On 5/26/2015 8:41 PM, wrote:

>>
>>
> Yes, it was a SUBSTANTIAL savings for work to
> be done at a neighborhood shop. But to go a mile
> and one half was $6.50 and the return trip was
> another $6.50.
>
> I thought to myself I need to be running a
> taxi service at those prices!
>

Try it. Won't be long before you want your old job back. Not many
wealthy cab drivers. Many work 12 hour days too.

On 2015-05-27 6:15 AM, wrote:
> On Tue, 26 May 2015 21:52:09 -0400, Dave Smith
> > wrote:
>
>> On 2015-05-26 20:44, wrote:
>>
>>> I've had no gripes about their work, just their price gouging
>>> prices. An example: I was in for recall, free fix, but they
>>> did do a bit of going over to check for other things. They
>>> said I needed a new fuel filter and the price was $50; my local
>>> garage did it for $10.
>>>
>> My last Ford went in in a recall, came back running like crap. They said
>> it needed a tuneup, even though there was low mileage. Then they found a
>> cracked head casket.
>>
>> A short time later the battery up and died. No problem they told me...
>> it's under warranty. FWIW.. it was 1988. It cost me $165. I could have
>> picked up a battery at Canadian Tire for $70. Service manager said it
>> would be a lower quality battery. Lower quality than the one that died
>> after 6 months?
>>
>> They also charged me an hour for labour... and a battery can be change
>> din 10 minutes. The real kicker was the $46.95 test for the AVR test.
>> When I questioned that he told me it was the amperage voltage and
>> resistance test. Yes... I know that... why am I being charged and why
>> is it $46.95. He asked if I thought that had a meter that with a couple
>> clamps they attached?.... Yes... that it exactly how it is done.
>>
>> I told them to watch me going out because they would never see me coming
>> back in. I didn't exactly keep that promise. A few years later I stopped
>> by and asked the manager to come out and see my new van.... a Mazda.
>
> I did that with Volvo years ago - the damn thing was always running up
> bills and the worst thing was screechy brakes. The last crunch was
> going for a service and getting them to put the snows on. When I
> collected it, as usual the service was about $230 and I was advised
> that a belt had gone in one of the tires - so why had they put them
> on? I asked the manager to put the all seasons back on, then he
> wanted to charge me for that and I left.
>
> Within a couple of days we had bought a Honda Accord and as the Volvo
> mans office was on the corner nearby with plate glass, I drove up
> beside it, waited til he was watching me and gave him the finger.
>


Volvos are supposed to be good cars. Two of my brothers bought new cars
a few years ago. The bitch inlaw demanded that one get a Volvo because
their son had one and he always has the best of everything. The other
bought a Nissan. The closest Volvo dealer is in Hamilton, 40 miles away
so when he took it in for his first oil change and inspection the bill
was over $400. The other took his Nissan to the local dealer and paid
about $40.

On Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 6:52:48 PM UTC-4, jmcquown wrote:
> On 5/26/2015 5:28 PM, wrote:
> > On Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 4:16:24 PM UTC-5, Dave Smith wrote:
> >>
> >> On 2015-05-26 1:24 PM, wrote:
> >>>
> >>> The other thing I had against that was spending time getting it fixed,
> >>> there's only me and I find it boring as hell sitting around in a
> >>> waiting room, generally with blaring television on a sports channel
> >>>
> >>
> >> You can always drop it off for repairs and go home until it is ready.
> >>
> >>
> > That's true at most dealerships but a neighborhood garage doesn't provide transportation to and from your house.
>
> I never knew a dealership that offered free transportation, either.

Both the Toyota and Honda dealerships in Ann Arbor have a shuttle
that will take you to where you want to go, within reason. Most of
us use them to get back to work, although I occasionally see people
taken home. Even the plain old garage that I used to go to had a
guy who would drive people to work.

Cindy Hamilton

On Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 5:30:22 AM UTC-7, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2015-05-27 6:15 AM, wrote:
> > On Tue, 26 May 2015 21:52:09 -0400, Dave Smith
> > > wrote:
> >
> >> On 2015-05-26 20:44, wrote:
> >>
> >>> I've had no gripes about their work, just their price gouging
> >>> prices. An example: I was in for recall, free fix, but they
> >>> did do a bit of going over to check for other things. They
> >>> said I needed a new fuel filter and the price was $50; my local
> >>> garage did it for $10.
> >>>
> >> My last Ford went in in a recall, came back running like crap. They said
> >> it needed a tuneup, even though there was low mileage. Then they found a
> >> cracked head casket.
> >>
> >> A short time later the battery up and died. No problem they told me...
> >> it's under warranty. FWIW.. it was 1988. It cost me $165. I could have
> >> picked up a battery at Canadian Tire for $70. Service manager said it
> >> would be a lower quality battery. Lower quality than the one that died
> >> after 6 months?
> >>
> >> They also charged me an hour for labour... and a battery can be change
> >> din 10 minutes. The real kicker was the $46.95 test for the AVR test.
> >> When I questioned that he told me it was the amperage voltage and
> >> resistance test. Yes... I know that... why am I being charged and why
> >> is it $46.95. He asked if I thought that had a meter that with a couple
> >> clamps they attached?.... Yes... that it exactly how it is done.
> >>
> >> I told them to watch me going out because they would never see me coming
> >> back in. I didn't exactly keep that promise. A few years later I stopped
> >> by and asked the manager to come out and see my new van.... a Mazda.
> >
> > I did that with Volvo years ago - the damn thing was always running up
> > bills and the worst thing was screechy brakes. The last crunch was
> > going for a service and getting them to put the snows on. When I
> > collected it, as usual the service was about $230 and I was advised
> > that a belt had gone in one of the tires - so why had they put them
> > on? I asked the manager to put the all seasons back on, then he
> > wanted to charge me for that and I left.
> >
> > Within a couple of days we had bought a Honda Accord and as the Volvo
> > mans office was on the corner nearby with plate glass, I drove up
> > beside it, waited til he was watching me and gave him the finger.
> >
>
>
> Volvos are supposed to be good cars. Two of my brothers bought new cars
> a few years ago. The bitch inlaw demanded that one get a Volvo because
> their son had one and he always has the best of everything. The other
> bought a Nissan. The closest Volvo dealer is in Hamilton, 40 miles away
> so when he took it in for his first oil change and inspection the bill
> was over $400. The other took his Nissan to the local dealer and paid
> about $40

Back in the 70s I noticed that many Volvos sold in the US were assembled
in Canada. Would you know if this was still the case?

On Wed, 27 May 2015 08:02:35 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

> Back in the 70s I noticed that many Volvos sold in the US were assembled
> in Canada. Would you know if this was still the case?

http://blog.caranddriver.com/built-i...rican-factory/

--

sf

On Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 2:30:22 AM UTC-10, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2015-05-27 6:15 AM, wrote:
> > On Tue, 26 May 2015 21:52:09 -0400, Dave Smith
> > > wrote:
> >
> >> On 2015-05-26 20:44, wrote:
> >>
> >>> I've had no gripes about their work, just their price gouging
> >>> prices. An example: I was in for recall, free fix, but they
> >>> did do a bit of going over to check for other things. They
> >>> said I needed a new fuel filter and the price was $50; my local
> >>> garage did it for $10.
> >>>
> >> My last Ford went in in a recall, came back running like crap. They said
> >> it needed a tuneup, even though there was low mileage. Then they found a
> >> cracked head casket.
> >>
> >> A short time later the battery up and died. No problem they told me...
> >> it's under warranty. FWIW.. it was 1988. It cost me $165. I could have
> >> picked up a battery at Canadian Tire for $70. Service manager said it
> >> would be a lower quality battery. Lower quality than the one that died
> >> after 6 months?
> >>
> >> They also charged me an hour for labour... and a battery can be change
> >> din 10 minutes. The real kicker was the $46.95 test for the AVR test.
> >> When I questioned that he told me it was the amperage voltage and
> >> resistance test. Yes... I know that... why am I being charged and why
> >> is it $46.95. He asked if I thought that had a meter that with a couple
> >> clamps they attached?.... Yes... that it exactly how it is done.
> >>
> >> I told them to watch me going out because they would never see me coming
> >> back in. I didn't exactly keep that promise. A few years later I stopped
> >> by and asked the manager to come out and see my new van.... a Mazda.
> >
> > I did that with Volvo years ago - the damn thing was always running up
> > bills and the worst thing was screechy brakes. The last crunch was
> > going for a service and getting them to put the snows on. When I
> > collected it, as usual the service was about $230 and I was advised
> > that a belt had gone in one of the tires - so why had they put them
> > on? I asked the manager to put the all seasons back on, then he
> > wanted to charge me for that and I left.
> >
> > Within a couple of days we had bought a Honda Accord and as the Volvo
> > mans office was on the corner nearby with plate glass, I drove up
> > beside it, waited til he was watching me and gave him the finger.
> >
>
>
> Volvos are supposed to be good cars. Two of my brothers bought new cars
> a few years ago. The bitch inlaw demanded that one get a Volvo because
> their son had one and he always has the best of everything. The other
> bought a Nissan. The closest Volvo dealer is in Hamilton, 40 miles away
> so when he took it in for his first oil change and inspection the bill
> was over $400. The other took his Nissan to the local dealer and paid
> about $40.

I never got the appeal of Volvos. They seemed unrefined, as if they were meant to be operated by people wearing snow gloves. They are Sweden's answer to the American Chevy. I guess that's fine if you like Chevies. The only thing special about them to me is that they have a Volvo plant in my step-mom's home town.

In article >,
says...
>
> On Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 4:16:24 PM UTC-5, Dave Smith wrote:
> >
> > On 2015-05-26 1:24 PM, wrote:
> > >
> > > The other thing I had against that was spending time getting it fixed,
> > > there's only me and I find it boring as hell sitting around in a
> > > waiting room, generally with blaring television on a sports channel
> > >
> >
> > You can always drop it off for repairs and go home until it is ready.
> >
> >
> That's true at most dealerships but a neighborhood garage doesn't provide transportation to and from your house. At least few I've dealt with
> don't.
>
> Taxis ain't cheap. :-(

Our local garage lends repair-customers a small car until theirs is
fixed. It's just a scruffy old runaround but they don't charge for it.

Janet UK

On 2015-05-24 17:32:21 +0000, Cabrito del Bosque said:

>>> Where will your water come from? Are you in California?
>>
>> We will have rain next winter, and then all will be forgotten. And
>> then everyone will be surprised when we have insufficient water during
>> the next totally predictable drought.
>>
> There's an el Nino already formed, but it hasn't helped Cali much...yet...

Having El Niño conditions doesn't automatically mean will get the same
drenching we got back in 1997/1998, sadly. But some are hoping that
may well be the case late in the year.

We are building at least one, possibly two desalination plants, but
that will only provide drinking water, it will be progressively more
relative to distance-from-plant.

There are many ways to conserve water in agriculture, but many/most
cost money to impliment, and since water prices haven't gone up,
farmers are reluctant to spend the money--at this point.

Providing financial incentives for citizens to use less water (like
rebates for replacing grass lawns), is good for educational purposes
and perhaps shifting the cultural attitudes towards the idea of a
permanent abundance of water, but the citizenry uses a relatively small
amount of the resource comparitive to various industries.

It is a big problem which can only be solved--as usual--by following the money.

Hopefully our drought will end somewhat similarly to the way the
drought is concluding in Oklahoma and Texas, but hopefully without the
extraordinary loss of life. I live a quarter mile from the Santa Ana
river in Orange County. Part of a golf course in the bed of the river
at this juncture. Still it is now a massive (concrete chute) of a
river bed that traditionally wrecked neighborhoods and lives in
Huntington Beach every 10 years or so, until it was paved. I'm looking
for it to be a bona-fide raging river for a few months.

On 2015-05-24 21:33:24 +0000, taxed and spent said:

> Our last big drought had Lake Shasta at very low levels. "They" said
> it would take ten years to fill is back up. The first wet winter was
> not even finished before water was spilling over the top.

I met a "they" at a bus stop long ago who smelled mostly of urine.
"They" told me confidentially at that time that vampires would rule the
world by 1991.

I wouldn't depend on "they" for meteorological predictions.

On 2015-05-24 20:01:44 +0000, Paul M. Cook said:

>> That is a bit different, isn't it. Years with heavy rains are quite
>> frequent. We need to be putting more away for those non-rainy days.
>
> That would take tax money.

Well we certainly need to save our world and preserve our way of
life--but not if it costs any money!!

> We have enough damns and reservoirs., What do you think has kept us
> going? This is year 4 of extreme drought. Just how much capacity can
> you plan for?

Well, clearly we needed to have planned more. Apparently that cost too
much money too. I wonder how much it will cost for industries and
communities to die. I suppose they'll have to be buried
somewhere--will that be free?

On 2015-05-25 02:03:07 +0000, Paul M. Cook said:

>> since a four year drought is pretty common here in California, and we
>> have tripled our population without adding any more storage capacity, I
>> would say we need more storage.
>
> We're in a 100 year drought. No amount of planning would have helped.

That's a pretty neat political conclusion.

Nothing could have been done over 100 years to make better our current
circumstance? I can see no reason why anything can every be done.

Turn off the lights when you leave.

On 2015-05-25 03:17:33 +0000, Paul M. Cook said:

>> There comes a point where it's not a drought; it's your weather.
>
> Climate. Not weather. And this well could be a permanent climate shift.

Or maybe not.

On 2015-05-25 13:34:50 +0000, taxed and spent said:

> "Paul M. Cook" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "taxed and spent" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> "Paul M. Cook" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>
>>>> "taxed and spent" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>>
>>>>> > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> On Sunday, May 24, 2015 at 7:50:14 AM UTC-7, taxed and spent wrote:
>>>>>>> "Paul M. Cook" > wrote in message
>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "Ophelia" > wrote in message
>>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>>>> I have noticed several people here mention California. We have had a lot
>>>>>>>>> of stuff on tv about the lack of water there. We were shown the huge
>>>>>>>>> reservoirs with very little water in them. They were showing how people
>>>>>>>>> with lush grass and full swimming pools were being demonised.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Is anyone here affected? It sounds very frightening!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Everyone in CA is affected. And since CA grows half the country's food,
>>>>>>>> half the country is affected as well. My town is ordering a 35% cutback
>>>>>>>> on water use with fines for offenders. NASA says this is the last year we
>>>>>>>> will have water in the reservoirs. So next year we should be in full
>>>>>>>> anarchy mode I expect. Fox News blames it on illegal immigrants.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> But I still have not heard any talk about adding storage capacity or
>>>>>>> groundwater replenishment basins, for the times we do have rain.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Similarly, I haven't heard my wife talking about buying a safe for the
>>>>>> jewelry she expects to buy after she wins the lottery.
>>>>>
>>>>> That is a bit different, isn't it. Years with heavy rains are quite
>>>>> frequent. We need to be putting more away for those non-rainy days.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> That would take tax money.
>>>>
>>>> We have enough damns and reservoirs., What do you think has kept us
>>>> going? This is year 4 of extreme drought. Just how much capacity can
>>>> you plan for?
>>>>
>>>
>>> since a four year drought is pretty common here in California, and we
>>> have tripled our population without adding any more storage capacity, I
>>> would say we need more storage.
>>
>> We're in a 100 year drought. No amount of planning would have helped.
>
> foolish statement. adding x% to our storage capacity would have helped.

No--nothing would have helped! Nothing will ever help. We're doomed,
goddam it! Until then--medical marijuana!

"gtr" > wrote in message news:2015052711503919715-xxx@yyyzzz...
> On 2015-05-24 21:33:24 +0000, taxed and spent said:
>
>> Our last big drought had Lake Shasta at very low levels. "They" said it
>> would take ten years to fill is back up. The first wet winter was not
>> even finished before water was spilling over the top.
>
> I met a "they" at a bus stop long ago who smelled mostly of urine. "They"
> told me confidentially at that time that vampires would rule the world by
> 1991.
>
> I wouldn't depend on "they" for meteorological predictions.
>

Exactly. But I think they were right about the vampires.

On Wed, 27 May 2015 09:58:20 -0700 (PDT), dsi1 >
wrote:

> I never got the appeal of Volvos. They seemed unrefined, as if they were meant to be operated by people wearing snow gloves. They are Sweden's answer to the American Chevy. I guess that's fine if you like Chevies. The only thing special about them to me is that they have a Volvo plant in my step-mom's home town.

There was a time back when Volvo had those commercial of one going off
a cliff and showing how the front end absorbs all the damage, that my
son (who so badly wanted me to be part of the crowd) campaigned for me
to buy a Volvo wagon when I was looking for a new car. I bought a 2
door Lancia hatchback with a sunroof instead (no air-conditioner or
auto-transmission). It was fun and utilitarian too. Those were the
days when I had a decent tan just because of the amount of time I
spent driving around in that car with the sunroof open.

--

sf

On Wed, 27 May 2015 19:37:18 +0100, Janet > wrote:

> Our local garage lends repair-customers a small car until theirs is
> fixed. It's just a scruffy old runaround but they don't charge for it.
>
> Janet UK

Different garages & dealerships have different policies here. One
time, our car needed something or other done that meant it would be
gone for days and they gave us a brand new Fiat 500 with only 5 miles
on it to use for free! Boy, that was a fun car to drive around
(reminded us of the olden days when we could park the Spider anywhere)
and an excellent sales strategy on their part because I think we would
have bought it if we'd been in the frame of mind to be a two car
family again. If you want a city car that can seat 4 people with back
seats that flip down if you need to haul something, look at a Fiat
500L.

--

sf

On 5/27/2015 10:06 AM, sf wrote:
> On Wed, 27 May 2015 09:58:20 -0700 (PDT), dsi1 >
> wrote:
>
>> I never got the appeal of Volvos. They seemed unrefined, as if they were meant to be operated by people wearing snow gloves. They are Sweden's answer to the American Chevy. I guess that's fine if you like Chevies. The only thing special about them to me is that they have a Volvo plant in my step-mom's home town.
>
> There was a time back when Volvo had those commercial of one going off
> a cliff and showing how the front end absorbs all the damage, that my
> son (who so badly wanted me to be part of the crowd) campaigned for me
> to buy a Volvo wagon when I was looking for a new car. I bought a 2
> door Lancia hatchback with a sunroof instead (no air-conditioner or
> auto-transmission). It was fun and utilitarian too. Those were the
> days when I had a decent tan just because of the amount of time I
> spent driving around in that car with the sunroof open.
>

I like to drive over the mountain in the morning with the moonroof open.
It's quite a pleasant drive. I'm not getting a tan from that drive though.

Years ago, I was looking for a Lancia Zagato. Fortunately, I was never
able to find one at a good price. Hee hee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei-IezGYgvU

On Wed, 27 May 2015 10:52:12 -1000, dsi1
> wrote:

> Years ago, I was looking for a Lancia Zagato. Fortunately, I was never
> able to find one at a good price. Hee hee.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei-IezGYgvU

That model is so much better than any T top I've seen in person,
because the T stays in place.

--

sf

On 2015-05-27 2:37 PM, Janet wrote:


>>> You can always drop it off for repairs and go home until it is ready.
>>>
>>>
>> That's true at most dealerships but a neighborhood garage doesn't provide transportation to and from your house. At least few I've dealt with
>> don't.
>>
>> Taxis ain't cheap. :-(
>
> Our local garage lends repair-customers a small car until theirs is
> fixed. It's just a scruffy old runaround but they don't charge for it.

My garage will drive me home and then pick me up. His door rate is
lower than the dealerships. He only fixes what needs to be fixed and he
does not screw me around.
>

On Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 4:31:31 PM UTC-5, Dave Smith wrote:
>
> My garage will drive me home and then pick me up. His door rate is
> lower than the dealerships. He only fixes what needs to be fixed and he
> does not screw me around.
>
>
Well, my go-to garage closed this past winter as he wanted
to retire so I will be visiting another one that is highly
recommended another 3 or 4 miles down the road. If they
transport people around I'll be surprised; if this one
is like other garages here all their help are mechanics
and not chauffeurs. :-(

On Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 2:32:06 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> On Wed, 27 May 2015 13:17:09 -0700, sf > wrote:
>
> >On Wed, 27 May 2015 19:37:18 +0100, Janet > wrote:
> >
> >> Our local garage lends repair-customers a small car until theirs is
> >> fixed. It's just a scruffy old runaround but they don't charge for it.
> >>
> >> Janet UK
> >
> >Different garages & dealerships have different policies here. One
> >time, our car needed something or other done that meant it would be
> >gone for days and they gave us a brand new Fiat 500 with only 5 miles
> >on it to use for free! Boy, that was a fun car to drive around
> >(reminded us of the olden days when we could park the Spider anywhere)
> >and an excellent sales strategy on their part because I think we would
> >have bought it if we'd been in the frame of mind to be a two car
> >family again. If you want a city car that can seat 4 people with back
> >seats that flip down if you need to haul something, look at a Fiat
> >500L.
>
> I did consider a Fiat but was warned by others that if you need parts
> etc. not so cute.

Shouldn't that read "when you need parts"? At least for older ones which
weren't that reliable from what I read.

On 27/05/2015 11:57 AM, wrote:
> On Wed, 27 May 2015 08:30:20 -0400, Dave Smith
> > wrote:
>
>
>>
>>
>> Volvos are supposed to be good cars. Two of my brothers bought new cars
>> a few years ago. The bitch inlaw demanded that one get a Volvo because
>> their son had one and he always has the best of everything. The other
>> bought a Nissan. The closest Volvo dealer is in Hamilton, 40 miles away
>> so when he took it in for his first oil change and inspection the bill
>> was over $400. The other took his Nissan to the local dealer and paid
>> about $40.
>
> We were never happy with the Volvo.

Those ones from 30+ years ago were built like tanks and were favoured by
Uni profs, better-off teachers, accountants and some lawyers.
That demographic now drive Subarus.
I have been driving a Toyota for the last 14 years and will be giving it
to my son and his partner in the fall when the twins arrive. I am
seriously considering a Mazda as a replacement. I would normally buy
another Toyota but the Mazda has a few more safety gizmos.
Graham

Je�us wrote:
> On Tue, 26 May 2015 19:15:23 -0400, Username >
> wrote:
>
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>> On 5/26/2015 5:28 PM, wrote:
>>>> On Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 4:16:24 PM UTC-5, Dave Smith wrote:
>>>>> On 2015-05-26 1:24 PM, wrote:
>>>>>> The other thing I had against that was spending time getting it fixed,
>>>>>> there's only me and I find it boring as hell sitting around in a
>>>>>> waiting room, generally with blaring television on a sports channel
>>>>>>
>>>>> You can always drop it off for repairs and go home until it is ready.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> That's true at most dealerships but a neighborhood garage doesn't
>>>> provide transportation to and from your house.
>>> I never knew a dealership that offered free transportation, either.
>>>
>>>> Taxis ain't cheap. :-(
>>>>
>>> Taxis aren't available everywhere, either.
>> Hyundai dealerships probably don't offer that service.
> I'm guessing that's supposed to be derogatory. There's nothing wrong
> with late model Hyundais, in fact they're a lot better designed and
> built than Australian or American built cars, for example.
>

I agree but how do *you* define "late model"? I didn't know Australia
had a car brand.

wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 5:55:31 PM UTC-5, Je�us wrote:
>> On Tue, 26 May 2015 14:28:00 -0700 (PDT), "
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> On Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 4:16:24 PM UTC-5, Dave Smith wrote:
>>>> You can always drop it off for repairs and go home until it is ready.
>>>>
>>>>
>>> That's true at most dealerships but a neighborhood garage doesn't provide transportation to and from your house. At least few I've dealt with
>>> don't.
>>>
>>> Taxis ain't cheap. :-(
>> On the other hand, the money you would save by taking your car to a
>> neighbourhood garage instead of a dealership would probably compensate
>> for the cost of a taxi.
>>
>>
> Yes, it was a SUBSTANTIAL savings for work to
> be done at a neighborhood shop. But to go a mile
> and one half was $6.50 and the return trip was
> another $6.50.
>
> I thought to myself I need to be running a
> taxi service at those prices!
>

There's a minimum charge. The driver does have to travel to your location.

On 2015-05-27 6:33 PM, graham wrote:

> I have been driving a Toyota for the last 14 years and will be giving it
> to my son and his partner in the fall when the twins arrive. I am
> seriously considering a Mazda as a replacement. I would normally buy
> another Toyota but the Mazda has a few more safety gizmos.

I had Mazda MPV and was really happy with it, so happy that we got
another Mazda for my wife. Warranty service was great. It was a really
nice surprise after having been screwed by Ford, GM and AMC. When it was
time to replace one of them I considered getting another one, but Ford
had bought into Mazda and I didn't know if Mazda had raised Ford to
their standards of customer care or if Ford had dragged Mazda down.
After my Ford experiences I was not prepared to take a chance. It may
sound lame, but my experience with Ford dealerships on several previous
purchases were that bad.

graham wrote:
>
> I have been driving a Toyota for the last 14 years and will be giving it
> to my son and his partner in the fall when the twins arrive. I am
> seriously considering a Mazda as a replacement. I would normally buy
> another Toyota but the Mazda has a few more safety gizmos.

I've been driving my Toyota since it was new in 1990, it'll likely go
forty more years and outlive me.

On Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 5:55:31 PM UTC-5, Username wrote:
>
> wrote:
> > to go a mile
> > and one half was $6.50 and the return trip was
> > another $6.50.
> >
> > I thought to myself I need to be running a
> > taxi service at those prices!
> >
>
> There's a minimum charge. The driver does have to travel to your location.
>
>
Duh.

On 27/05/2015 5:20 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2015-05-27 6:33 PM, graham wrote:
>
>> I have been driving a Toyota for the last 14 years and will be giving it
>> to my son and his partner in the fall when the twins arrive. I am
>> seriously considering a Mazda as a replacement. I would normally buy
>> another Toyota but the Mazda has a few more safety gizmos.
>
> I had Mazda MPV and was really happy with it, so happy that we got
> another Mazda for my wife. Warranty service was great. It was a really
> nice surprise after having been screwed by Ford, GM and AMC. When it was
> time to replace one of them I considered getting another one, but Ford
> had bought into Mazda and I didn't know if Mazda had raised Ford to
> their standards of customer care or if Ford had dragged Mazda down.
> After my Ford experiences I was not prepared to take a chance. It may
> sound lame, but my experience with Ford dealerships on several previous
> purchases were that bad.
>
>
Mazda has severed the link, AIUI. The CX-3 and CX-5 are getting rave
reviews. I'm considering the latter. I wouldn't mind the Lexus small SUV
but it's about $20k more for the same features.
Graham

--

On 5/27/2015 6:04 PM, Roy wrote:

>>
>> I did consider a Fiat but was warned by others that if you need parts
>> etc. not so cute.
>
> Shouldn't that read "when you need parts"? At least for older ones which
> weren't that reliable from what I read.
>

Consumer Reports rates them last in reliability. The bottom five
included Mini, Chrysler, Ford. Top five included Mazda, Lexus, Toyota,
Honda.

On 5/27/2015 7:02 PM, wrote:

>>>
>>
>> I agree but how do *you* define "late model"? I didn't know Australia
>> had a car brand.
>
> Australian Holdens.
>


GM is going to stop making Holdens in Australia in2017.

On Wed, 27 May 2015 20:46:12 -0300, wrote:

> My daughter has a Mazda 6 with all options and it is deliciously
> luxurious and she is very pleased with it, now two years old

Mine has an Acura - don't ask me what it's called. It's some kind of
a cross between an SUV and a wagon. It's her second one, so she
obviously loves it. I love driving it too.

--
A kitchen without a cook is just a room.

On 5/27/2015 4:35 PM, sf wrote:
> On Wed, 27 May 2015 20:46:12 -0300, wrote:
>
>> My daughter has a Mazda 6 with all options and it is deliciously
>> luxurious and she is very pleased with it, now two years old
>
> Mine has an Acura - don't ask me what it's called. It's some kind of
> a cross between an SUV and a wagon. It's her second one, so she
> obviously loves it. I love driving it too.
>

Doctor 10?

MDX - hee hee.

"Jeßus" > wrote in message
news
> On Tue, 26 May 2015 19:15:23 -0400, Username >
> wrote:
>
>>jmcquown wrote:
>>> On 5/26/2015 5:28 PM, wrote:
>>>> On Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 4:16:24 PM UTC-5, Dave Smith wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> On 2015-05-26 1:24 PM, wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The other thing I had against that was spending time getting it
>>>>>> fixed,
>>>>>> there's only me and I find it boring as hell sitting around in a
>>>>>> waiting room, generally with blaring television on a sports channel
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> You can always drop it off for repairs and go home until it is ready.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> That's true at most dealerships but a neighborhood garage doesn't
>>>> provide transportation to and from your house.
>>>
>>> I never knew a dealership that offered free transportation, either.
>>>
>>>> Taxis ain't cheap. :-(
>>>>
>>> Taxis aren't available everywhere, either.
>>
>>Hyundai dealerships probably don't offer that service.
>
> I'm guessing that's supposed to be derogatory. There's nothing wrong
> with late model Hyundais, in fact they're a lot better designed and
> built than Australian or American built cars, for example.

My husband has a 2011 Hyundai and so far no problems with it. I think there
might have been one recall but not sure. Then again, pretty much most late
model cars will be recalled with the air bag thing. I have a 2014 Ford. My
Ford dealership almost always provides transportation. Only time they
didn't was when the driver was ill or the car was being repaired. I once
got a complimentary rental car for several days when they couldn't repair my
van promptly. There is a car repairs shop near here that offers you a ride
home as well. Most shops have a shuttle car or van these days.
Advertisement for them. I have been to other shops where they will give you
a ride. Either the owner or one of the mechanics, in their own car.

On Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 9:14:09 PM UTC-7, dsi1 wrote:

> The Fiats and water cooled VWs I had didn't live up to the negative
> press either. Mostly all you got to do is know the car and it's
> weaknesses. Those cars were pretty easy to work on and were a gas to
> drive. I like good cars with bad reputations - they're sold pretty cheap.

I was following a friend home from school on the freeway, when the
fuel line popped off his carburetor and started spraying fuel
everywhere. We pulled over; he shut the motor off, popped the hood,
and put the fuel line back on the carburetor. This time it held,
and we made it home without further incident. He was driving a FIAT.

I had a 77 Rabbit, which apparently was a beta test site for the
Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system. I ended up driving around
with a spare fuel pump relay, because those had a bad habit of
wearing out contacts and turning off the fuel pump while driving at
speed.

But the joke was on me as next the fuel pump failed.

>
> OTOH, Subarus have always had good press but when I'd see them on the
> side of the road, I knew exactly what happened to them - broken timing
> belt. That's easy enough to fix. To bad they're a drag to drive.

My trouble with Subarus is after a lifetime with front wheel drive,
suddenly I have to share the interior with a transmission.

"Julie Bove" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Jeßus" > wrote in message
> news
>> On Tue, 26 May 2015 19:15:23 -0400, Username >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>jmcquown wrote:
>>>> On 5/26/2015 5:28 PM, wrote:
>>>>> On Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 4:16:24 PM UTC-5, Dave Smith wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 2015-05-26 1:24 PM, wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The other thing I had against that was spending time getting it
>>>>>>> fixed,
>>>>>>> there's only me and I find it boring as hell sitting around in a
>>>>>>> waiting room, generally with blaring television on a sports channel
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You can always drop it off for repairs and go home until it is ready.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> That's true at most dealerships but a neighborhood garage doesn't
>>>>> provide transportation to and from your house.
>>>>
>>>> I never knew a dealership that offered free transportation, either.
>>>>
>>>>> Taxis ain't cheap. :-(
>>>>>
>>>> Taxis aren't available everywhere, either.
>>>
>>>Hyundai dealerships probably don't offer that service.
>>
>> I'm guessing that's supposed to be derogatory. There's nothing wrong
>> with late model Hyundais, in fact they're a lot better designed and
>> built than Australian or American built cars, for example.
>
> My husband has a 2011 Hyundai and so far no problems with it. I think
> there might have been one recall but not sure. Then again, pretty much
> most late model cars will be recalled with the air bag thing. I have a
> 2014 Ford. My Ford dealership almost always provides transportation.
> Only time they didn't was when the driver was ill or the car was being
> repaired. I once got a complimentary rental car for several days when
> they couldn't repair my van promptly. There is a car repairs shop near
> here that offers you a ride home as well. Most shops have a shuttle car
> or van these days. Advertisement for them. I have been to other shops
> where they will give you a ride. Either the owner or one of the
> mechanics, in their own car.

I know what you mean about being an advertisement Ours lend a very nice
car with adverts all over it for their garage) I hate it but at least
they are good cars)

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"gtr" > wrote in message news:2015052711554471197-xxx@yyyzzz...
> On 2015-05-25 02:03:07 +0000, Paul M. Cook said:
>
>>> since a four year drought is pretty common here in California, and we
>>> have tripled our population without adding any more storage capacity, I
>>> would say we need more storage.
>>
>> We're in a 100 year drought. No amount of planning would have helped.
>
> That's a pretty neat political conclusion.
>
> Nothing could have been done over 100 years to make better our current
> circumstance? I can see no reason why anything can every be done.
>
> Turn off the lights when you leave.

Show me a repug who when asked if we should spend money on a 200 year
drought reservoir system that does not scream "SOCIALISM!!!!!" and we can
talk.




---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
http://www.avast.com

On Wed, 27 May 2015 18:46:38 -0400, Username >
wrote:

>Je?us wrote:
>> On Tue, 26 May 2015 19:15:23 -0400, Username >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>> On 5/26/2015 5:28 PM, wrote:
>>>>> On Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 4:16:24 PM UTC-5, Dave Smith wrote:
>>>>>> On 2015-05-26 1:24 PM, wrote:
>>>>>>> The other thing I had against that was spending time getting it fixed,
>>>>>>> there's only me and I find it boring as hell sitting around in a
>>>>>>> waiting room, generally with blaring television on a sports channel
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> You can always drop it off for repairs and go home until it is ready.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> That's true at most dealerships but a neighborhood garage doesn't
>>>>> provide transportation to and from your house.
>>>> I never knew a dealership that offered free transportation, either.
>>>>
>>>>> Taxis ain't cheap. :-(
>>>>>
>>>> Taxis aren't available everywhere, either.
>>> Hyundai dealerships probably don't offer that service.
>> I'm guessing that's supposed to be derogatory. There's nothing wrong
>> with late model Hyundais, in fact they're a lot better designed and
>> built than Australian or American built cars, for example.
>>
>
>I agree but how do *you* define "late model"?

Well, within the last 5 years?

>I didn't know Australia
>had a car brand.

Holden and Ford is all that's left in Aus, and both of those will
thankfully be gone soon too.

"Paul M. Cook" > wrote in message
...
>
> "gtr" > wrote in message
> news:2015052711554471197-xxx@yyyzzz...
>> On 2015-05-25 02:03:07 +0000, Paul M. Cook said:
>>
>>>> since a four year drought is pretty common here in California, and we
>>>> have tripled our population without adding any more storage capacity, I
>>>> would say we need more storage.
>>>
>>> We're in a 100 year drought. No amount of planning would have helped.
>>
>> That's a pretty neat political conclusion.
>>
>> Nothing could have been done over 100 years to make better our current
>> circumstance? I can see no reason why anything can every be done.
>>
>> Turn off the lights when you leave.
>
> Show me a repug who when asked if we should spend money on a 200 year
> drought reservoir system that does not scream "SOCIALISM!!!!!" and we can
> talk.
>

I think the real problem is the enviro wackos, and the fact that California
is spending more than it receives on excessive salaries, benefits, and
retirements (largely unfunded) to government workers, excessive pay to state
contractors, and spending all sorts of money to pay people not to work. No
funds left for infrastructure.

On Thu, 28 May 2015 06:11:59 -0700, "taxed and spent"
> wrote:

>I think the real problem is the enviro wackos, and the fact that California
>is spending more than it receives on excessive salaries, benefits, and
>retirements (largely unfunded) to government workers, excessive pay to state
>contractors, and spending all sorts of money to pay people not to work. No
>funds left for infrastructure.

that's why it's called "The People's Republic Of California"! Only one
of two United States who are commited Communists. Whoops, I forgot
Detroit but they are bankrupt and still Communist.

William

On Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 8:13:06 PM UTC-10, wrote:
> On Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 9:14:09 PM UTC-7, dsi1 wrote:
>
> > The Fiats and water cooled VWs I had didn't live up to the negative
> > press either. Mostly all you got to do is know the car and it's
> > weaknesses. Those cars were pretty easy to work on and were a gas to
> > drive. I like good cars with bad reputations - they're sold pretty cheap.
>
> I was following a friend home from school on the freeway, when the
> fuel line popped off his carburetor and started spraying fuel
> everywhere. We pulled over; he shut the motor off, popped the hood,
> and put the fuel line back on the carburetor. This time it held,
> and we made it home without further incident. He was driving a FIAT.

I have heard that this happened - the fitting is a press fit into the carburetor. Now that's an exciting way to make a carb!

>
> I had a 77 Rabbit, which apparently was a beta test site for the
> Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system. I ended up driving around
> with a spare fuel pump relay, because those had a bad habit of
> wearing out contacts and turning off the fuel pump while driving at
> speed.

I liked that fuel injection system because it was so simple and used on a ton of cars. The VWs that I had would stop randomly. Changing the fuse box would usually solve the problem.

>
> But the joke was on me as next the fuel pump failed.
>
> >
> > OTOH, Subarus have always had good press but when I'd see them on the
> > side of the road, I knew exactly what happened to them - broken timing
> > belt. That's easy enough to fix. To bad they're a drag to drive.
>
> My trouble with Subarus is after a lifetime with front wheel drive,
> suddenly I have to share the interior with a transmission.

I'm quite used to having a big obtrusive thing inside the car. Hee hee.