Random Thoughts Thread

[ccap41]

I think a better way to word that might have been, "drivers of these cars suck more than the rest"

[Suaviloquent]

All these fake exhaust tips integrated into bumpers on all the cars these days are really starting to annoy me.

They look cheap, they get dirty much faster because they're in the exhaust stream in the case of models that have the real tips behind them, an they're usually made of plastic chrome.

I used to ask myself "why do this???" , and of course the answer was that it cuts costs. 

Like the Volkswagen ATLAS and Tiguan, they have these chrome rectangles pieces with a moudling plastic inner, made to look like an exhaust!!! WTF?!! The real tips are actually behind the bumper....

Even the new Lexus LS. Same goddamn deal, you actually even see the real tips that look cheap because they're not plated, and then you see the fake tips that are part of the bumper....I see it in new Mercedes sedans....everywhere....it triggers like an OCD like rageeeee attack in my mind.

FUCK OFF YOU FAKE EXHAUST TIPS!!!!

[Drew Dowdell]

3 hours ago, Suaviloquent said:

All these fake exhaust tips integrated into bumpers on all the cars these days are really starting to annoy me.

They look cheap, they get dirty much faster because they're in the exhaust stream in the case of models that have the real tips behind them, an they're usually made of plastic chrome.

I used to ask myself "why do this???" , and of course the answer was that it cuts costs. 

Like the Volkswagen ATLAS and Tiguan, they have these chrome rectangles pieces with a moudling plastic inner, made to look like an exhaust!!! WTF?!! The real tips are actually behind the bumper....

Even the new Lexus LS. Same goddamn deal, you actually even see the real tips that look cheap because they're not plated, and then you see the fake tips that are part of the bumper....I see it in new Mercedes sedans....everywhere....it triggers like an OCD like rageeeee attack in my mind.

FUCK OFF YOU FAKE EXHAUST TIPS!!!!

All of the recently released Benzes are like this.

[balthazar]

It's the whole 'fake scoop' thing all over again.

[ocnblu]

9 hours ago, ccap41 said:

@ocnblu, what kind of commute do you have? Or what kind of miles per year do you put on your vehicles? 

24 miles each way, 5 days a week.  I usually choose between 3 routes.  One is congested suburban 2-lanes merging onto a 65 MPH 4 lane.  One is a suburban 2-lane through several small towns with a few stop lights in each town.  And one is a short suburban hop to a country 2-lane with a 50 mph limit and everyone goes 60, then onto a short suburban stretch into work.  I can tell you my favourite way to go is the latter route.  All of them take about 35 minutes to complete due to varying degrees of congestion *cough*.  Overall usually about 18k per yerr.

Edited October 5, 2017 by ocnblu

[ocnblu]

7 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

+1.... how are the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango on different lists when they both use the same uConnect system?

Different buyer demographic perhaps, with different perspectives on useless, dangerous gadgets.

[ocnblu]

Reason #563 to hate CVT transmissions:  Motor Trend did a comparison test of the Subaru Crosstrek, Jeep Compass Trailhawk and Nissan Rogue Sport.

(They chose the Subaru with a weak argument over the Jeep)

But the Nissan, in a light off-road course, bogged down to the point of coming to a complete halt in sand, despite all manner of button pushing on the part of the test driver.  Could not spin a wheel to save its pathetic life.  SRSLY?  You are going to continue to foist this crap on people, Nissan?

I can think of NO good points of a CVT, and nothing magnifies the suckage as loudly as this example.

[ykX]

1 hour ago, ocnblu said:

Reason #563 to hate CVT transmissions:  Motor Trend did a comparison test of the Subaru Crosstrek, Jeep Compass Trailhawk and Nissan Rogue Sport.

(They chose the Subaru with a weak argument over the Jeep)

But the Nissan, in a light off-road course, bogged down to the point of coming to a complete halt in sand, despite all manner of button pushing on the part of the test driver.  Could not spin a wheel to save its pathetic life.  SRSLY?  You are going to continue to foist this crap on people, Nissan?

I can think of NO good points of a CVT, and nothing magnifies the suckage as loudly as this example.

You do know Subaru Crosstrek has CVT too?

Despite that Subarus excel off road.  It is not the CVT, it is the AWD system.

Edited October 6, 2017 by ykX

[G. David Felt]

2 hours ago, ocnblu said:

Reason #563 to hate CVT transmissions:  Motor Trend did a comparison test of the Subaru Crosstrek, Jeep Compass Trailhawk and Nissan Rogue Sport.

(They chose the Subaru with a weak argument over the Jeep)

But the Nissan, in a light off-road course, bogged down to the point of coming to a complete halt in sand, despite all manner of button pushing on the part of the test driver.  Could not spin a wheel to save its pathetic life.  SRSLY?  You are going to continue to foist this crap on people, Nissan?

I can think of NO good points of a CVT, and nothing magnifies the suckage as loudly as this example.

Total Asian Love from MT just like Consumer Rejection.

My son's Jeep Patriot Trail rated edition with the CVT did pretty good off road and even then they ended up dumping the CVT in the final years of production for a traditional transmission.

Makes one really wonder about the engineering of the CVT which is a integral part of the awd / 4x4 system.

[ykX]

Yes, MT is so biased...

Subaru despite having smaller engine was faster, handled better, stopped substantially shorter, handled off-road without any trouble, have better fuel economy and cheaper too.

But yes, MT is biased.  You guys are so full of it...

Edited October 6, 2017 by ykX

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, ykX said:

Yes, MT is so biased...

Subaru despite having smaller engine was faster, handled better, stopped substantially shorter, handled off-road without any trouble, have better fuel economy and cheaper too.

But yes, MT is biased.  You guys are so full of it...

Part of the love of our site is to always have a little fun, sarcasm and challenge what everyone says. You should know this by now.  

[surreal1272]

7 hours ago, ocnblu said:

Reason #563 to hate CVT transmissions:  Motor Trend did a comparison test of the Subaru Crosstrek, Jeep Compass Trailhawk and Nissan Rogue Sport.

(They chose the Subaru with a weak argument over the Jeep)

But the Nissan, in a light off-road course, bogged down to the point of coming to a complete halt in sand, despite all manner of button pushing on the part of the test driver.  Could not spin a wheel to save its pathetic life.  SRSLY?  You are going to continue to foist this crap on people, Nissan?

I can think of NO good points of a CVT, and nothing magnifies the suckage as loudly as this example.

I had a rental Compass for my trip back from NC to AZ a few months ago. If I could, I would pull that CVT out and kill it with fire. I will never own a CVT anything if I can help it. 

[balthazar]

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, balthazar said:

Nothing like 18 cylinder power baby!  

[balthazar]

Everyone knows of the U.S. Census. Since 1790, it's been taken every 10 years.

This month I have received the "American Community Survey" from the US Dept of Commerce / US Census Bureau. If those of you reading this don't mind, check the year on your calendar. Yes, it's a mandatory, law-required census, to "better help determine community needs such as where to build new schools, hospitals and fire houses."

The online survey is said to take 40 MINUTES. It asks typical census-type questions, but also goes into excruciating details, such as amount of all income from interest, etc etc, and "include even small amounts of account interest".

Why should the roughly $3.00 my one checking account earns annually have anything whatsoever to do with building a new hospital? This survey takes FAR longer to complete than the 2010 census took, and my issue is not the amount of time, but why do they need to know this level of detail, and why NOW?

This is supposedly supposed to take the place of the normal census 'long form' some are mailed... but why this is not done in 2020 is unknown to me.

Guess what the fine is for not answering this survey? "Not more than $100".

Oh yea- that's totally worth it.

[daves87rs]

Proud of my kid.....nerd like his dad!

He was voted to be co-captain of his science competition team.....not bad for a kid who likes bugs! (and cars, and taking stuff apart...)

[G. David Felt]

Gotta love these MAN auto's tied up like Elephants getting through the mud.

 

[A Horse With No Name]

On 10/6/2017 at 9:20 AM, ykX said:

Yes, MT is so biased...

Subaru despite having smaller engine was faster, handled better, stopped substantially shorter, handled off-road without any trouble, have better fuel economy and cheaper too.

But yes, MT is biased.  You guys are so full of it...

Dammit man, the Subie did not have a turbo hydro matic 350 or tail fins either....

[A Horse With No Name]

So my daughter is dealing with some astonishingly stupid claims.  The two right now that feature GM products involve an 87 RWD Cutlass that the owner recently purchased and financed for over forty grand because it was really clean and had low miles.  It is a write off with more than a little negative equity.  Second vehicle is equally insane owner of a 2012 Malibu had 4 serious accidents on four consecutive days.

She has a dozen other claims right now seemingly just as wild.

[surreal1272]

10 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

So my daughter is dealing with some astonishingly stupid claims.  The two right now that feature GM products involve an 87 RWD Cutlass that the owner recently purchased and financed for over forty grand because it was really clean and had low miles.  It is a write off with more than a little negative equity.  Second vehicle is equally insane owner of a 2012 Malibu had 4 serious accidents on four consecutive days.

She has a dozen other claims right now seemingly just as wild.

An ‘87 Cutlass for $40K? I simply have no words for that absurdity. 

[Robert Hall]

10 minutes ago, surreal1272 said:

An ‘87 Cutlass for $40K? I simply have no words for that absurdity. 

Not to mention the absurdity of financing a 30 yr old car...who does that???

[oldshurst442]

Id buy a mid 1980s GM G-Body. Pro-street it.

Id dump 40K on it...but that would be only if I had an insane amount of money in my several bank accounts...1 bank account in Switzerland, another in the Cayman Islands...

 

But in an Oldsmobile dress...like the dude in @A Horse With No Name story!

 

[G. David Felt]

Amazing how far we have come!

1956 IBM ships their first 5MB Disk Drive.

Cost was $35,000 then or $315,209.55 cents today.  

[ocnblu]

2018 Silverado Blackout

[Drew Dowdell]

I like the new "classic" badges that Chevy is offering now...

 

 

[balthazar]

I believe that's only on the SIlverado / Colorado anniversary editions (all 2018's?).

[ocnblu]

14 minutes ago, balthazar said:

I believe that's only on the SIlverado / Colorado anniversary editions (all 2018's?).

Yes, as factory-installed items... but Chevy is selling them over the counter (those Centennial emblems).

[oldshurst442]

36 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I like the new "classic" badges that Chevy is offering now...

 

 

This one?

(I had to google it)

(I had no idea Chevy went retro on it)

I like that too!

[Drew Dowdell]

7 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

This one?

(I had to google it)

(I had no idea Chevy went retro on it)

I like that too!

Yup, that's the one.  I couldn't find a pic before I had to leave the house. 

[A Horse With No Name]

It is really nice!

[Drew Dowdell]

Yeah, if I end up in another Chevy, I'd like to get one. 

[ccap41]

13 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I like the new "classic" badges that Chevy is offering now...

 

 

Those new anniversary editions look AWESOME! 

[oldshurst442]

18 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Yup, that's the one.  I couldn't find a pic before I had to leave the house. 

I got your back...I like posting pics.

[ocnblu]

[Drew Dowdell]

Aw, I'm sorry your date got away last night Ocn...

[ocnblu]

1 hour ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Aw, I'm sorry your date got away last night Ocn...

But... but... I'm not Quebecois!   

[G. David Felt]

3 hours ago, ocnblu said:

But... but... I'm not Quebecois!   

I always thought you were more of the white nascar crowd.  

[ocnblu]

My brother, who works for a well-known giant corporation that is unionized, brought up an excellent point while we were talking this morning.  At the location he works for, his company paid to have a few electric car charging stations installed, which were to be gratis for the employees to plug into while they work... but someone complained (rightfully so) that if the company pays for the one electric car driver (Datsun Leaf LOL) to charge his car while he worked, he should be paid for his gasoline. 

I guess that was a can of worms they did not want to open.

Needless to say, it was not long before meters were added to the charging stations so the employee has to pay for the electric he uses. 

Edited October 14, 2017 by ocnblu

[oldshurst442]

52 minutes ago, ocnblu said:

but someone complained (rightfully so) that if the company pays for the one electric car driver

And that goes to show you how whiny and childish and petty we all have become...

Hey Mr Bossman...you pay for Frankie's electricity...

 

I want you to pay for my gas!!!

Wah wah wah...its only fair!

Wah!

 

NO! You GOT to pay for me too! WAH WAH WAH!!!

 

After all...after you own admission...its ONLY ONE LEAF driver for Chrissakes!!!

My neighbor's boss...the one that drives the 1st gen Volt...well...he also has installed chargers and the employees that own EVs get to charge their cars for free...the gasoline dudes dont say a word...

Why?

Well...they could buy an EV and get free electricity....nobody is stopping them...

The problem with today's society is that we look at what our neighbor is doing and if he has an advantage...we would rather destroy his benefits rather than run our own race and maybe even try to take advantage of the SAME BENEFITS!!!

THAT is how I see things!

It looks like your brother's co-workers are nothing but busy body, gossipy, jealous, old maids!

 

Edited October 14, 2017 by oldshurst442

[ocnblu]

3 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

And that goes to show you how whiny and childish and petty we all have become...

Hey Mr Bossman...you pay for Frankie's electricity...

 

I want you to pay for my gas!!!

Wah wah wah...its only fair!

Wah!

 

NO! You GOT to pay for me too! WAH WAH WAH!!!

 

After all...after you own admission...its ONLY ONE LEAF driver for Chrissakes!!!

My neighbor's boss...the one that drives the 1st gen Volt...well...he also has installed chargers and the employees that own EVs get to charge their cars for free...the gasoline dudes dont say a word...

Why?

Well...they could buy an EV and get free electricity....nobody is stopping them...

The problem with today's society is that we look at what our neighbor is doing and if he has an advantage...we would rather destroy his benefits rather than run our own race and maybe even try to take advantage of the SAME BENEFITS!!!

THAT is how I see things!

It looks like your co-workers are nothing but busy body, gossipy, old maids!

 

What a silly, ill conceived, word-filled and visual aid reply, but I am not surprised considering the source.  You actually just basically said every worker should drive a stupid electric car or be discriminated against.  Like everyone's transportation requirements ARE THE SAME.  If you could comprehend what you read in my comment, you would have also seen that the plant is unionized, therefore everyone gets treated equally, including pay, for any given position in the company.  Free charging of an electric car is compensation for traveling expenses... and should not be allowed unless everyone else is getting the same compensation.  Also Pepe, I SAID IT IS MY BROTHER'S EMPLOYER, NOT MINE, so your last sentence is even more stupid than usual!

[FAPTurbo]

someone at my company made a similar complaint about my free charging vs his paying gas

he's fired now, so he doesn't have to pay gas money for the shopping cart he inevitably pushes now!

[ocnblu]

8 minutes ago, FAPTurbo said:

someone at my company made a similar complaint about my free charging vs his paying gas

he's fired now, so he doesn't have to pay gas money for the shopping cart he inevitably pushes now!

Are you stalking him?  Don't play like a dolt with your comments.  Work performance and someone getting fired has nothing to do with the topic... and that is whether it is fair for some workers to be compensated differently, especially in a unionized workplace.

[oldshurst442]

Look again...

I had time to edit...

Unionized?

HA!

Like I said...my neighbor is an air traffic control dude...yup...they are unionized...

You feel like you are discriminated against because EV people get preferential treatment at a unionized place?

 

Solution: play the EV card...

Litigation is the answer to all of our problems...

 

GTFO with that shyte, bro!

 

 

 

[oldshurst442]

 

That left lane...yeah...the reserved  Bus and Taxi lane...

Well...its also a reserved 3 or more peeps and EV lane...

My tax dollars go to EV people and they have their own lane! I feel discriminated against!!!

Im suing the guvment!

Is Cochran still alive?

No!

OK...Il get this guy...on discount as I wouldnt be able to afford Cohran anyway as all my money goes to those stupid guvment taxes for stupid EV lanes...I want my own private lanes for 2012 Acura TL SH-All Wheel Drives!!!

 

Edited October 14, 2017 by oldshurst442

[ocnblu]

Not that HOV lanes and the like aren't also stupid... but that is hardly a workplace situation involving pay.  Do I have to clue you in on everything.  You are advocating forcing people to spend their money on something they don't want in order to be fairly and equally compensated AT WORK.  Do you know how asinine that is?  Apparently not because you continue to roll around on the floor like a Quaker trying to apologize for it.

Edited October 14, 2017 by ocnblu

[oldshurst442]

11 minutes ago, ocnblu said:

Not that HOV lanes and the like aren't also stupid... but that is hardly a workplace situation involving pay.  Do I have to clue you in on everything.  You are advocating forcing people to spend their money on something they don't want in order to be fairly and equally compensated AT WORK.  Do you know how asinine that is?  Apparently not because you continue to roll around on the floor like a Quaker trying to apologize for it.

Buy an EV...dont want an EV?

Nobody is forcing you to do anything...

Its a free country and you can buy anything you want...

You are also free to whine and complain...that works too..I guess...

 

Edited October 14, 2017 by oldshurst442

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, ocnblu said:

What a silly, ill conceived, word-filled and visual aid reply, but I am not surprised considering the source.  You actually just basically said every worker should drive a stupid electric car or be discriminated against.  Like everyone's transportation requirements ARE THE SAME.  If you could comprehend what you read in my comment, you would have also seen that the plant is unionized, therefore everyone gets treated equally, including pay, for any given position in the company.  Free charging of an electric car is compensation for traveling expenses... and should not be allowed unless everyone else is getting the same compensation.  Also Pepe, I SAID IT IS MY BROTHER'S EMPLOYER, NOT MINE, so your last sentence is even more stupid than usual!

So your brother works for a stupid socialist company that treats everyone like Lemmings and would rather destroy the future than help to make things better.

I drive a fun gas guzzling auto and my company has free charging for those that drive EV's and plug in. Big Deal, the few dollars in Electricity cannot compare and it is the step in the right direction.

You have just proven how out of touch with educated humans Unions are.

Thank you for proving why we are way past needing them except for those that are just lazy.

In thinking about this, I question if the building is even owned by the company your brother works for. I doubt it as most do not own their own buildings as they can lease and write it off against profits to minimize paying taxes and usually the building owners are the ones who put in EV chargers to take advantage of write off's and to help change to a healthier breathing area for everyone.

@ocnblu, post your brothers work address please, I am truly interested in knowing who owns the building as it can also indicate who is doing the EV stuff.

[surreal1272]

I honestly feel dumber for having read this page. 

 

Carry on.

[ccap41]

On 10/14/2017 at 2:58 PM, ocnblu said:

What a silly, ill conceived, word-filled and visual aid reply, but I am not surprised considering the source.  You actually just basically said every worker should drive a stupid electric car or be discriminated against.  Like everyone's transportation requirements ARE THE SAME.  If you could comprehend what you read in my comment, you would have also seen that the plant is unionized, therefore everyone gets treated equally, including pay, for any given position in the company.  Free charging of an electric car is compensation for traveling expenses... and should not be allowed unless everyone else is getting the same compensation.  Also Pepe, I SAID IT IS MY BROTHER'S EMPLOYER, NOT MINE, so your last sentence is even more stupid than usual!

ERRMAHHGERRRDDD Hank got $4 worth of electricity and I didn't get anything! Give me more things! 

Sounds more like the employees are a bunch of whiny bitches. 

If they have a problem with somebody else driving an EV and getting EV benefits..go by a damn EV. If an EV doesn't suit your requirements then deal with it. 

On 10/14/2017 at 4:25 PM, dfelt said:

You have just proven how out of touch with educated humans Unions are.

Bingo.

All their "fairness" only hurts the harder working individuals. Working hard doesn't get rewarded but doing minimum requirements gets overpaid. 

[Robert Hall]

People complaining about an employer providing EV charging stations in an office lot is the dumbest thing I've heard in a while.  I've worked at places that had employee incentives for car/van pooling, using public transportation, and having EV charging stations. I didn't take advantage of any of that because I commuted by SUV.  Wasn't a big deal to me. 

Edited October 16, 2017 by Cubical-aka-Moltar