Four hours of my life by the side of the road in 90 degree heat, two containers of ice cream melted (fuck you, you judgey pricks I’m fat and they were on sale), and according to the mechanics a starter and sensors herp derp hocus pocus unintelligible mumble and an $1100.00 sacrifice to the Subaru gods. Every fucking month it is something else. Meanwhile I’m basically living in my home office because I have a wall air conditioner because I don’t want to run the house AC even though I just fixed that last month because WHY THE FUCK DID I BUY A HOUSE…
As soon as this thing is paid off I am thinking about trading it in for… something more reliable. Am I finally breaking free from the cult of Subaru?
Maybe a Honda used Lexus or Acura. They’re reliable, right?
Oh, kicker- I was supposed to be driving to see ABC tomorrow, but the parts won’t even be in until Monday. Bitch piss moan.
Also, fuck Trump.
chopper
sounds like you could have used some of those “large assortment of herbs”.
joel hanes
[The bad] Roger Ailes is dead.
Good.
Ding dong the merry – oh
Sing it high
Sing it low
Let them know that Roger Ailes is dead.
different-church-lady
Honda.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I had an Acura for 12 years that never gave me a bit of trouble, other than a couple of factory recalls that were no more trouble than an oil change for me
John Cole
@chopper: You know, I probably should be smoking pot for multiple reasons, but after so many years of being drunk I just have no interest in mind altering substances whatsoever.
schrodingers_cat
You could always fly. I have owned two Subarus, none of the them had any mechanical problems. One kept going even when its body was falling apart due to rust. Its probably just your luck. Toyotas are reliable, I suggest a Camry or a Prius.
Rosalita
as the saying goes, if you didn’t have bad luck, you wouldn’t have any… and you lost your ice cream, how does one deal with stress after that?
Keith P.
If you’re going to get a used luxury car, go for BMW. The non-body parts (i.e. anything that someone else also makes parts for it) are actually competitively-priced, and the cars really do hold up well. They can also be had for a few thousand dollars.
Mnemosyne
I’m staying home from work for one more day since I still have a nasty sore throat that I don’t want to inflict on my coworkers. Plus I suspect my temperature is going back up — it was 100.1 when I went to bed last night.
I did go see Wallace Shawn in The Designated Mourner last night, even though my cold medicine wore off in the first half-hour and I had chills the rest of the night. I didn’t realize going in that it was 3 hours of monologues, but it was very good.
Don Gaze
Dude – I have driven the wheels off of 6 F-150’s over the last 45 years and never spent a lot on a starter and sensors herp derp hocus pocus unintelligible mumble. Just sayin’
BGinCHI
Needs a pic of you sitting in the back seat eating all the ice cream.
SWAT vehicles approaching in the distance.
schrodingers_cat
@Rosalita: Is it like losing one’s marbles or mustard?
skyweaver
I have four old classic VW bugs in various states of presentability, though all run great and are very cheap to fix (and often you can fix them yourself if you’re inclined.) Most reliable cars on the planet and they have the bonus of being like Golden Retrievers, everyone smiles when you’re out in them.
Having said that I’m sorry your day is terrible, I really feel for you.
Tom Levenson
Some Lexi are reliable, some (the more expensive ones) less so. My in-laws have a Toyota RAV 4 they like and a Honda Fit they swear by. If you want the extra comfort goodies, the Camry-related Lexus (ES line, I think) is a good upgrade from the plain vanilla Toyotas.
TaMara (HFG)
@John Cole: I only know this because I live in a pro-weed state – but there are many options that are THC free – nurse friend of mine uses a THC free cream for severe pain and says it works great. (It may be a free for all with MJ here, but employers still drug test).
ant
I told you to get a CRV back when you bought this hunk of shit. (I no longer recommend them btw)
Seriously, if you are looking to buy a used car, find what you like, then pursue the enthusiast forums for that car, and find out their common problems BEFORE you buy.
Subaru issues are well known.
Thoroughly Pizzled
Ice cream soup is good in its own way.
Humdog
Borrow a car to visit ABC. You need that fun to counteract the suck!
GregB
Honda-Toyota-Nissan.
Rosalita
@schrodingers_cat: Well at least he knows where the ice cream is/was…regrettably pooling in the shopping bag I’d guess
hedgehog the occasional commenter
Honda. I have an Accord, the mr. has an Odyssey (for hauling sagans of stuff). I’ve had to replace the brakes, battery, tires and headlights, but it’s a 2007 model and I’ve driven it for 9 years. So yes I’m happy with it.
dlwchico
I like your Blackhorse sticker. My dad was in 11th ACR in Vietnam.
schrodingers_cat
@Rosalita: Very organized husband kitteh keeps a cooler in the trunk during summer months for shopping expeditions.
TaMara (HFG)
Also: Here’s my baby and I love driving her, and she easily fits 4. That’s me, passenger and 2 Great Danes. LOL
nastybrutishntall
Have a 2008 Toyota Rav4, V6, 201000 miles. Had to replace brakes twice, shocks once, water pump twice, now the tie rod ends are getting worn — i.e. the stuff you know will wear out. Never had anything else go wrong. Tons of power for mountain driving, killer in snow, just boring as hell to look at. It will probably never die.
Tom Levenson
@Keith P.: I’ve got a BMW 328 convertible that is old enough to vote. (A 1998 E36). It’s a great car. It’s kind of in the middle on cost-to-run. I was suckered into a probably unnecessary engine rebuild, but besides that over the 12 years I’ve owned it, I’ve redone the suspension, the water pump and some minor odds and ends — but nothing out of the ordinary for an aging car. TBF, I don’t drive it much — it’s up to almost 130K now, but it was already at 85K when I bought it in 2005. (I also replaced the top, which wasn’t cheap, but doesn’t matter to Cole, I’m thinking.)
I do love driving it — but if I were buying a used BMW today, I’d probably think hard about buying past the E46 3 series, 1998-2005 for the sedans/wagons. The engines get much MUCH more complicated after that, and while they remain quite reliable, they hurt you when they do fail.
Corner Stone
@ant:
Why not? Mine has been great. 2008 model.
Yoda Dog
Maaannn, they always fuck over my good intentions with those goddamn bogo deals too, I hear you John.
Rosalita
@schrodingers_cat: I have a cooler bag in my trunk as well as a portable air compressor, a friend’s back luck taught me about getting one of those
hovercraft
When I saw the post tittle I thought that Twittler and his merry band of thieves had done something else.
But this is so much better, we were overdue for a new episode of this fucking old house, yay! In it’s defense, the house didn’t do this to you, yes it may have drained the coffers so that this incident is more painful, but it’s innocent this time. In some places ice cream soup is a thing, perhaps you can popularize it in West Virginia.
Cermet
Toyota spells reliability; read, learn, understand. Simple
PS: I learned how to fix my own car, central AC, plumbing, electrical, even some digital and many, many other types of repairs of many types of items. Its called being independent – it is easy, really. Besides books and youtubes vids, learning how to fix stuff allows one to fix even more stuff (skill set builds up.) Besides saving huge sum’s of money, it is very satisfying.
dogwood
@hedgehog the occasional commenter:
I bought a new Accord in 1988 and drove it for 23 years.
ArchTeryx
@John Cole: Heh. I don’t smoke it, I take in in pill format, and while it doesn’t do much to alter my mind, it does amazing things in suppressing my perpetual pain in the undertail.
Sometimes the absence of pain can be every bit as giddy as the presence of inebriation, when you’re a chronic pain sufferer.
hedgehog the occasional commenter
@dogwood: Mine was a lease return, so it had about 9,000 miles on it to start (IIRC). But yeah, reliable as hell. I’ll probably drive it until it or I fall apart :)
Mary G
@John Cole: CBD (cannabidiol) is awesome and doesn’t make you high, but it’s really helped me with my joint pains and sleeping.
MattF
I’m in the Honda cult. Bought a new Accord a little over a year ago, after keeping the old one too long (sixteen years). Nice car. V-6. Happy with it.
daverave
Had a brand new Subaru once, nursed it along for nine years and 120k miles then put it out of its misery. It was always overheating which led to all sorts of ancillary issues. Never again as they say.
Now we’re a Ford family (Buy American!) on our second Explorer, a 2003 model which was still a truck back then (not some fancy-schmancy luxury computer vehicle for suburban soccer moms.) It seems indestructible, knock on wood. Also have a 2013 F-150 which carries our pop-up camper. I love that rig.
Felonius Monk
@hovercraft:
Actually, we need a new tag for this. I propose “This fucking old car”. I’ve heard rumors that the Monty Python crew (or what’s left of them) may reform to do “Life of Cole”.
Rosalita
From the AP: BREAKING: Top Republican on Senate intelligence panel says Michael Flynn’s lawyers say he will not honor subpoena.
dr. luba
I have a 2009 Ford Escape hybrid that I bought used in 2009 (from a neighbor’s estate). Except for the tire pressure sensors going on me, I haven’t done anything to it except basic maintenance and buy a new set of tires. I’ve put 110,000 miles on it.
I’m amazed at how good and solid a car it is–lots of space, AWD, decent fuel economy (30 mpg, more if city driving).
Of course they don’t make it any more……..
jimmiraybob
Relax my son. Soon you will experience the sweet release of homeowner resignation where you enter a higher Zen-like state and the base motor function of the brain automatically sends signals to your check-writing hand without you even having to get involved. I must go now, my right hand seems to be searching for the checkbook for some reason.
Raven
@dlwchico: hobo woods!
dlm
Honda. I’m still driving my 1991 Civic.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
Still over the Pacific; another 2600 miles to go…
dr. luba
@daverave: WE were a GM family when I was growing up, and I’ve owned a Chevy, Buick, Datsun, BMW, 2 Jeeps and a Ford. My current Ford is the most trouble free vehicle of the bunch.
Patricia Kayden
No one is judging you at all.
VW Jettas are pretty good. I generally drive my cars until they completely break down because I detest car notes. Good luck with your new car search. CarMax has been pretty good to me so I’d suggest going there first.
oldster
I’m sorry about that, John. That just sucks, and no mistake. I hope things get better.
Patricia Kayden
@Rosalita: This is why it’s great that a Special Counsel has been appointed. Flynn can’t play the fool with Mueller.
Mike in NC
Bought a used ’76 Honda Civic when I got my first job after college. Since then I’ve owned an ’89 Hyundai Excel and ’96 Saturn, but they were mediocre and I’ll always stick with Hondas. My brother briefly had a Subaru but was pretty unhappy with the thing.
ant
@Corner Stone:
Honda has added a lot of tech that I think will not hold up as well over the long haul.
Namely; direct injection, turbocharging, and continuously variable transmissions. Also, the lame 4wd system is less robust than it used to be (changed in 2012).
In addition the new instrument gauges look cheap.
The hybrid Rav4 would be my recommendation for this segment of vehicles.
If you wanted a Honda, front wheel drive RDX would be my choice.
ArchTeryx
And for what it’s worth, I’ve been driving a 2010 Honda Fit for 8 years, and it’s run like a top for me. I’ve had to sink a lot of maintenance into it these last couple of years (minor accident, parts wearing out as they always do) but overall, it’s been one of the cheapest cars to run I’ve ever driven.
It’s roomy enough inside with the “magic seats” that despite being a ‘compact’, it can carry a full sized bookcase, and has helped two different people move. Helps, too, that it’s as maneuverable as my Panzer IC “cheetah” scout. ^.^
chopper
I’ll have to, as usual, recommend hondas. my 03 element is a bloody tank.
Doug R
We drive a 2003 Honda civic. Engine finally blew last year after about 330,000 km. Now on engine two.
We’re moving to a smaller city 4 hours from the left coast, so our dream of buying an electric like a Tesla model 3 or a Chevy Bolt won’t be happening, but a Chevy Volt might be a good idea.
Plug it in every night for commuting, and then on the weekends, you can just fill it up with gas on roadtrips.
Fair Economist
Some real-world data from Consumer Reports: Car manufacturers rated by predicted reliability.
Notable points in contrast to conventional wisdom:
There is a very reliable American brand – Buick. (Guess the Chinese are pretty smart about that.)
Honda is only average. The Korean manufacturers are better.
Notable points in agreement with conventional wisdom:
Toyota is indeed excellent.
Don’t buy Chrysler.
DanR2
If I had four hours to kill in 90 degree heat, I might’ve given a shot at just polishing off that ice cream.
chopper
@Rosalita:
oh shiiiiiiiiiit
low-tech cyclist
Honda.
Our 1986 Accord was reliable for ~220K miles, and limped along for another >30K miles after that.
Our 2000 Accord was reliable for ~220K miles, then started to get iffy, so I sold it last year at 232K miles.
Our 2009 Accord has 127K miles, and has only been in the shop for regular maintenance.
I got a 2016 Civic to replace the 2000 Accord, and I love it.
You see the pattern here: buying a Honda means having a car that lasts forever.
I’m 63 and the Civic may well be my last car, because sometime after I turn 80, it’ll be time to hand over my keys for good.
Barbara
It might not fit your budget and/or your lifestyle (West Virginia is not a great state for public chargers) but you should look at an electric vehicle. They have almost no maintenance. If all electric is not on the table, I bought my 2010 Toyota Prius used and have owned it for four years with minimal repair costs. My Volvo has been more expensive, but it is now more than 25 years old. I think the first 10 years were okay. My VW had more repair costs, and my Honda CRX had virtually none. Those are all the cars I have ever owned.
Willard
Fords are reliable and considerably cheaper to maintain than a Honda or Subaru. I’ve owned all three makes.
ArchTeryx
@chopper: Right after my comment, I had to LOL, since I’d just said the same thing about my Fit!
Barbara
@Patricia Kayden: My VW Passat had a fair amount of issues, but they were all under warranty. They had a failure of a part that they had outsourced and we had to replace it repeatedly (it was all free) so it was annoying. We drive cars until they are dead. My Volvo was “totalled” in 2004 (because airbag deployed and is so expensive to fix it tipped car into total loss territory) but we took salvage value and had it repaired privately minus airbag and it’s still running. It has to be close to 200,000 miles, but odometer broke a while ago. It’s starting to get hard to find parts.
Raven
@dlwchico: it looks like I followed behind your pop by a few years. His Korea pics are right where I was although he was in a 155 outfit and I was 105’s. He wa in the 1st Cav in Korea and they switched with the 2nd ID and went to Nam in 65-66. I did some convoys up in his AO in Vietnam in 68-69.
geg6
My VW is awesome. I keep thinking I’ll never buy another kind of car, I like it so much and it’s cost me so little.
And even though this is not an open thread, I’m pretty psyched to be seeing Chris Rock tonight. I need a few good laughs.
Jim Parene
@John Cole: Try edibles, John. For me, they seem to more of a body high, rather that too much introspection.
Bake Brownies!
dlwchico
@Raven: He was in Vietnam twice. He was regular army. He came back after the first one and was going to get out of the Army but they told him they needed him and he wouldn’t get sent back, so he re-enlisted and of course, got sent back again. I think the second time was 68-69.
The Moar You Know
Toyota (esp. Camry) or Honda. Lexus, no. They’re awesome cars but too complex and when something breaks on them, it’s four to ten times what it would cost to fix the exact same part on the Toyota that the Lexus is based off of. I have to assume Acuras are the same. My wife’s former CRV (lost it in a hard rear-end accident, not the car’s fault) lasted with little maintenance through over a decade of my wife’s driving, can’t give a car a higher recommendation than that.
I’m very surprised you’ve had the problems with Subies that you’ve had, to be honest. They were inconsistent on the quality 30 years ago, but not now.
Also a few people have mentioned Fords. I would buy a Focus, Fiesta (too small for you, it’s too small for me too) or F-150 with zero hesitation these days. Good cars.
ETA: also Kia/Hyundai. Good cars, incredible warranty.
SiubhanDuinne
@Rosalita:
thehill.com/policy/national-security/334049-gop-senator-flynn-wont-comply-with-committees-subpoena
I’m thinking this will not end well for Flynn.
Peale
I traded in my Subaru for a Nissan three years ago. I also got a bit tired of the little quirky things that always seemed to be found wrong when I went in for a check up. I did get 150K miles on my baby. While the Nissan is more reliable, though, I do feel like I’m driving a car meant for a great uncle and not a hip young dude. There are emotional trade offs.
Corner Stone
@ant: I have been thinking, on and off, about getting a used Honda Element. The people I know that have one love them.
Raven
@dlwchico: I was RA as well, Korea 67-68 and the Nam 68-69. Is your dad still with us?
jl
Heard report on news this morning that Flynn intervened in planning of campaign against Daesh/ISIS/ISIL pushing objections of Turkish interests, while on payroll of some bigshots in Turkey. And at least eighteen contacts between Trump campaign and Russian officials, with talk of setting up special line between Trump and Putin. So if half of this stuff is true, quite a few people are in deep shit.
I contacted my Congressional delegation and said an honest criminal investigation is not enough and we need a public inquiry into election tampering and integrity. I noted the miserable corrupt hack Grassley is already using Mueller appt. as an excuse to shut down doing anything in the Senate. He needs to get a lot of heat over that talk.
Patricia Kayden
@Barbara: It has to be close to 200,000 miles
Another Scott
Every manufacturer can make a lemon.
J has had Toyota Corollas for the last 20+ years. The ’93 was pretty good, but suffered from plastic bits breaking over time (washer fluid reservoir, etc.). The dealer once put the wrong fluid in the clutch cylinder during one service which led to it being stranded on a trip. :-/
The 2000 has plastic door handles inside and out that snap off every few years, one back door has never closed right, etc., etc.
Don’t fall in love with your car unless you’re made of money. They’ll break your heart every time.
Good luck!
Cheers,
Scott.
(Who has a 2004 VW TDI Jetta wagon that he loves, but it’s very spendy at ~ 90k service intervals. “What do you mean $6500!!11…”)
JeanneT
JC, rent a car and go see ABC: after a day like that you need a good weekend!
jl
Also in honor of Cole’s pic at the top of the post, I notice a new produce line in Northern California.
RAMPS!!! FRESH RAMPS!!
I haven’t had time to fit them into my cuisine planning yet. Maybe I will right before I plan to spend a week out up in a local holler.
Tom Levenson
@Doug R: We got a plug-in Prius (lightly used) 18 months ago for our main family car. Nothing bad has happened yet (and we extended the warranty out to 8 years from in-service; 6 years from our purchase).
If I were buying that car today I’d get a Bolt.
Ella in New Mexico
HONDA!
@dogwood:
My husband and I bought a second hand 1997 Accord Station Wagon that now has over 250K miles on it and except for the paint job dying it’s in great shape. He drives it the 56 mile round trip to work everyday, no issues.
My 2008 CRV has been a dream vehicle, and we bought the new Ridgeline truck last year and could not be happier with it. Having a payment sucks but the truck is sublime…
Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (Formerly Mumphrey, et al.)
You don’t love your Subaru? I thought love makes a Subaru a Subaru–whatever the hell that means…
cain
Get an electric car or one of those hybrid. The construction is a lot simpler and there are just less moving parts. No oil changes, no transmission fluid.. it is the future.
The Moar You Know
@John Cole: Not AA but Al-Anon. Let me recommend that you maintain this attitude. Weed is fine for those who can handle, but just like with booze, some can’t. You don’t want to go driving down the same road you just got off of.
frosty
I had the opposite experience with Jettas. I learned about limp mode for Electronic Power Comtrol. Although I got one of them to > 250K I’m not going German again. The Audi my son had was a hangar queen too.
We’ve got a Ford Edge, relatively trouble-free, and I’ve had good luck with Mazdas, mostly.
Barbara
@Tom Levenson: As an EV owner, West Virginia is one of the worst places to own an EV. There are very few public chargers. I am sure that will change as it has everywhere else, but you do have to consider the day to day complexities of having an EV, especially if you are not buying one with a bigger range. The Bolt is pretty good, but, for instance, if John drives to Pittsburgh a lot, anything with less range than a Tesla might be annoyingly inconvenient. Having an EV in Cambridge is a totally different experience.
Percysowner
My daughter is still driving the 2007 Toyota Corolla that I sold her when I bought my 20011 one, that I’m still driving. We had no major repairs on either one.
aimai
@different-church-lady: Yes, I love my honda. Its the third I’ve owned.
Barbara
@Patricia Kayden: Sorry, but it’s the Volvo that has the 200,000 mile range. I owned my Passat for 15 years and gave it to my nephew, who is still driving it. So it might last for quite a while.
magurakurin
@John Cole: sounds like a good call.
for the car…..Toyota
? Martin
I am not okay with this trade of Chris Cornell for Roger Ailes. That’s a shit deal, man.
As for cars, our 2000 Mazda is a bit high on maintenance but has never broken down. Our 2006 Honda is low maintenance and has never broken down. Our 2013 Prius is similarly bulletproof, but being much newer is to be expected.
AndoChronic
A lot of features for the money with Subaru, but they’re no Honda or Acura fo realsies. Unless you’re a gearhead or enjoy taking your car into the shop I wouldn’t suggest one. We really loved our AWD Impreza until the engine literally blew out at 60K. Suffice to say we’re a two Honda Civic household now!
Corner Stone
@Ella in New Mexico:
Re: the CRV – do you live in a fairly flat part of NM? I ask because when I take my CRV to Austin, TX I start to get a little nervous with the 4cyl getting up to speed on some of the gradients West of downtown. And that’s just a few good steep hills and twisty roads, not mountainous like some of NM.
Patricia Kayden
@Barbara: Okay. Thanks.
The Moar You Know
@Another Scott: Current love: 2012 Toyota Tacoma. Maintenance: oil changes and the 30k so far. That’s it.
Last love: 1996 Nissan “Pickup”. Just oil changes for 16 years until the computer ate shit. By far the most reliable vehicle I have ever had. But the computer was going to be an expensive repair, and CA requires it to pass smog. Solution: Bought a new truck.
Quinerly
Had Subarus for years. Escaped the cult with my AWD Ford Escape. Love it. Best car ever.
rikyrah
Sorry,Cole.
mai naem mobile
I think you bought a lemon. I’ve had good luck with Nissans but I have family who buy Chrysler Vans ,GMC trucks, Dodge Trucks Toyotas and Kias and they’ve all in general been good. I think the quality of cars overall have gone way up even compared to the late 90s.
Bobby Thomson
I’m loving the 2017 Forester. The insanely tight turning radius is even smaller and the new safety features have bailed me out several times.
Sentient AI from the Future
I have a 97 outback with a quarter of a million miles on it. I made sure the head gaskets had been done before I bought it but have done all the other work myself. Just changed out the differential and transmission fluids as part of the 2year regular maintenance. Its before they sensor-ified absolutely everything, which is good (those sensors are expensive) and bad (sub-20mpg for city driving), but it also has the OBD-2 connector which simplifies things.
Before I had this thing I didn’t own a car for about 10 years. I have never been a car person.
Good mechanics, because they have to amortize out their rent/upkeep for their shop, charge about as much for labor per hour as primary care docs. This is what most of that $1100+ is going towards.
If its just a starter motor and some sensors all you need is a set of socket wrenches, the parts in question (which if you’re really cheap, you can get a lot of mileage out of cleaning/rebuilding yourself – your suby looks a bit too new to find parts in the junkyard), a Haynes manual or alldatadiy subscription, and a couple hours to curse and drink a beer.
Knowing only what you posted, you could repair it yourself for maybe $200 and 3h of reading and following instructions. It won’t void any warranties because there’s a federal law saying people can work on their own cars.
Do It Yourself!
dlwchico
@Raven: No, he passed away about 4 years ago.
NeenerNeener
@DanR2: But what would you do for the other 3 hours and 45 minutes?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@NeenerNeener: lain in the back of the Subaru sweating and saying over and over “oh fuck, why did I eat two pints of ice cream?”
Speaking as a fat guy
Gelfling 545
businessinsider.com/most-reliable-used-cars-2017-jd-power-2017-2/#midsize-sporty-car-2014-chevrolet-…
Sentient AI from the Future
Oh, and if you want low total cost of ownership and easy to repair, get a Prius. They’re everywhere and 90%+ of “engine problems” can be fully diagnosed and repaired by pulling the battery, using a multimeter, and swapping out bad cells. Easy peasy.
lurker dean
@DanR2: i was thinking the same thing, shame to waste it, lol.
The Moar You Know
@Sentient AI from the Future: You must be fairly new here or you’d know that when John tries to fix things, he ends up in the ER more often than not.
John, I’ve been here since 2008. Don’t try to do your own car repairs, please. I like having you around.
NYCMT
@dr. luba: Does the ’09 Escape have the rear shock tower problem of earlier years?
Lizzy L
I buy 3 year old Toyota Corollas, drive them for 10 years, then sell or trade for the next one. I’m currently driving a 2007. I’ve had to spend money on parts that wear out — brakes last year were expensive — and of course one has to pay for regular maintenance, but I love Toyotas. Have had one Honda which was okay as well. Good luck.
Ice cream on a hot day is always good. Fuck the fat police, who needs them?
Stan
Love your 11th ACR and Stillers stickers.
Statitstics say Toyotas are the cheapest cars to maintain, by about 10% over the next few top brands. And the others top 3-4 brands all cluster in the same cost region.
I have a Toyota I absolutely love. Drove Hondas for 3o years or so and loved them too, but, the numbers back up Toyota.
Raven
@dlwchico: Ah, I’m sorry to hear that. I made a few comments on some of the Flikr photos.
trollhattan
@Keith P.:
+1. A clean 3-series or 5-series sedan can be affordable and go for a quarter-million miles. A CPO coming off lease will even carry the extended warranty for extra piece of mind.
Sentient AI from the Future
@The Moar You Know: being from the future, yeah I guess you could say I’m new here.
kindness
Sorry John. I had a 2001 Toyota Solara (V6) that I owned for 11 years and 500,000 miles. Yea I drive too much. 85 miles to work and then back again every day. I gave that to my mechanic so he could give it to his sister in Mexico City. I got a 2014 Lexus in it’s place (fancy Toyota is what it really is). I love Toyotas. Recommend them highly.
Judge Crater
Just get a new car of almost any variety – you get a warranty and not somebody else’s problems. Cars these days just don’t require a lot of maintenance, and should last well over 100k miles without a major problem. I’ve got a little Ford Fiesta, manual 4-banger that gets great gas milage and is fun to drive. If you’re going to go used, Carmax works (go low milage).
sherparick
My current Honda Accord (2011), not so much. I have had to pay about $1500 to the Honda gods for, surprise, a new starter and some sensors. Plus air conditioning system recharge. I have another $500 bill coming up in July for wheel realignment. According to J.D. Power in the “Small, Multi-puropose vehicle class” Toyota Prius V and Kia Soul are the top two.
Tom Levenson
@Barbara: I understand. For John, a Volt might work, but it’s kind of small — which is why we didn’t consider it. It just didn’t hold enough.
NYCMT
@Sentient AI from the Future: I bought my ’03 Legacy wagon new, did the head gaskets in ’13. I ran the missus to the train in it this morning. Kept up with traffic on the Jersey Turnpike last month doing eighty-five without effort. Can still park it in a space three inches longer than itself.
What’s wrong with it now? one of the moonroofs won’t open because of a snapped wire behind the headliner, and the rear hatch is a little dented.
What have I done since ownership. brakes twice, suspension twice, universal joints and axles, front wheel knuckle, front bearings, cat back exhaust, harmonic balancer, starter, power steering pump, all the sound system speakers, and an indoor door handle. Plus a major collision repair, front when it opened up a Hyundai Excel crossing against the light like a soda can on Queens Boulevard.
28 mph highway, slightly (much) less city. But hey, it goes.
schrodingers_cat
What’s happening with Flynn? We can has a new thread to discuss T and his R cronies (R== Russkie and/or Republicans)
Corner Stone
@jimmiraybob:
Ha! That was a good one. It’s like quantum mechanics or pre-cognition or some other witchcraft. After a while you’ll detect some subsonic sound from something in a wall three rooms away from you and you won’t even bother looking, you’ll just get the checkbook out.
? Martin
Regarding the house, it will pay off with time. It sucks the first 3-5 years, though, particularly if you have to remodel. But it’s a financial winner far, far more often than not.
Gustopher
Why didn’t you just eat the ice cream by the side of the road?
My Toyota is running strong after 12 years. But this just says things about Toyota 12 years ago, which may or may not be true now.
Barbara
@Tom Levenson: It works really well as a commuter car, even for long commutes if you can charge at work. But if you want to drive further you either have to be happy with a rental or have a second vehicle. Cambridge is great. It’s really easy to find EV chargers in public parking lots and garages.
Summer
I hated my Subaru and love my Honda Fit
Raven
I’m sitting in the waiting room of a VA disability claim assessor. One of my pals has multiple-myeloma and is filing an Agent Orange claim and this is part of the screening. This is a contract outfit and they are over an hour behind. We have to leave here and go to another facility for some other testing so it’s a long day. The bright spot is that I got to go to Summit Racing parts and get some shit for my 66 so it’s not a total waste.
trollhattan
@Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (Formerly Mumphrey, et al.):
Heh. We considered the Outback last year when wife.gov’s Audi went kablooie but because I was fixated on a 6 (the 4 is a dog in the mountains, and who wants that?) and 6s are in short supply there’s no wheeling and dealing so it becomes a mid-30s proposition. So that led to her low-mileage demo XC60, which is twice the car and very zoomy at 10k feet.
Raven
@sherparick: fucking accord starters are mounted under the exhaust manifold and much of the expense in reaplacing are for that.
amk
for a minute there, I thought this was another twitler thread.
Aleta
The only problem I had with my Hondas was low clearance, lots of scraping and muffler replace on country roads. Switched to Foresters, I like the interior height a lot and the brakes and snow driving. 4 since 2000, no issues at all. Did love Honda Civic wagons, though. But they stopped selling in the US.
I keep a cooler in the back too. It protects groceries or the bag of dog food from the dog on errands. Sometimes I put wet or snowy stuff in it, or takeout that might spill.
? Martin
@trollhattan: Its been a long time since I lived back in that area, but John may not have an easy time finding a BMW mechanic near him. That was always the main argument for buying American in places like WV – you could always find a local mechanic.
BWM are not as exotic as they used to be, but a small buying base * a reliable car = difficult to find mechanics, and/or really expensive ones when you do. Honestly, new US cars are pretty freaking good these days.
schrodingers_cat
@Raven: Fuck LBJ. When you wrote Agent Orange, I thought of the Orangeness currently residing in WH.
germy
@schrodingers_cat:
Cosima
We’ve just traded in a BMW X3 (I think it was a 2007) for a Kia Sportage (new). My husband was in love with the idea of a 7-yr warranty. The X3 was a never-ending money pit, due to it being a diesel (never get one). We owned a Pathfinder that was good as gold for many years. And Subarus that were less reliable. And my husband’s Nissan pick-up was at 200k+ miles when we sold that — we’d have kept it forever, but we were moving overseas, and all of the cars had to go.
I would not buy another Subaru, nor another X3. But would buy a Nissan or Honda. So far the Kia is nice, but we’ve only had it for a few weeks.
artem1s
1987 Honda Civic 10+ years and 181K miles hard driving before suspension started to give out
1994 used Honda Civic coup 12+ years 128K miles, stolen and trashed or I probably could have made it last another, forever. engine would not die
2009 Honda Fit, 7+years 80K+ miles, daily commute less than 20 miles round trip so light usage, trade in value was close to 9K.
currently 2015 CRZ hybrid 6 speed manual. not everyone can live with a 2 seater but it works for me.
Honda is reviving the Civic Hatchback in the 2017 model. They are wonderful and I would probably want one if I was in the market. Both Civic and Accord have hybrid options (maybe CRV too?). The Fit is the best for having space to haul stuff and critters without getting into SUV size range. It is the best all around subcompact on the market IMO. And sporty and fun.
never had any mechanical problems with any of them in the first 6-7 years. One had to have the transmission master cylinder replaced at 10+ years? The others started to have some suspension/axle replacement issues in years 10+ after heavy driving. But never any engine problems. They just go and go and go. Also, great trade in/resale value. If you don’t want to buy new, A Preferred Certified Used Honda is the best way to go. Or lease and then buy it or not. They are a safe bet no matter what your purchase choice is. One recommendation no matter which model you choose, get the upgraded model with the rims. Honda wheel covers are obscenely expensive and therefore a very steal-able item. Also, upgrade to a better tire asap. the factory tires are not the best.
realbtl
OK I’ll de-lurk a bit. John, go drive different makes and see how they feel to you, you will be spending a not insignificant portion of your life. I’ve had Subies on and off since the 1st 4wd ones and I enjoy driving them. When I went to buy a new winter car I picked up a CRV and it is boring as hell to drive. But that’s what I want when it is -20 and snowing. There is a world of difference in the driving dynamics between the CRV abd ny previous Subie GT.
bupalos
Longevity wise let me put one in here for the VW TDI line. My 2002 golf passed 290k today, I’ve had it since about 110. Scheduled maintenance only plus wheel bearings and tie rod ends and exhaust holes. And that’s literally it. 45-50mpg, haul lots of crap inside and pulls trailers like a champ.
TDI Beetle is surprisingly good for big people too, NPR’s Cartalk had Daniel Pinkwater on making the click and clack clowns guess what car he finally found to fit his big fat frame, and it turned out to be the Beetle. That arc gives tons of headroom and you can move the seat back and jack it up.
schrodingers_cat
@germy: I read that, but what does that mean in terms of the investigation.
? Martin
@Raven: Sorry to hear that. We’re going through that with my uncle. Navy, but was involved in hauling the stuff in which meant that he was routinely getting covered in the stuff. His ship isn’t included in the list of those entitled to benefits so we keep fighting. I’d say in about 3 years it won’t matter though – health is in steady decline now.
ruemara
I have to admit, I love my Honda Fit. It’s just the right size, the way the seats fold both up and down are great for carting things, it’s efficient, comfortable and adorable. I got my 2013 model for $15k and I’m pretty sure you could now get a 2016 for around that price. Do it, Cole. If you’re dropping 1k here and there, you’re wasting money.
also, I loved my money pit of a house. so do you.
Tenar Arha
I’ve only owned used Toyota Corollas since about 1990 or so. The first one the body rusted out (basically the engine mounts went before the engine could die). The second I totaled, or I might actually still have it or just have replaced it recently. I’m on my 3rd. As my father used to say, he never met a Toyota that wasn’t pretty reliable, & that in general they were really good at matching engines & transmissions.
I don’t know if this helps or not, but it certainly helps explain why I almost always recommend Toyota.
Oatler.
Instead of “fuck you, you judgey pricks”, use Linda B’s “don’t make noises at me, you judgeroo! Go play your judgeridoo.”
realbtl
@realbtl: Ugh, fingers don’t work today. “you will be spending a not insignificant portion of your life sitting behind the wheel“
Corner Stone
@trollhattan:
Is this a new service? Go to the website, fill out a contract and the govt delivers a wife? Sounds ok in theory but I bet enforcing the SLA’s are a real bit…very difficult.
Ian
Was it pink ice cream, John?
? Martin
@schrodingers_cat: Hard to say. The investigation is now out of Congress. The contempt order should be forwarded to the USDA for DC to go to a grand jury.
The penalty for contempt of congress is no more than 12 months in jail, so in all likelihood this is a calculation that penalty is almost certainly less than whatever penalty turning over documents would result in.
liberal
@joel hanes: Heh. Just came here after I learned of it in a tweet from Marcy Wheeler (And yes. I AM dancing on Roger’s grave and I invite all of you to join me.).
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
Four more hours in this plane. My mouth tastes like ass, I must stink and I look like shit…
liberal
From reading around, I think Toyota is still the best in reliability. VW, I think it used to be pretty mediocre, but gets good reviews now.
I like Hondas (well, IMHO the Odyssey is much better than the Toyota equivalent), but their published reliability isn’t awesome.
liberal
@Tenar Arha: We bought a Honda Civic recently. I’d rather have gone with the Corolla, but the latter had mediocre crash results. Not enough to matter if it was just adults, but we have two young kids.
Denalli
Sorry about the car, John. Rent one, go see ABC. Life is short.
Re Flynn: Isn’t the penalty for ignoring a subpoena being held in contempt? Arrest him.
Central Planning
@Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes: Time for a hot towel face wash in the bathroom. Can’t help with the ass taste.
Spanky
Got a Toyota Tacoma and VW Jetta diesel. Gotta say the Toyota is waaay cheaper for dealer maintenance than the Jetta. OTOH, the Jetta has 335K miles and the original clutch, so I can’t complain about durability.
Yoda Dog
“Sheeet… You mean I get TWO of these big ass tubs for $4.99?… I’d be stupid NOT to do this…”
-me every fucking time
Spanky
@liberal:
Yeah, if you’re gonna crash, go for spectacular.
Denali
Sorry about the car, John. Rent one, go see ABC. Life is short.
Re Flynn: Isn’t the penalty for ignoring a subpoena being held in contempt? Arrest him.
Uncle Cosmo
Cole, Cole, Cole: As my Daddy useta say, Buying used = Buying someone else’s troubles. I’ll e-mail you a link to a website that shows you how to buy (or lease) a new car for the absolute minimum (I’d put it here but I don’t want folks thinking I’m shilling for the place). It’s quick, simple, painless, & in 2 applications of the technique I’ve paid ~$2k plus dealer incentives under invoice.
dr. luba
@NYCMT: I haven’t had any issues. Googling it suggests it was a problem with earlier versions of the vehicle. Maybe I’ve been lucky…….
My first new car was a 76 Buick Skyhawk. Cute car, but it disintegrated on me–parts kept breaking off (door handles, rear view mirror, hood release cable……..). At one point, the windshield wiper switch broke, and my dad replaced it with a toggle switch he put in the dashboard.
It was a long time before I even considered buying an American made vehicle after that, despite living in Detroit and being on the A plan for all of the Big 3.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@Central Planning:
I have gum in my carryon, but that will wake surrounding people.
Tenar Arha
@liberal: Yeah. That makes lots of sense. My car’s a 2005, so it has front airbags only IIRC.
Timurid
And just when Trump could really, really use a distraction, there’s fuckery afoot in NYC…
HinTN
@Tom Levenson: I buy Camrys and run them into the ground. 300 K plus miles of reliable and comfortable driving. Don’t need no Lexus.
Bill E Pilgrim
All the ideas about Honda, Toyota, and so on, yes absolutely. However, the problem is that you’re buying used cars. As I probably related in whatever thread it was when you posted about which car to buy, my humble advice was go buy a Japanese car and pick the least expensive brand new one you can get into.
I drove used cars for years and fixed them for years and went through episodes like the one you just did here, then one day decided to buy a new truck (and was in a position to afford to do that, rather than spending $15 on a used Buick once– no really I bought a car for $15, which was what I had in my pockets) (It ran for a year by the way, though then died in fairly spectacular fashion) and the new truck amazed me by just running. That was it. You turned it on and it ran. I got to skip all the other steps about fixing it and worrying about what would wear out next, it just ran, other than having to bring it in for the warranty maintenance, but those were easy mainly because they’re planned, i.e. no ice cream in the car to melt because I knew I was bringing it in that day for maintenance.
I bought another new car years later, after living where I didn’t even need a car for quite a while, and it was the same story. Bought it new, sold it five years later without ever having had anything break. Honda, and even calculating the interest I paid, after selling it I ended up having spent something like $700 a year to have a car. One that just ran. I would easily spend that much just buying freaking used cars once a year, plus then had to fix them.
If you hate dealing with broken cars, that’s why people buy new ones.
Just saying.
dlw32
Toyota. Just bought my 6th Toyota. Each one has lived more than 10 years with minimal maintenance.
And yes, eff Trump…
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Timurid: MSNBC is reporting the driver was drunk, and it must be a white guy cause they ruled out “terrorism” pretty quickly
Barbara
@Timurid: NYT strongly suggests driver was drunk or using drugs and has long history of DWIs. Does not even suggest terrorism.
Keith P.
The big question for Cole is, did you buy any geraniums while you were there?
rikyrah
NewsweekVerified account @Newsweek
Trump couldn’t land his helicopter on Israel’s ancient fortress—so he canceled his visit, refusing to take cable car bit.ly/2qVCKZU
Central Planning
@Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes: How do you chew gum?
brendancalling
I’m driving a 1997 Subaru Legacy that has a lot of problems. I’m selling it for parts, and will use money to offset the cost of a used pickup truck, specifically one with extra cab and preferably with a camper cap on the back (I play upright bass and need something secure). Ford Rangers and Nissan Frontiers are supposed to be really good, even with more than 100k miles.
bystander
Still driving my MIL’s 98 Volvo.
BTW, a doob and a big bowl of ice cream soup? Sounds like the perfect way to calm your nerves, John.
rikyrah
Y’ALL
Pence really IS that stupid.
He really thinks that Dolt45 is going down WITHOUT HIM?
PHUCK OUTTA HERE.
Josh Barro @jbarro
Pence has formed a campaign committee that will allow him to develop his own donor lists… highly unusual for a VP… hmmm…
Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla
“This is the first time a sitting vice president has formed such a separate political arm ..”
(h/t @RobinWigg, NBC news, politics)
scuffletuffle
@BGinCHI: This…with a 4 hour wait, how did the ice cream melt before being eaten?
Gaffer
Toyota, and take it to them every 6 months and you will never have car trouble.
germy
@rikyrah:
Republicans hate public transportation.
HinTN
@Sentient AI from the Future: My latest is a hybrid Camry. We shall see.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@Central Planning:
When I walk…
Elizabelle
Har har har. The NY Daily News, in a straight news story. Ailes was spending … less time with his family in recent weeks. As in, wife in Florida, himself mostly in gated NY state compound, his fortress. Although he spent 9 hours of quality time with Matt Drudge last month in the Sunshine State, and posed for the requisite photo with the love of his life, his wife, yeah yeah yeah …
NYDN: Roger Ailes was living separately from wife in Florida, hit his head in fall before death at 77
Patricia Kayden
@rikyrah: Wow!! It keeps getting more bizarre. So many “firsts” — none of them good.
Keith P.
@? Martin: I saw this tweet over on Redstate. I have to admit, it gave me a laugh:
Elaine Benis
I’m on my second Lexus, fantastic cars. Solid, fun to drive, never any problems. My mom is driving my old one – 250k miles (including being driven around dusty, pothole-y, tope-y Mexico for 5 months) and still runs perfectly. Highly recommend.
John Weiss
John,
Get a Honda. We owned a 2003 and just last year traded up to a Chevy Volt. The Civic was still going strong.
jw
Corner Stone
@rikyrah: There is no fucking way. I went to that link, expecting a satire or an Onion bit but that’s the real Newsweek site reporting this as factual.
Timurid
In more pleasant automotive news, my 2003 RAV4 is still going strong.
It’s never needed repairs aside from things that always wear out (batteries, tires, brakes, etc.).
The Moar You Know
@brendancalling: Nissans post 2001 have transmission issues if you’re looking at automatics. Since you haul an upright (I play bass as well) be sure to get a truck (the shell, as you note, is mandatory) with a plastic bedliner at the least. My Tacoma has the “integrated bedliner” (the bed is all plastic, no metal to cover) and I got the Toyota rubber floormat to go on top of that, so basses in bags don’t get beat to shit.
I did not get the extra cab, and then got a dog, so I’m going to have to get rid of my singlecab Tacoma at some point. Don’t want to. But I can’t keep the dog in the bed, so I’m going to have to bite the bullet and get something that can take both my gear and my lovely pooch.
germy
@Elizabelle:
SFBayAreaGal
I need some advice on buying a new used car. I would like it to seat 4-6 comfortably. Decent gas mileage. Be able to handle moving a chair or small dresser. I would like to be able to drive on the freeway and the dirt and gravel back roads.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Spanky
@Elizabelle:
This is starting to sound vaguely familiar ….
Omnes Omnibus
Go nuts. Buy the new Alfa Romeo Giulia QV. YOLO.
Mike J
TenguPhule
@Rosalita:
Smithers, release the bounty hunters.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Corner Stone: it’s the whole thing about London and Betty’s gold-plated buggy all over again.
Will he refuse to go to France if he can’t have his bed set up in Louis’ old room at Versailles?
TenguPhule
@Spanky: I wonder how many Russians were in the immediate vicinity?
amk
@Spanky: It does, doesn’t it? putin, being smart as he is claimed to be, seems to one MO man.
? Martin
@germy: Trump is afraid of stairs.
Repatriated
@rikyrah: Cablecar presents too much vulnerability to media access.
ruemara
@Bill E Pilgrim: No, just buy a great used one. Mine was still under original manu warranty and I got a 3 year 36k mile extension on it. Nose to tail warranty. The only problem is the front right tire goes down in air over a month to month and half. Nothing wrong, it just does it.
@SFBayAreaGal: A Fit. Especially if you’re in the Bay. Perfect for narrow roads plus trips to IKEA, fuel efficient and the new models have the backup cams. Better pickup than the Yaris too.
Central Planning
I had an 2005 Acura TL that was a blast to drive. I also had a 2012 SH-AWD TL that stuck to the road like glue. It was fantastic. It also protected me well from getting clipped by a distracted driver – side airbags went off, but that was it. Currently in a 2015 Acura TLX. It’s the first model year – I would stay away from that one. Although, on a trip to Syracuse yesterday, I averaged 43mpg on the way there.
schrodingers_cat
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Is he going to ride a camel in SA? If he goes to India he should certainly take an elephant ride. Very appropriate. Is he afraid of heights or just the stairs?
TenguPhule
@Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes:
Jeebus, I know they’ve shrunken the seats together, but you’re getting that friendly with the person in front of you?
? Martin
@schrodingers_cat: I don’t think he’s afraid of heights. Usually helicopters are straight out for people afraid of heights. Planes are usually okay. Tall buildings can go either way. But we know he’s afraid of stairs.
hovercraft
@TenguPhule:
People keep asking why Twitler seems so determined to protect Flynn, well it seems that they share the same mindset.
I know there’s a deep state, but I had no idea that the Bill and Hillary tentacles were so deep that they survived through back to back two term presidents to come and bite Twitler and Flynn in the ass.
germy
Will Sessions fire Mueller?
NorthLeft12
John, I was about to suggest that you join Deadbeat Donald on his “Round the World Whine Tour”, but you actually are having issues that are real and normal folks can identify with.
I almost bought a Subaru once, but I took one ride in a brand new 1982 Toyota Celica GT, and all my decision making parameters were thrown out the window. I was single [then] and had the cash to drive it off the lot. That car went over 350K km in eleven years, with not much more than the regular maintenance.
? Martin
@TenguPhule: I never book with Human Centipede airlines for exactly that reason. Their fares are remarkably good, but it’s worth paying the extra bit to not be saddled with their unorthodox boarding procedure.
SFBayAreaGal
@Tenar Arha: I have my parents 1994 Toyota Corolla. Still going. I love that I can push the button on the gear shift to give me more power when I hit some of the hills.
Elizabelle
@Spanky: I am missing the reference. The living apart from the mrs., no surprise.
Who else died from a fall? … (Other than the late, great Katherine Graham, the summer of 2001) …
TenguPhule
@hovercraft: If he tries to pull Rove on Congress, Flynn needs to have the full weight of military justice dropped on him. Complete with armed MPs arresting him at gunpoint.
TenguPhule
@Elizabelle: Many many Russians over the last year or so.
All of them tied to Putin’s enemy list or Trump’s friend list.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@hovercraft: there are stories that he complains about McMaster because he just flat out liked Flynn better. I don’t discount the idea that Flynn has the goods on him, but I’m sure part of his affection is based on the fact that Flynn sucked up to him like a courtier to the tinpot princeling trump is, calling him a historic figure and assuring him that foreigners regard him with trembling awe.
? Martin
California considering offering license plates that read “California Trusts Women”. That one I might just sign up for…
Elizabelle
@Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes: What airline is blessed with your presence?
We gonna see you in cell phone camera footage? Behave there.
Spanky
@? Martin:
Given who he chooses for friends, I can’t say I blame him.
TenguPhule
@germy: Trump will if he doesn’t.
germy
@Elizabelle: repubs made a big deal about Hillary’s fall. Rove said she wore special glasses afterward because of brain damage or something.
She had a clot and had to take blood thinners.
Spanky
@Elizabelle: Think of it more as a blow to the head.
Another Scott
@? Martin: And ramps (remember he held on to Theresa May for dear life at the White House).
Cheers,
Scott.
Corner Stone
@germy: I think they have to. I wonder how many tweets about this witch hunt or Mueller we will get during the foreign trip? It is eating him alive. He fired the FBI Director because Trump is in charge, dammit! Now this little shit weasel Rosenstein is trying to make a power play on Trump? No way, you jewy loser!
I still won’t believe he is actually going on this scheduled trip until they are wheels up and well across the Atlantic.
TenguPhule
@? Martin: Plus the meals are terrible and there’s not enough of it.
Suzanne
@ant:
I bought my second CR-V two years ago. Drove the previous one to 205K miles and I loved it so much that I bought a new version of the same car.
I just love my Cr-V. I am someone who doesn’t enjoy driving because most of my time is spent commuting and running to meetings, errands, schlepping children, etc. I want to be comfortable and safe in a reliable vehicle that doesn’t gulp gas, and speed and horses don’t mean a whole lot to me, since I don’t get to use them much. Having said that, when I was shopping, I test-drove the Subaru Crosstrek and the CR-V had 25 more horses and it felt much more nimble.
hovercraft
@Corner Stone:
At what point are you people going to realize that this moron is a moron. Of coarse he would expect to be able land his helicopter on an ancient monument. I’m sure that it took several aides to explain to him why he can’t go to that city with the giant black rock in it that always seems to have the biggest crowds, why can’t I go there, I love big crowds, and it would be more packed than it’s ever been before.
Jeffro
I liked the Sinead version, then really liked the Prince version…and now I have a new favorite version of “Nothing Compares 2 U”
(seriously bummed about the Chris Cornell news today…)
NorthLeft12
@Spanky: I’m sure the RWNJs will be demanding that Hilary provide ironclad alibis for herself, Bill, Chelsea, and her clones for the time that Ailes was “murdered”.
germy
@hovercraft: But according to “Chariots of the Gods” the ancients built landing pads on their monuments for the convenience of extra terrestrials who taught us to store grain.
James Powell
@hovercraft:
He will soon demand to know the name of the Unknown Soldier.
Darrin Ziliak (formerly glocksman)
Low mile 1 or 2 year old Kia or Hyundai.
Reliable cars and you get the remainder of their 5/50 bumper to bumper factory warranty.
Jeffro
@Corner Stone: It’s crazy, right? My RWNJ dad’s on a tear today, saying that in American people are innocent until proven guilty.
Yes, pops, that’s exactly how you treated Hillz…sigh…
Anyway, I finally got him to admit he thinks that liberalism is evil. Collaborating with Putin might be a little bad (NOT PROVEN YET THOUGH!) but at least it’s not liberalism. Fun times. I’m putting my entire inheritance into a trust that funds PP and the ACLU until the sun explodes.
Corner Stone
@hovercraft:
Oh, yeah? What exactly are you trying to say?
brendancalling
@The Moar You Know: good to know! I will definitely look into a bed liner.
That said, my bass is already beat to hell.
LAO
I shared this below — the greatest twitter thread ever, in the history of twitter.
? Martin
@Omnes Omnibus: Really? That just looks like a rebadged Pontiac to me.
I’m going with the Nissan advice above – go GT-R Nismo. He’s got a girlfriend and will want to spend as little time as possible commuting to see her. And the pets will always be able to hear when he’s a few miles from getting back home.
Barbara
@TenguPhule: I believe this is the subpoena from the Senate, not a subpoena from real law enforcement officials. If I were his lawyer, knowing how much jeopardy he is in from his various actions, I would likely recommend that he stay away from non-criminal investigations.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@Elizabelle:
AA – ai only showed my ass at a gate in ORD when an agent got snippy over their screwup. No cellphone video.
TenguPhule
@Barbara: Which is why I think its high time the military flexed a little muscle and put the fear of a firing squad into Flynn.
? Martin
@Barbara: The Senate will refer the matter to the USDA. It’ll be a real law enforcement agency in short order. And this won’t endear him to the Special Prosecutor when that subpoena gets issued.
Omnes Omnibus
@? Martin: It is basically a four door Ferrari. Top speed over 190 and 0-60 in under 4 seconds. Perfect for trips to CT.
Amir Khalid
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
On what basis? I could very easily imagine an act of terrorism committed by a RWNJ terrorist. (They do exist, after all.) Even a drunken one.
Bill E Pilgrim
@ruemara: There’s something wrong if it needs air every six weeks.
My point is that if you really don’t want to deal with car repairs, then buy a new one. My new cars didn’t have anything that needed repairing, not even a mysteriously leaky tire. I fixed cars myself for years, knew how to do at least a bunch of what was needed. Machines wear out, need parts replaced, small or large. The first few years of their lives, they rarely do.
Some people don’t mind dealing with it, but John doesn’t want to be messing with repairs at all, so the answer is clear. When people relate having this great car with 150K miles, “had the engine rebuilt at 110K but that’s all!”, well realize (John) that something happened when the engine failed, which might have involved ice cream and 90 degree heat and being stuck on the highway. If you really don’t want to deal with breakdowns and repairs, you get a new one. It didn’t cost me any more than used ones, you just have to do it right.
Corner Stone
@? Martin:
Good God. I could have forgiven Flynn for his treason against us with Russia, and working on behalf of Turkey to manipulate our military policies/actions. But he’s guilty of selling inferior meat, too?! Or is he…My God, is he selling foods labeled Organic that really are not?
The perfidy of that evil bastard knows no bounds!!
WereBear
@Bill E Pilgrim: I have to second this.
Getting an inventory leftover and turning it in when the warranty runs out has been a great decision for almost ten years now. I have a car budget that is the same every month; and that is that.
The newer a car is, the less they let a shade tree mechanic do anything at all.
In the meantime, I am surrounded by people who “don’t have a car payment” (or maybe they do) but in any case are getting hit with engine this and tranny that.
And that feeling of hearing a clank or a thump and knowing it is not my problem? Priceless.
? Martin
@Omnes Omnibus: Yeah, but it’s a 4-door Ferrari, which means it has two things going against it.
The Nismo is 0-60 in 2.7s and 196 top speed. What’s more, it has AWD, so it’s really just like a punchy Subaru. And if he’s worried about reliability, I’m offering up Japan, and you’re offering up fucking Italy? Seriously? That Alfa is going to be on a flatbed destined for NY or Chicago every time it brakes.
(That typo you think is a typo isn’t a typo)
dmsilev
@? Martin:
Will Flynn be graded Choice or Prime?
? Martin
@Corner Stone: Sonny Perdue doesn’t fuck around, man. Everyone should be thankful it’s not going over to HUD, because Carson would probably just straight up stab him.
geg6
@germy:
He can’t. Only Rosenstein can. But Sessions could fire Rosenstein, I guess. But that would be really, really stupid. So, he probably will.
Yarrow
I had a busy morning and am just now checking in. So I hear Chaffetz is going to announce his resignation. They’re falling like dominoes….
? Martin
@dmsilev: Canner.
Elizabelle
Fresh thread? Is a chicken or pet doing something interesting? How are your pets adjusting to Roger Ailes untimely passing (in that it was 40 effing years too late)?
Omnes Omnibus
@? Martin: Do you really think I had Cole’s best interests in mind when I made my recommendation?
mardam422
Maybe a pink Cadillac? It’s better than a Honda. It’s better than a Subaru.
schrodingers_cat
@mardam422: I am just picturing JGC as a Mary Kay salesperson.
Mary G
@LAO: I loved Bannon and Melania.
SiubhanDuinne
O/T, but holy shit, you guys, have you seen the new TIME Magazine cover?
germy
@SiubhanDuinne: I wonder if it’ll end up framed on one of shickelgruber’s walls?
“All publicity is good publicity.” etc.
Corner Stone
@? Martin: The GT-R has long been my man crush dream car. It’s just a fucking beast and right on the edge of affordability if you want a second home mortgage. Which is why I will never own one. But its little brother the 370z with the six speed manual is a damn fun car to drive, and if that’s your kick it is reasonably priced as well.
ETA, I call it “little brother” but I actually imagine all 370z’s are female. Curvy, beautiful, powerful and will eat you up if you give in to their evil intent.
germy
(NYMag)
SiubhanDuinne
@germy:
But it’s not his face. His face has to be in the picture, or it’s not worth framing.
Or hanging.
Corner Stone
@schrodingers_cat:
“Listen. I know it doesn’t look like it but you really need some of this shit, ok? Maybe try a few things? Oh, fuck it. I miss Lily and am going back to loading my CD music collection.”
schrodingers_cat
@SiubhanDuinne: Excellent, Rs took the red state business too literally.
Dave
John, I’m a gearhead, been in and out of the car business, career as a mechanical engineer. You can’t go wrong with a Honda, Toyota or Lexus. I’ve owned a number of used Toyotas and Lexi, new and used Hondas. They just keep on tickin’ just like a Timex. Good luck. I’m with you on the ice cream, too! Oh, yeah, fuck Trump too!
LAO
NY magazine’s description Spicer’s potential demotion.
germy
@SiubhanDuinne: My favorite was the photo of Trump posing thumbs up with some evangelicals in front of framed Playboy covers.
SFBayAreaGal
@SiubhanDuinne: Shared this to my Facebook page. I love it.
? Martin
@Omnes Omnibus: I’m of the view that you need to demonstrate at least the veneer of trying to solve the problem while actually trying to make his life worse. That gives you license to aim higher on the making his life worse side of things, which I think we all agree is worthwhile.
Immanentize
@germy: My read is Sessions cannot fire Mueller because Sessions is recused from action with regards to the Russia investigation. Rosenstein can fire Mueller, but won’t. So Sessions could fire Rosenstein and then put someone in that position who could/would fire Mueller.
As for Trump, Mueller, I have read, has been hired under the civil service rules and therefore cannot be removed like a political appointee by the President. This frankly applies to my little scenario above. Even Session’s replacement for Rosenstein would need some version of “cause” for his removal.
schrodingers_cat
When is the Great Religions speech scheduled? I don’t know why but I am curious to see this train wreck.
Felonius Monk
No fucking way is Joe Lieberman qualified to be Director of the FBI. He’s probably not even qualified to be Dog Shit Collector for the town he lives in.
Mel
@Mnemosyne: So sorry you are feeling cruddy.
We had the sore throat and sinus-y stuff going on last week at our house, and watched the new Netflix version of “Anne of Green Gables”. Can’t decide if I love it or if its changes from the novels and the little dialogue flaws (Gilbert and a couple of the other boys sound like they ought to be hanging out in the mall with their dudebros) are too pesky. Still, might be worth a look as a helpful distraction. I loved those books like crazy when I was a kid, and found myself still cheering Anne on (between coughing fits!).
That and “Larkrise to Candleford” kept us occupied through the ickiest portion of the sore throat.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
On the one hand… for fuck’s sake
on the other hand, the need to throw red meat to the 27% is not a sign of confidence
on the third hand, Lindsey Graham will be fawned over this weekend as a supra-partisan patriot who will always put country over party
Felonius Monk
@Elizabelle:
When I said his name out loud, all three cats threw up hairballs. :-)
Omnes Omnibus
@? Martin: Fair enough.
Peale
@schrodingers_cat: I think the point of this speech is to assert that all religions are great, but Christianity is better. And it will definitely be the anti-apology tour speech that they accuse Obama of giving. “Prepare to feel the righteous wrath of your superiors, sand monkeys!” would probably be a good summary.
Gravenstone
@? Martin: You do realize there’s a nearly $100k price difference between the vehicles being discussed here?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
TenguPhule
@Felonius Monk:
So a shoe-in for Trump to nominate him then.
schrodingers_cat
@Peale: I think he will announce a new crusade and then seek Pope’s blessings for it. Declare the non-Christian world as spoils for the great Godly and God fearing master race.
TenguPhule
@dmsilev:
Chucked.
Elizabelle
@Felonius Monk: astute observers, those cats.
Immanentize
@Corner Stone:
He better stay the hell away from Boston and Vermont!
dmsilev
@Felonius Monk: I’m actually ok with the idea. See, Trump inevitably destroys the reputation of everyone around him, and watching Joementum go through that process would be kind of fun.
Trinity
John Cole, you are my spirit animal.
“Also, fuck Trump.”
? Martin
@Corner Stone: Shelby Cobra 427 for me, but that’s even more of an impossibility. But I’m right there with you on the GT-R regarding it maintaining just a glint of practicality and affordability while being a track monster. It’ll eat almost any Ferrari for lunch on any circuit that you or I would ever get access to.
There’s a slew of them in my neighborhood, enough that there’s a tuning shop next door to my mechanic that just does GT-Rs. Nice little perk when my car needs to go in to get smogged.
CZanne
@TaMara (HFG): seconding TaMara’s vote for a Soul. Not only does it come with many opportunities for puns, we’ve had ours since 2010, the first model year. It still gets around 33 mpg highway and 30 in town, and I’ve had zero major issues with it. (The rear windshield wiper nut has to be lubricated every couple years, or it squeaks. Change the timing belt every 55K to 60K. The stock tires are good for 40K, and they’re pretty good tires.) It seats 4 adults comfortably, or 3 adults and 6 checked bags, or half an IKEA kitchen, including 98 linear inches of countertop, and one driver. I cannot haul sheets of ply or drywall, but I can haul lumber with no problems. I can park it anywhere. Mine does fine in snow with good all-weather tires. Downsides are the big-ass A pillar on the rear quadrants, so you get paranoid about checking your blind spot. Unlike the Honda Element, the interior cannot be hosed out, which is just sad, but how many people really need a car that can be pressure-washed from the inside? My only major issue with it was my fault — I had a terrible sneezing fit on a very narrow street, didn’t manage to stop fast enough and sideswiped a car at about 10 mph.
The warranty is totally worth it. I just rolled over 60K (I don’t drive a lot, though for a while, I was making a lot of drives between Indiana and Colorado, and then daily drives out to my gran’s assisted living). Everything except tires (and my boneheaded accident) was covered for that time-frame, including oil changes (that may have been a dealer incentive).
(Also, #TaMara — this is getting a little strange. I feel like I have a doppelgänger who isn’t allergic to dogs.)
Corner Stone
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
/wiki
Oh, and he is also a member of AEI.
? Martin
@Gravenstone: And? Cole is a homeowner, which means he’s fucking loaded. He’s fully onboard the GOP tax deduction train. Just HELOC that bitch and get some wheels.
Immanentize
@schrodingers_cat: OK. That is very funny. I’m stealing it.
Corner Stone
Ah, dammit. My quote about Joey working on ca$in0 law stuff is in mod.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@dmsilev: there are certain Beltway fixtures whose reputations are adamantine, and I think Holy Joe is one. You look at McCain, who besides flip-flopping on every issue save war and abortion, saying the problem with Iraq is we didn’t stay long enough or expend enough blood and treasure, and Sarah Fucking Palin, yet nobody batted an eye a few months back when Andrea Mitchell referred to him as “universally admired”. I remember Tim Russert in the Plame affair, it was revealed six or seven different times, including IIRC in Russet’s own testimony, that the Cheney outfit regarded him as a patsy, I thought, finally, people are gonna see how naked the Monsignor is! Nope, he didn’t even have to die to save his reputation. Not that it hurt.
Yarrow
@schrodingers_cat: OT–I heard Hasan Minhaj being interviewed Fresh Air today. I didn’t know his family was from India and was affected by Partition. He has a new comedy special or comedic monologue (I think they described it that way) coming out next week on Netflix that sounds like it’s going to cover immigration, issues of equality and so forth. I enjoyed the part of the interview I heard–he was insightful in his takes on how he’s different from his dad in his approach to living in the US. Thought I’d mention it in case you were interested.
schrodingers_cat
@Immanentize: Thanks, how is Mrs I?
Frankensteinbeck
@schrodingers_cat:
I think he’ll whine about his electoral victory and how he’s being persecuted and unappreciated back home. His audience will stare at him in bafflement.
Immanentize
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: But appointing Lieberman is certain to get a huge response on the Cleek’s Law O’Meter.
Corner Stone
@? Martin:
There are two of them in the parking garage under where I work. One is bone white and is so gorgeous I sometimes think about just waiting for the owner so I can ask to have my pic taken in the driver seat. But that might be weird.
I like to joke that it’s hilarious because you walk down the row where I like to park and it is literally:
“$60K Benz, $90K Porsche, $80K Land Rover, BMW M5, Porsche, Benz coupe, my CR-V, Porsche, BMW X5, Benz. Turn the corner and it’s Viper, Hellcat, GT-R, Porsche TT, Audi TT.”
I laugh every time I get out of my CR-V.
schrodingers_cat
@Frankensteinbeck: That’s just the intro. Then he will going into Mohamed’s life story as told by Miller, whose love for Muslins is well known.
Peale
@Felonius Monk: Meh. Look, while he’s not a progressive democrat at all, favors torture, loves the idea of Gitmo, voted for everything the Bush Administration threw his way, is a public education privatizer, was totally in the pocket of insurance companies, ran around with this hair on fire regarding the “ground zero mosque”, most of that has nothing to do with his role as FBI director. At least point, at least Joe may not be on board with turning the FBI into the political investigation arm of the GOP. I don’t think he’s got a ten year term. I think he’ll be there to serve out the remainder of Comey’s term. Preventing the decay of the FBI into the Stasi for the GOP for a few years is probably worth it.
Lee
You’re probably not monitoring this thread anymore but I’ll post just in case: I’ve had occasion to purchase (or help purchase) several used cars recently (kids got to driving age, then helped other parents pick out cars). Here is some of the things I’ve learned. When looking for a car you want to make sure the make is reliable. For instance: Honda’s & Toyota’s are known for being reliable. Jaguar’s and BMW’s are not. That is not to say someone might claim ‘I had my BMW for 20 years and it never gave me a problem’. They just happened to get lucky.
Searching for a car:
Unless the dealer is giving you a warranty, Certified Pre-Owned or something similar there is no difference buying a car from ‘Joe’s Crab Shack & Used Cars’ and the Honda dealership.
Lately I’ve found that if you buy a car from its own dealership it tends to be more expensive even without being Certified Pre-Owned (e.g. Lexus from the Lexus dealership ).
AutoTrader, cargurus, truecar are your friends.
The car:
Make sure to have your mechanic check it out prior to purchase. Pay the $100 (or whatever) for him to do a full diagnostic on the car. If you really want to make sure, run it to a its dealership and have them do it.
My recommendation: you can’t go wrong with an old Lexus RX300 or RX350 (especially with kids). They are everywhere and usually you can find one cheap. Recondition used parts are also easy & cheap to find.
Honda recently updated the body style on the CR-V, so the older body style you can find a bit cheaper.
Acura is also good. Be careful of the interiors. They had some god-awful ugly ones for a few years.
Used Toyota are criminally over-priced. If you can find one for cheap that checks out, buy it.
Immanentize
@schrodingers_cat: A good day today. She went to the office to work. But — losing hair is tough. Went to the wig store. Things I did not know (about one billion learned this past month) if you have chemo you get a wig prescription (worth up to 350 which is not a lot of money for a quality piece in Boston). I told her that I can now sing to her:
“Put on your high heeled sneakers, and your wig-hat on your head”
steverinoCT
My wife’s car (handed down from me). Still gets her around town with 325K; computer controlling A/C dead: $900 I’m not going to spend: it’s got windows. Wouldn’t hesitate to drive it to WV from here.
Thad Phetteplace
I think John’s crankiness is evolving and becoming a type of transcendent poetry.
OldDave
Damn, looks like I missed a gear-head chat. The thing to remember is Cole lives in West Goatrope, WV, where dealerships for more exotic cars (Alfa-Romeo) may be non-existent. The Giulia is beautiful (I used to lust after late 60s GTVs back in the day). Not sure I’d recommend a modern German car, even if the one I’m driving has been for the most part trouble free.
Greg
you know my vote for a reliable car, buy a chevy..
TenguPhule
@Thad Phetteplace: Cole’s suffering for our amusement is his lot in life for the sins of being previously a Republican. We may have forgiven him for it, but its obvious the Universe hasn’t.
stinger
@SiubhanDuinne: All that gif is missing is the theme music to Jaws.
Ruckus
@schrodingers_cat:
I’ve owned 2 Toyota vehicles and both were lemons. I have know many people who have had excellent luck with them. Owned two Nissan, one a massive lemon. And it was even the appropriate color. I think John has my Subaru.
luigidaman
Toyota. I got my first one two decades ago and I’ve bought five more. They all run until…. well I don’t know. Three of them are over 250,000 miles and they show know signs of slowing down. Maintenance has been minimal. Great value. And I only buy used.