to think that we will be hearing most of the contents soon. He noted that some of it was from time of the Time (30 years ago) but that it was really good.
I look forward to hearing what’s in there.
Also, Prince apparently did a lot of charity so I would expect that some of his estate would go to charitable type ventures. It seems like he was taking stock over the past few months (starting his memoirs) so hopefully, he had a will as well.
jeffreyw
God has just endorsed Hillary.
MomSense
@efgoldman:
Oh EFG I’m sorry. There are no words of comfort for what your family is going through. Just be good to each other and vent as you need here.
JPL
@jeffreyw: nice
Prescott Cactus
@lamh36:
Rockstar or Uncle Bob the former mailman. . .
Things go sideways quick without having the t’s crossed and the i’s dotted.
A Ghost To Most
@A Ghost To Most:
And I say that as someone whose seminal driving event was racing at 165 mph at 3AM in a tricked out Datsun 260z.
I coulda been a customer for life.
lamh36
I was thinking yesterday, that if theatres and WB was smart, they’d re-release Color Purple in the theatres, in like a big dolby sound push type of thing.
And sure enough, less than 24hrs later…
Prince’s Purple Rain will play in AMC theaters this weekend
joes527
@PhoenixRising: we looked hard at the crv, but in the end the only thing it had on the outback was price. (And _slightly_ more cargo capacity when the rear seats are up). If I recall, the price difference was because we were looking at features on the outback that weren’t available on the crv.
Craigie
Very late to this but wanted to say that we have had all 3 makes at one point or another. Mazda 3 is absolutely the most fun to drive. Hondas last forever. The Nissan Rogue was ok, but I wouldn’t get another.
chopper
@? Martin:
I love my element.
hamletta
@MomDoc: That’s good to hear. As careful as he was about ownership of his work, I would assume he took care of what to do with it after he was gone, like you said.
Considering how private he was, I feel bad about all the speculation about how he died; it would be really awful to have his estate turn into Bleak House. Or worse, something like Tammy Wynette, where her daughters went hammer-and-tong and even had her disinterred over accusations of overmedication. Yeesh.
WereBear
@efgoldman: What a horrible situation. May you get through it faster than that.
CarolDuhart2
@lamh36: @MomDoc He probably did. A man who was as concerned about the control of his music would not have neglected this part, and the fact he kept it meant that he had some pretty good lawyers. And pretty good lawyers and even better management would have recommended he have a will a long time ago.
And the value will appreciate greatly as the compilations get sold, as the new releases of unissued maaterial come out. as the tributes and covers get made. And there will be other offers: a movie, perhaps, perhaps a musical.
he occupies the same pop pedestal like Elvis, like Michael-his music will never really go out of rotation for a very long time. Only now is Elvis fading as his fans do, and that’s after 40 years or so.
So there will be years to collect royalties, rights and other such funds.
FlyingToaster
I’ve rented all but the Mazda; I genuinely do not like the Versa (doesn’t handle as well as a Sentra or a Honda Yaris). My daughter called it “The HORRID Car” from that trip.
I just got back from a trip where I had a Ford CMax, which I didn’t even know existed. A Prius Clone, with crap tires, but very comfortable to drive.
PNW_WarriorWoman
Tonight…TEDx Tacoma!
Tomorrow, dog to the groomer. She’s overdue.
realbtl
Assuming equally good mechanical condition get whatever makes her smile. I think this is important no matter what your age but especially for a first car. After all it’s highly likely she will be driving something else in 5 years.
A Ghost To Most
And just in case you’re looking at the Fiat 500 – run away!
Cacti
Have owned a Civic, an Accord, and a CRV now that I have kiddos.
No complaints on any of them, all are/were high quality cars.
Mnemosyne
@hamletta:
There is some speculation now that he did die of an overdose, and that he had become addicted to opiates after a hip surgery went wrong in 2010. I’m hoping that won’t turn out to be the case, but it’s unfortunately plausible.
ThresherK
I just got finished doing a few thing on ye olde Volvo (99 turbo wagon) and within 10 minutes the skies just opened up.
Feeling a bit lucky, cos I wasn’t even paying attention to the weather forecast. But my wife is still out at dinner with friends.
Prescott Cactus
@Mnemosyne: True that.
California made Toyota or Mexican made Ford. . .
20 or 30 years ago a Toyota would get ” keyed” if it was in the parking lot of most places I worked, even if it was made in the USA . Times change thankfully.
My pecking order is
USA & Canada – Union made
USA – non Union made
All other.
I have no loyalty to the company ( say Ford ) who lowers their cost by building overseas, when that car could be assembled here. The food my father put on my plate and the food his mother and father put on his plate all came from union jobs . Old habits die hard.
Mnemosyne
@WereBear:
Fit is very underrated. I knew I would never consider a VW when I had one as a rental car and kept hitting my knees on various parts. And I’m 5’3″, so it’s not like I’m a tall person trying to fit into a small car.
I dislike Fords for the opposite reason — it always feels like I have to stretch to reach the controls. The weird part is that one of my coworkers says the same thing, and he’s a foot taller than me!
stinger
I bought a 1998 Honda Civic, new, standard transmission, and drove it without problems for 12 years. In that time the only thing it needed besides the occasional tire was a new odometer. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Only traded it in because I was going on a 2,000 mile trip and thought a 12-yr-old car might be risking it. I like the standard features of my 2010 Civic automatic that weren’t on the 1998, but I sure miss that old car. Looking to trade in for a CR-V soon, to better accommodate 3 dogs.
srv
I don’t understand why all the fans of John Cole do not have Subarus. Subliminal marketing campaign fail.
They make great field artwork too.
PaulWartenberg2016
Weekend accountability: getting new bookmarks printed up that I can have on hand next month at a local authors’ signing event in Wesley Chapel…
Promoting new estory on Kindle and Nook…
Doing laundry…
Going mad…
Oh, and shopping for more cat food for my kittehs. Can’t forget that.
Groucho48
Tweety had Sanders spokesperson Weaver on. Weaver’s spiel was Noun-verb-transcripts. He couldn’t explain why it was so important for the transcripts to be released, he couldn’t list one thing that Clinton had done because of the money, he couldn’t answer when asked if he thought she had done something illegal. He did mention the Elizabeth Warren accusation but didn’t push it. Maybe because he knew it had been debunked, thought Tweety didn’t seem to. He just kept repeating Transcripts! He wasn’t as good at it as a real right winger would have been, but, he showed some natural ability.
Ruckus
@Mnemosyne:
I’ve owned a lot of Fords, all trucks and 2 SUVs and I’ve never been able to drive one without the seat all the way back.
low-tech cyclist
We’ve been a Honda Accord family since 1990, and we’ve only owned 3 of them. That should tell you something right there.
Accord #1. A 1986 Accord which we bought in 1990 with ~59K miles on it. Was a reliable car to about 220K miles, then it started showing its age. Drove it to 254K on the odometer, though.
Accord #2: A 2000 Accord that we bought new. I’m still driving it at 230K miles. I think it’s finally made the transition from reliable to iffy, but only just in the past month.
Accord #3: A 2009 Accord, also bought new. Doing fine at ~110K miles.
The Accords have gotten larger over time, so I think I’m going to get a Civic to replace the 2000 Accord shortly. But we’ll keep buying Hondas as long as they keep giving us >200K dependable miles per car.
the Conster, la Citoyenne
Michelle’s purple dress to meet the queen and princes was totally coincidental, I’m sure. What a day for them!!
the Conster, la Citoyenne
@efgoldman:
OMG. What a cluster. I can’t even with this. Keep us posted. I wish we could all get together with Siubhann Duinne, but if you still want to make a trip of it anyway, I’m in.
Prescott Cactus
@efgoldman: Wishing you the best at a time when life seems rugged. May strength find you and love guide you during this journey that you neither choose nor desire to make.
Peace
seaboogie
@efgoldman: What Prescott Cactus said. So sorry that you and your family must continue to endure this…know that you travel with the BJ community keeping you in their hearts.
SiubhanDuinne
@Mnemosyne:
Early in Obama’s presidency — maybe even during the 2008 campaign when Dubya was still president — I remember seeing a series of “compare and contrast” photos of Bush and Obama with babies. Obviously the pictures were carefully curated, but it was hilariously funny to see the little ones howlingscreamingkicking when W was holding them, and smilinghappygurglinglaughing in O’s arms. Wonder if those are still findable on the intertubes. I wouldn’t mind seeing them again.
rikyrah
PRINCE WAS UNAPOLOGETICALLY BLACK BEFORE IT WAS COOL TO BE SO
Damon Young, 4/22/16
……………………..
Of course, the news of the sudden and shocking death of Prince loomed over the entire evening, like music blaring through stereo speakers; pulsating, vibrating, and reverberating sounds you could either choose to attempt to ignore or acknowledge. And when his death was broached, of course there were acknowledgements of his artistic impact and the sheer surreality of this news. But something else was brought up (repeatedly) as well. Prince was Black as fuck.
………………………………………………
I love this comment in the replies:
NegraWithTumbao
He really was…. when you tell a conglomerate to kiss your high yellow ayus because you don’t HAVE to release music to eat…. YOU ARE A BLACK GANGSTER.
hamletta
@Mnemosyne: I thought he hadn’t had the surgery because it might involve blood transfusions, but that he really needed it. Either way, yeah, it’s entirely plausible, as he was in pain. His knees were probably shot, too.
joes527
@A Ghost To Most: What is wrong with e Fiat 500? I had one as a rental once, and it was fun.
As long as you don’t imagine that anyone will fit in the back, it seems like a nice car
ThresherK
@efgoldman: Take care of you and yours.
The Gray Adder
@Bishop Bag: THIS. Honda makes a damn fine small sedan. I love my ’10 Civic.
TriassicSands
No one would confuse Depp with a professional actor based on that performance. He seemed annoyed, pissed, put out, and generally insincere. Laws shouldn’t apply to celebrities — or their pets.
schrodinger's cat
@gelfling545: That would be me when I bought my Sentra in the mid aughts.
SiubhanDuinne
@realbtl:
Definitely time for me to get my eyes checked. I would have sworn that said “get whatever makes her senile.”
Mike J
(And Warren for Veep would be a stupid idea. Way more power in the Senate. But there are plenty of other women.)
Brachiator
@efgoldman: hope things work out well. It all sounds pretty nasty.
Iowa Old Lady
It’s Earth Day. On the first Earth Day in 1970, Mr IOL and I went to a talk in Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor. We wound up in the top tier of the balcony and it was so hot I was afraid I was going to faint so we had to leave. Good times.
Gvg
Check the seat fit. Newer cars to meet the federal crash whiplash standards are mostly going whiplash standards. The headrest is bent too far forward. Something in my back hurts unless I sit up straight, which most people don’t. This means the headrest of most make me hunch over and get a different killer back ache. I have to use firm flat pillows to correct almost every seat out there.
I have a Mazda 5 mini mini van. It’s fun. Zippy. 70,000 miles2012. Headrest is one of the annoying ones but I couldn’t find better. Seats 6. Car seat hooks to put 4 kids in which since we were fostering then and will be again soon hopefully, was important. Back seat 2 rows fold down for cargo hauling. Still small enough to be easy to park in UF’s tiny spaces. It’s based on the 3 which has excellent crash ratings but hadn’t been tested in years when we had to buy. This year it was finally tested and scored more of a b not a which we like. Mazdas are more reasonably priced, reliable and fun to drive. Hondas head rests are even worse for me and so was Toyata. Sis has a Prius which she loved till it was totaled. The airbag didn’t go off so she got something else. Subaru Forrester. Seems nice so far. We got the Mazda when she had foot surgery and the cast was too big to fit in the tight wheel well and she needed to go to work. The back was low enough she could load her wheel chair in herself, use the walker to get to the front seat, fold it and push the steering wheel up and put the walker in across her lap to the passenger side, then drive fitting huge cast in. I got it when recovery was done. We never thought of casts and wheelchairs when car shopping before. Life can be unexpected. The headrest thing is everyday. Can’t wait till the next regulation change. It’s got to be better right?
Gin & Tonic
@Mike J:
Really, now?
Ben Cisco
@efgoldman: May you all find the strength to deal with what sounds like an awful, almost unimaginable mess.
SiubhanDuinne
@the Conster, la Citoyenne:
Alas, I am not there. You may have missed seeing earlier-in-the-week posts. Short version, I took a tumble down the stairs in my townhouse on Monday, and although (as it turned out) nothing was broken, I’ve been sore enough that I knew I couldn’t do the 16+ hour drive. Somewhat improved now, and I’m desperately sorry to be missing my friends’ Seder tonight, and concerts, not to mention a putative BJ meetup, but I definitely made the right call. Will try again and hope to see you, efg, AL, TL, and other Bostonians in the not-too-distant future.
Edit: deleted an unnecessary and confusing adjective.
Miss Bianca
@SiubhanDuinne: oh, you’re here! Yay! I have been dying to know whether you have seen this yet? I know it’s a little wicked, but it’s hilarious! Happy QEII 90th!
Miss Bianca
@lamh36: I’m getting an error message from YouTube (pout).
MomDoc
@hamletta: Every time I look at one of the old videos were he jumps off a speaker, I think about his hips and knees.
rikyrah
The NFL has released Prince’s entire half-time show.
the Conster, la Citoyenne
@rikyrah:
The Obamas were too. @Mike J:
The white male privilege. It burns.
rikyrah
@efgoldman:
Prayers and positive thoughts that you can keep calm and within yourself and don’t let the evil ones get to you.
TriassicSands
@FlyingToaster:
It’s a Toyota Yaris. Honda makes the Fit {Jazz outside the US).
I have a Fit — nice car, with lots and lots of room. My only complaint is its small gas tank. My Fit has been recalled {Takata air bag inflator}. While I’m waiting for the repair parts to be manufactured, the Honda dealer gave me a 2014 Civic with only 61 miles on (never sold). Personally, I like the Fit better, though the Civic is a nice car. The Toyota dealer (same owner as the Honda dealer) is not offering replacement vehicles. I guess they figure that killing a couple of people will be cheaper than providing replacement vehicles.
Steeplejack (phone)
@Miss Bianca:
Full link.
Miss Bianca
@different-church-lady: You slay me.
SiubhanDuinne
@Miss Bianca:
I had not seen it. It is funny, but also rather uncomfortable to watch (I knew the minute I heard the word “goose-stepping” that it wasn’t authentic commentary for Trooping the Colour.) I’ve thought of that previously, although not in such stark explicit terms — I do love the theatre and pageantry of British Royal events and always have, but I’m well aware how easy it is to roll into mindless jingoism and nationalism.
Thanks for sharing that. Fascinating.
Brachiator
@lamh36:
Hendrix died without a will. His late father, his brother and his adoptive sister have fought over issues regarding his music, image licensing and other matters. John Ridley did a film about Hendrix starring Andre Benjamin, but was not allowed to use any of Jimi’s music.
And greed and bad advice can undo a great will and detailed instructions. However, I’ve read that the Elvis legacy has been handled well, so I hope for the best with any Prince estate.
Origuy
@hamletta: if so, that would be another life lost because of the Jehovah’s Witnesses senseless prohibition of blood transfusions.
the Conster, la Citoyenne
@SiubhanDuinne:
[[ SAD FACE]]. I was looking forward to meeting you. Next time!
hamletta
@MomDoc: Inorite?! Somebody on TV yesterday said, “He did everything Michael Jackson did, but backwards and in heels.”
NotMax
@Gvg
If the adjustments available for the headrest are not suitable, they’re also usually removable.
Miss Bianca
@SiubhanDuinne: I was hoping you’d find it funny and not offenseive. ; ) I think it’s supposed to make us feel a little uncomfortable – “Brechtian, I call it.
A Ghost To Most
@joes527:
Awful transmission and terrible reliability. The Fiat brand reliability is bottom of the barrel, along with Jeep and Land Rover.
SiubhanDuinne
@efgoldman:
I’m glad you and the cousin will be there for mrs. efg and her mother. That’s going to be a rough time for everyone. Wishing you all strength to get through the initial steps in a difficult process. I needn’t remind you of this, but the BJ hive is here whenever you want to vent. Hugs to you and mrs.
Origuy
@TriassicSands: I have a 2011 Fit; I got the recall notice a few weeks ago. I didn’t consider getting a replacement vehicle. I figured that it wasn’t worth the hassle, the odds being so low that the airbags would ever deploy. Maybe I should reconsider.
SiubhanDuinne
@the Conster, la Citoyenne:
I know, me too you. Thanks.
hamletta
@Brachiator: Elvis’s estate was a bit of a mess until Priscilla stepped in. She built it into the money-printing machine it is today. At least that’s what I remember hearing 20-some years ago.
Their merch is well-designed and constantly rotating as trends change.
Miss Bianca
@efgoldman: efg, I will be saying a little prayer for you and yours.
hamletta
@Origuy:
Um, that’s not something you should play the odds on.
A Ghost To Most
@TriassicSands:
Yea, the Yaris is an awful car, and the Fit is rated very highly, as is the HR-V.
MomDoc
@hamletta: Truth!
I looked up his concert history yesterday because I know I saw him in concert 4 times, but I thought that I had seen him one other time in either Atlanta or Milwaukee. I was checking dates to see if I did. But I hadn’t realized how many tours he had done — with multiple speaker jumps every night!
I thought he had had the hip replacements because he was still upright and walking. But maybe he didn’t. If he didn’t, I can’t imagine how much pain he would have been in on a regular basis.
Germy
@Brachiator: Here are the last photos of Jimi (Sept. 17, 1970)
http://dangerousminds.net/comments/september_17_1970_the_last_photographs_of_jimi_hendrix
Iowa Old Lady
@A Ghost To Most: Mr IOL once had a Fiat. He said it stood for Fix It Again, Tony.
Germy
Remember when they tried to market the Chevy Nova in South America?
BruceFromOhio
Stick with Nissan and Honda. Avoid the Maaaaaazdaaaa.
Kia, Toyota also make small, efficient, inexpensive, dependable cars that are easy to service because they are everywhere.
Subaru’s are built like tanks. Just stay out of corn fields with them.
A Ghost To Most
Yeah, me too. Reliability is a major factor for me, and FIATS have always sucked at that.
Steeplejack (phone)
@Iowa Old Lady:
I had a Fiat 131 in the ’70s. Not only the worst car I ever had, the worst car I ever knew of (until maybe the Yugo).
SectionH
@WereBear: pretty much most of what I was going to say.
We haven’t owned a car in several years*, so I’ve driven a lot of different rental cars. Betty @ the op: Mazdas for me. 3s are fun to drive, 6s are fine if larger than I like for city driving, since they lack the carrying capacity of a 5**. I don’t care for the “feel” of the Hondas I’ve driven, including Civics and Accords. They’re not bad cars, I’m just “meh” about them.Of several NIssan models, the sedan Altima is ok, but I’d never buy one. I avoid Sentras, and think the Versa is wretched.
*That was a Mazda MPV. It was well built enough that my husband survived a roll-over crash a freeway speed with bruises and a couple of cracked ribs…
** @Gvg: I’ve probably got 2-3 years worth of driving 5s. Love that model, and they keep improving them year by year.
Omnes Omnibus
@Steeplejack (phone): The Yugo was a Fiat 144 in disguise.
BruceFromOhio
@FlipYrWhig: This. This. This. 48k on my 2011, and i was fortunate to get it in a 5spd. Put some decent feet on it, and drive it like I stole it. It’s the closest thing to a bike in a car format. I will drive it until it completely falls apart.
Or trade it for another one.
schrodinger's cat
@SiubhanDuinne: Will you be stopping by in Western Mass?
BruceFromOhio
@Steeplejack (phone): 1973 Vega! Until the Yugo, hands-down winner for rolling suck.
A Ghost To Most
@Steeplejack (phone):
The Yugo. An extremely unreliable version of a FIAT, FFS.
PaulWartenberg2016
Twitter is reporting that Patton Oswalt’s wife just died.
This sh-t hasn’t been funny all year, and it’s getting worse.
ThresherK
@A Ghost To Most: At this point I’m steering around anything with their 9-speed transmission, on Fiats and Chryslers which would be in my size range. Seems the bugs are still in it.
@A Ghost To Most: Also, are you using FIAT as the proper acronym? (No reliability joke here. It’s part of the name like the ALFA in Alfa Romeo, and SAAB.)
Steeplejack (phone)
@Omnes Omnibus:
Ha! I knew it.
Betty Cracker
Thanks for all the vehicle info, everyone. One more question: anyone have any experience / thoughts about buying from a rental outffit, i.e., Hertz? Looking through Autotrader, and there are some late model cars with higher than average miles for their age since they were rentals. But the prices are good, and they come with a warranty. I’m guessing the agency would have maintained them well. But the renters probably beat the hell out of them.
A Ghost To Most
@BruceFromOhio:
Yea, but at least it didn’t burst into a ball of flames like the Pinto.
Starfish
@Betty Cracker: I had a 2001 Honda Civic that I drove until 2012. Then I sold it to a relative who sold it to someone else who ran it into a deer. True story.
The thing with the Civic was that it was just a little too easy to go a little too fast.
Gin & Tonic
@Betty Cracker: We’ve twice bought cars out of rental fleets and had very good success with them, i.e. put about 200k miles on each.
SectionH
@Betty Cracker: All my rentals have been from Hertz since 1999. I’ve been >< close to buying a Mazda 5 from them, haven't yet, since we've moved into a transit/walk friendly city neighborhood, but I'd have no problem doing so. It may depend on your local Hertz ppl of course.
Germy
@Betty Cracker: that was an idea I had as well a few years ago. I told people that I wanted to buy a car from a rental agency, because at least there was some maintenance.
But then some co-workers told me scare stories about folks who rent cars and abuse the crap out of them. I was surprised, because I’m the type of person who rents a car and babies it and worries about getting a single scratch on it.
Then they showed me some youtube videos of folks putting their rentals through all sorts of “stress tests” for fun. Made me change my mind about buying a rental.
The idea seemed like a good one to me. Maybe my co-workers are wrong. (It wouldn’t be the first time)
A Ghost To Most
@Betty Cracker:
Used cars are such a crapshoot.
Blue Stater
On cars: Had an 82 Honda Civic wagon; it was about to turn over 200K miles when a guy drove out of a side road and totaled it. Had a 93 Honda Civic sedan: was about to turn over 200K miles when the rust began to overpower it. Had a Honda 99 CRV, ran fine (75K miles) until a guy head-on’d me and totaled it. Replaced the CRV with a Scion XB. Really great car, still running, 167K miles. Bought a 13 Subaru Impreza (they are universal around here [NW Mass.] because of the winters), 60K miles, running fine. On not ONE of these vehicles did I EVER have any non-routine repair, which is to say, clutches wore out at 100K or so; front ends needed work after a while, oil and filter changes, etc. Nothing else. The quality of these cars is just amazing. If I had a child, was worried about safety, and wanted a well-made car I’d get her a Sube. They are absolutely unstoppable in the snow, if that’s a factor. Hondas are more fun to drive. The Scion is great, but, in keeping with Toyota’s continuing death-wish, they’re stopping making them! The Germans have forgotten how to make reliable and simple cars. I wouldn’t own an American car no matter what you paid me, and haven’t since 1959.
Miss Bianca
@Steeplejack (phone): @lamh36: Oh, most excellent, and oh, most excellent!! Tarantino’s westerns I find cold as ice but looks like this one’s gonna BURN. Thanks for the link!
Germy
@SectionH:
that’s our ambition. Sometime within the next few years we plan on going carless. It’ll take some getting used to, but it’s something we’ve talked about for a long time.
BruceFromOhio
@HinTN:
Shivers. Beautiful automobile. Absolutely unique.
? Martin
@PaulWartenberg2016:
46. Died in her sleep.
Wolvesvalley
@Gvg:
The headrest thing affects me, too, in my 2015 Mazda 3 (which I love). Here is a cushion that has worked for me. It gets my head just far enough away from the headrest, and is very comfortable.
A Ghost To Most
@Blue Stater:
Subarus are ubiquitous in CO as well.
BruceFromOhio
@gelfling545: My high schooler drives a 2001 Altima, and she digs it.
And if the car gets banged around in the parking lot, not a big deal. It is a high school parking lot, after all.
Ruckus
@Omnes Omnibus:
Disguised as what, an absolute piece of crap?
SiubhanDuinne
@? Martin:
Just saw that on FB too. Sad, so young.
? Martin
Wondering why all of these ultra-conservative states economies are in the shitter?
Who needs econonomists or tax policy experts – we’ll just outsource the whole thing to God!
BruceFromOhio
@different-church-lady:
Who?
Miss Bianca
@Steeplejack (phone): Otherwise known, in Chicago, as a “Yudontgo”
SiubhanDuinne
@schrodinger’s cat:
Alas, not coming to New England at all,mat least not anytime soon now.
Amaranthine RBG
@Betty Cracker: if you are going to buy used, just follow the consumer reports refs, assuming you’re okay with car after test drive
Only buy from a rental fleet if you have no other financial options.
Brachiator
@Betty Cracker: Traditionally, rental cars and police cars have been driven hard, but excellently maintained and are often good values. Not sure if you can still get good deals on cars taken from drug dealers and other criminals.
SiubhanDuinne
@efgoldman:
I swear I didn’t even meet half the people who were there in Watertown, or if I did, it was en passant and I didn’t connect names and nyms.
Ruckus
@Betty Cracker:
I have stories about rental cars. None of them personal!!! But that is because I worked with a lot of people who rented cars almost every week and each had about 10 guys share of testosterone. There was very “Little hold my beer,” but many “Watch this” or even more common “How’d you like that?” One I remember was a car upside down, 4 guys stumbling out of it, laughing their asses off. Now you don’t have to worry about buying that one, it was totaled.
A Ghost To Most
@ThresherK:
Not sure of the question, but the Yugo was a copy of a shitty FIAT model,which Omnes even knew! Crappy copy of a shitty car, the rest is history.
Iowa Old Lady
@Germy: How do you plan to get around? Do you live near good public transportation or will you use cabs or what? I worry about not being able to drive someday.
Just One More Canuck
@BruceFromOhio: I learned to drive in Gremlins and Pacers – you want to talk about sucking
Eta efgoldman – those things drove like tanks
BruceFromOhio
@rikyrah:
AFKAP, man. AFKAP. The guy was a fucking genius.
Technocrat
@SiubhanDuinne:
Someone commented yesterday that it’s like 2016 was written by George R.R. Martin.
BruceFromOhio
@Just One More Canuck: Gremster! Meet The Hornet! Its a gravity well of suck!
All now dust and rust.
the Conster, la Citoyenne
@efgoldman:
No. I’ve only been to the one in Waltham.
A Ghost To Most
@Just One More Canuck:
Failed my first driving test in a Gremlin (no power steering). Passed it in an Buick land yacht station wagon w/ power steering.
the Conster, la Citoyenne
Holy shit Obama shoved that racist shitstain Curt Schilling look a like Boris Johnson right into the wood chipper. No Fucks Left To Give Obama is the best Obama.
BruceFromOhio
@Iowa Old Lady: Oh good Gaia I really love this blog. Exit left, Andy.
Mnemosyne
@PaulWartenberg2016:
Didn’t a similar thing happen to a blogger friend of Cole’s whose wife was a similar age? It was a brain aneurism.
They have a 7-year-old daughter, so I’m feeling a lot of empathy for that poor kid right now. At least my mom was sick for a long time, so it wasn’t totally unexpected.
Mnemosyne
@the Conster, la Citoyenne:
This commenter won the internets for the day:
BruceFromOhio
The Prince halftime show on the NFL is the shiznit. Slashing, slaying the strat. Gone too soon, Gaia, gone too soon.
A Ghost To Most
@BruceFromOhio:
Did he get bounced? He must have said something pretty heinous.
the Conster, la Citoyenne
@Mnemosyne:
“who would somehow allow me to have the privilege”
Those words were dipped in acid and administered with a shiv to the loudmouthed entitled twit.
SectionH
@Germy: We’re working on the car-free part. Starting in 2008, I was mostly living in California (family stuff) while Mr S was still in Kentucky. It made more sense for me to rent. But it was pretty much year-round renting.
We decided to stay in California after everything sorted itself. One of our goals was to live somewhere we wouldn’t have to drive much. Love the neighborhood, but we’re adjusting slowly. It would help if my plantar fasciitis weren’t so recurrent… I will say, what’s a great stop-gap when that flares up is Car2go. (Similar to ZipCar, maybe others).
Last month, we were car-free 3 weeks. This month, I just started the 3rd week of a rental (hangs head).
This one’s a Hyundai Accent. Wouldn’t buy one but I don’t hate it. I DO hate their Elantra.
Betty Cracker
@BruceFromOhio: My sister’s 1st car was an old Hornet. Christ, what a piece of shit it was! There was a leak in the glove box, of all places, so she had to keep a big sponge in there. If it wasn’t wrung out occasionally, the passenger would get splashed with water at sudden accelerations during rainy season!
Iowa Old Lady
@SectionH: I had an Elantra. It was completely useless in the snow, but I suppose that’s irrelevant for Betty’s daughter in Florida.
BruceFromOhio
@Betty Cracker: That’s easy to fix! Don’t accelerate suddenly!
What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?
@redshirt: Mitsubishi says you’re wrong. Possibly Suzuki too (don’t know much about them).
nutella
@rikyrah:
I’m glad they did since I had heard so much about how good it is (and, boy, it is great) but poor Prince must be spinning in his not-yet-grave that they just gave it away on YouTube. He kept tighter control of his song and performance rights than anybody.
The Lodger
@different-church-lady: Quiet. Now.
steverinoCT
Honda/Acura since 1988: My wife’s still driving this one around town 27K later.
SectionH
@Iowa Old Lady: Snow’s not an issue in San Diego either ;-> I basically found it hard to get in and out of, unlike the smaller Accent, and it’s what I call a “butt-scraper” – unlike the smaller Accent. I have a vague idea that earlier models of the Elantra were better. I definitely did like the Sonatas I rented ~10 yrs ago.
hedgehog mobile
@seaboogie: co-sign.
Steeplejack
@Betty Cracker:
God, is there a car from those days that didn’t suck? I was having PTSD flashbacks about my Fiat and wondering how I could have been such an idiot to buy it, but then I got to thinking, what should I have bought? There were whole lines that were crap, and on the others—especially American cars—the percentage of lemons seemed to be so high that it was a crap shoot. I had one friend who bought a Toyota Celica, which was a great car, but I don’t know whether he was a genius or just got lucky. Seems like at the time (early to mid-’70s) Japanese cars were still pooh-poohed as being underpowered and cheap.
And, yes, I know that in hindsight people will reminisce about this or that great car they had, but at the time how did you know going in?
Gin & Tonic
@efgoldman: Kinda late, but wishing you strength on your trip to VT.
rikyrah
@efgoldman:
MJ had plenty of assets. It was his spending. The speed in which the estate became solvent proves that it was his excessive spending that was the problem.
Joel
The Charlie Sheen look is not a good one for Johnny Depp.
Prescott Cactus
Consider Carmax.
Their biz model is to buy everyone’s used cars, auction off the crappy ones and keep the good low milage ones for their showroom.
Never bought, always sold, as I would put 40 to 50k on new cars and sell after 4 or 5 years.
Gian
@K488:
I think that was a sister to a ford at the time. back in the late 80s there was a GM product that was a rebadged Toyota and Honda rebadged I think some Mitsubishis. the ford 500 and the Volvo s80 for a while were cousins
my early 80s Volvo 240 had a Chrysler distributor. My suggestion is to narrow the search down and actually research the car you’re interested in. don’t buy a Toyota corolla if the geo prism is the same car with a different badge for $2000 less.
What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?
I’ve had great luck with Hondas and Toyotas and my cousin, who is a part time auto mechanic (full time college professor) recommends Honda, Toyota, and Subaru. He’s a little skeptical of Mazdas but I’ve heard good things.
Aimai
@Major Major Major Major: Ignore him. His apostrophe usage is deplorable.
Aimai
@efgoldman: im so sorry E.f. So very sorry.
TriassicSands
@Origuy:
If your dealer will give you a nice replacement like mine did, why continue to drive your Fit with its admittedly small chance of killing you (as opposed to the much larger chance that one of your fellow humans will do the job).
If I were you, I’d call and see what the dealer will do for you. Why not? If you don’t like the car they offer you (a 1978 Pacer?) then keep driving your Fit.
PghMike4
Hondas are still very reliable. We just sold our 2003 Odyssey, which was still working well — the only problem we ever had was a worn out battery cable this year. We also had an Accord that ran without incident for the 10 years we had it. My Civic Hybrid was fine until its battery died after 9 years; even then it was drivable, but because a major component was reporting an error, it would no longer pass state inspection here in PA.
Hybrid batteries are expensive. If you get a hybrid, sell it before the warranty expires on the battery, or be prepared to add $3,000 or so to the effective cost of the car if you hold onto it longer.