Random Thoughts Thread

[ocnblu]

[riviera74]

2 hours ago, ocnblu said:

Surf's up.  Really up.

[Robert Hall]

^ ocngrn

[daves87rs]

7 hours ago, David said:

Seems there is a list now of the 25 best buys from the Hertz bankruptcy sale.

https://www3.forbes.com/lifestyle/these-are-the-best-blowout-deals-in-used-hertz-rental-cars-vue/

Get the feeling the deals will get better as time goes on.....

[balthazar]

[A Horse With No Name]

 

An interesting take. I trust Bloomberg news for the most part, they are fairly sane.

Old cars and high horsepower never gets old...

 

 

[G. David Felt]

This is what REAL LEADERSHIP looks like, So happy I work for Dell. I hope and wish for everyone here at Cheers and Gears to be safe and that you can have the same Multi-Cultural experience where ever you work. I realize that there are those of you that have to go into work to do your job and I hope that you continue to stay safe and healthy and do not have to deal with the Covid-19 infection.

Wishing all the Best in this time of thinning patient's and that you can find your Zen where ever you live!

[G. David Felt]

Have to say this cracks me up, never thought you could get fined for flipping a camera the bird, but you can in Germany. Rather than the normal $20 Euro Fine, the young driver for speeding 7 kph over the posted speed ended up with a 1 month suspension of driving and a $1,500 fine for insulting the Authorities.

Go Figure it was a BMW driver in an X5. Guess they are arrogant everywhere not just here in the US.

https://www.motor1.com/news/437703/speeding-bmw-driver-middle-finger-fine/

[balthazar]

2 hours ago, David said:

...never thought you could get fined for flipping a camera the bird, but you can in Germany.

It's 2020, did you still think freedom of expression was a thing?

[Robert Hall]

Felt like a fall morning when I got up today...55 outside at 7 am.   Sunny and 75 this afternoon, perfect weather to work on the patio.   Feels more like September than August.

[balthazar]

See; you say "work on the patio" and I read 'work ON the patio'.

I need to move into semi-retirement ASAP.

[balthazar]

I glanced across this story, wondering as usual why I should care.  'Multi-millionaire restored ho-hummingly common car / thinks it's amazingly special'.  First, here's the before/after. Nice job, obviously (tho CERTAINLY not a tough restoration, at ALL) : 

 

Ya; it's Aquaman.  Then this caught my eye :

 

I don't know why I think the idle rich can pay someone a few bucks to make themselves appear informed, but apparently that's wrong. They made like 560,000 '65 Mustangs, the word "rare" doesn't apply.

Then I found out where his thought came from :

 

Apparently he thinks Ford built 1 each of the V8s, and 559,997 I-6s.

Edited August 6, 2020 by balthazar

[Robert Hall]

8 minutes ago, balthazar said:

See; you say "work on the patio" and I read 'work ON the patio'.

I need to move into semi-retirement ASAP.

My work is so boring these days.  But still able to bill for 40 hrs/week, thankful I don't have to commute to an office. 

Edited August 6, 2020 by Robert Hall

[A Horse With No Name]

51 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Felt like a fall morning when I got up today...55 outside at 7 am.   Sunny and 75 this afternoon, perfect weather to work on the patio.   Feels more like September than August.

Did I mention that I love living in the midwest?

38 minutes ago, balthazar said:

I glanced across this story, wondering as usual why I should care.  'Multi-millionaire restored ho-hummingly common car / thinks it's amazingly special'.  First, here's the before/after. Nice job, obviously (tho CERTAINLY not a tough restoration, at ALL) : 

 

Ya; it's Aquaman.  Then this caught my eye :

 

I don't know why I think the idle rich can pay someone a few bucks to make themselves appear informed, but apparently that's wrong. They made like 560,000 '65 Mustangs, the word "rare" doesn't apply.

Then I found out where his thought came from :

I miss my 66 Fastback. 

[Robert Hall]

8 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Did I mention that I love living in the midwest?

I miss my 66 Fastback. 

I miss my '87 GT and my Dad's '69 Sportsroof..haven't see them in over 3 years.  I have the titles,, though. 

Edited August 6, 2020 by Robert Hall

[balthazar]

I miss my.... wait; they're all right here!!  ?

Seriously; tho I'd love a spin again in anything I've owned previously (including those that never ran), the only one I was truly sad to see go was my '57 F-250.

[daves87rs]

Wouldn’t mind seeing a few more classics around here..been quiet for most of the summer.....

[Robert Hall]

Yeah, I'm only going out once a week at most, so not seeing any classics that may be out and about.. been a stay-at-home summer.    

[G. David Felt]

22 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Yeah, I'm only going out once a week at most, so not seeing any classics that may be out and about.. been a stay-at-home summer.    

Same here, hard to post any monthly auto finds when you go out once a week for essential shopping and once a week to my son's house for a family dinner. Otherwise my out and about is taking care of my large growing garden.

[Robert Hall]

@balthazar might like this old truck on Hoovie's garage... a forest service green longbed 2wd '03 Chevy Silverado...with a manual and 6.0 V8.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGRf3iXimvg&t=29s

Edited August 7, 2020 by Robert Hall

[balthazar]

Do not like the color, and I prefer automatics 10/10. But it’s sure clean!

Edited August 7, 2020 by balthazar

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, Robert Hall said:

@balthazar might like this old truck on Hoovie's garage... a forest service green longbed 2wd '03 Chevy Silverado...with a manual and 6.0 V8.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGRf3iXimvg&t=29s

That is the weirdest configuration for a FOREST SERVICE TRUCK. 

[daves87rs]

11 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

@balthazar might like this old truck on Hoovie's garage... a forest service green longbed 2wd '03 Chevy Silverado...with a manual and 6.0 V8.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGRf3iXimvg&t=29s

Cool!

[oldshurst442]

Bleu-Blanc-Rouge

 

 

 

[Robert Hall]

20 hours ago, David said:

That is the weirdest configuration for a FOREST SERVICE TRUCK. 

I saw a strange forest service truck here in the Cleveland suburbs a while back..it was that funky green w forest service decals on the doors...but it was a pre-97 Jeep XJ Cherokee...in very clean shape.  Sort of a WTF moment, though..in what time warp is the forest service driving 25-30 yr old vehicles? 

[oldshurst442]

1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

Bleu-Blanc-Rouge

 

 

PHOQUE IT!!!     I want #25!    If it wont be #7 as they blew last year, Ill take #25 this year.  

 

 

[trinacriabob]

On 8/1/2020 at 9:27 AM, balthazar said:

Great photo!  It's good fun to take random photos of random animals when they show up.  I was getting gas in Orlando FL on a humid night and a little green frog had made its home in one of the slots in the steel column holding up the canopy over the gas pump island.

[daves87rs]

People are nuts! Was almost attacked at my 2nd job today (still waiting to go back to the first) Customer flipped out, threw things at me, and wanted to fight.......?

[G. David Felt]

@balthazar What are your thoughts on the 1953 Chrysler Special Ghia

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/08/rare-rides-the-1953-chrysler-special-by-ghia/

Interesting looking 2door car.

Interesting on FCA's production dates for 3 row Jeeps.

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/08/production-dates-revealed-for-newest-biggest-jeeps/

[balthazar]

4 hours ago, David said:

@balthazar What are your thoughts on the 1953 Chrysler Special Ghia

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/08/rare-rides-the-1953-chrysler-special-by-ghia/

It's a lovely design, IMO. Chrysler built an extremely limited run of a few variants of these in the early '50s, most of which survive.

But the article makes a typical mistake in it's story:

Though Rare Rides has featured many examples of vehicles which wore

Chrysler badges and Ghia designs, there’s never been a single car which represented both. That changes today, with this very rare 1953 Chrysler Special.

It wasn't designed by Ghia at all, it was designed in Detroit by Exner. Like all the Chrysler-Ghia collaborations, Ghia only constructed it.

This is the sort of sloppy journalism typical of today, coupled hand-in-hand with self-bias against American industry. 'It's good looking, Ghia was involved, therefore Ghia certainly must've designed it..... NOT Chrysler.'

[daves87rs]

5 hours ago, David said:

@balthazar What are your thoughts on the 1953 Chrysler Special Ghia

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/08/rare-rides-the-1953-chrysler-special-by-ghia/

Interesting looking 2door car.

Interesting on FCA's production dates for 3 row Jeeps.

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/08/production-dates-revealed-for-newest-biggest-jeeps/

Scary part about those Jeeps is that I am hearing near 50K starting price. Sorry, that is way too much for me!

At least there are still basic trucks one can buy for under 30k.....

[Robert Hall]

10 minutes ago, daves87rs said:

Scary part about those Jeeps is that I am hearing near 50K starting price. Sorry, that is way too much for me!

At least there are still basic trucks one can buy for under 30k.....

I suspect the full size Ram-based 3 row models (Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer) will be in Tahoe/Suburban price range or higher, so definitely starting above $50k.

The 3 row Grand Cherokee-based midsize will probably be priced and trimmed like the GC with a broad range of trims at a range of price points.

Edited August 9, 2020 by Robert Hall

[trinacriabob]

Rental car rates seem to have gone way up.  Probably to cover sanitizing the vehicles, lost revenue, etc.  I am not even seeing weekly rates on most rental agencies' sites.  They seem to price by the day.  It used to be that 5 to 7 days were priced at the same rate, which helped out the 7 day folks.

[daves87rs]

20 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

Rental car rates seem to have gone way up.  Probably to cover sanitizing the vehicles, lost revenue, etc.  I am not even seeing weekly rates on most rental agencies' sites.  They seem to price by the day.  It used to be that 5 to 7 days were priced at the same rate, which helped out the 7 day folks.

Afraid to see what they are now. Our Rental Subie last year for like 10 days was like 300 bucks.......

[G. David Felt]

Cracking up laughing as one of the most well known designers from BMW and the father of who designed the X5 for them, has not much kindness for the new Nostrils on the new BMW sedan.

 

[G. David Felt]

For the Metal Heads of all things ICE, here is your 21st Century Mad Max Auto of the Day!

 

[G. David Felt]

Motor Trend posted a first drive / review of the Z71 Suburban. Have to say this is the first time the ugly front end does not look too bad. It actually would not be a bad looking EV SUV in this monochromatic look.

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/chevrolet/suburban/2021/2021-chevrolet-suburban-first-drive-review/

[trinacriabob]

12 hours ago, daves87rs said:

Afraid to see what they are now. Our Rental Subie last year for like 10 days was like 300 bucks.......

That's a good price.  You mean you actually consented to driving a Subaru?

I recently was supposed to have an Hyundai Elantra or similar (mid-size) for 6 days and it was in the high $200s and I had to shop and shop for that.  But the silver lining in the cloud was a NICE upgrade.

I have found Costco to be good for renting cars.  However, I don't think you can get frequent flyer points.  (Or maybe you can if you give them the number at the rental counter.)

Anymore, you just have to shop and shop.

[ocnblu]

2 hours ago, David said:

Z71 Suburban. Have to say this is the first time the ugly front end does not look too bad. It actually would not be a bad looking EV SUV

You just love to stir the pot.  Another insane idea.

[G. David Felt]

37 minutes ago, ocnblu said:

You just love to stir the pot.  Another insane idea.

Off-roading in an EV SUV is already proving to be superior to an ICE auto. Better crawl mode and decent control with electric motors.

The Monochromatic Z71 would be awesome with a large Frunk and better control plus nice and quiet.

[ocnblu]

1 hour ago, David said:

Off-roading in an EV SUV is already proving to be superior to an ICE auto. Better crawl mode and decent control with electric motors.

The Monochromatic Z71 would be awesome with a large Frunk and better control plus nice and quiet.

BS

[ocnblu]

Soon time to replace your red ink cartridge

[ocnblu]

[oldshurst442]

^^^

1.  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-andrews-white-shark-endangered-1.5672350

 

2.  Damned right!  Look how freakin' huge these things are!

 

[balthazar]

5 hours ago, David said:

That is an awesome-looking SUV. Love the bumperless look up front.

[trinacriabob]

1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

^^^

1.  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-andrews-white-shark-endangered-1.5672350

 

2.  Damned right!  Look how freakin' huge these things are!

 

@oldshurst442

Two things:

1)  That's exactly what I was thinking.  If a great white shark can swim up to Maine (a very sad situation), there's nothing stopping it from swimming up to Nova Scotia (Halifax, etc.)

2) The could have been me in that photo except that my rented Alero was a coupe, burgundy, and on the Trans-Canada Highway in AB near the Continental Divide.  The moose was also a lot farther ahead of the car ... thankfully.  But who can forget that?

[oldshurst442]

19 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

If a great white shark can swim up to Maine (a very sad situation), there's nothing stopping it from swimming up to Nova Scotia (Halifax, etc.)

I know, right?

Its not as if there is some sort of magical border stopping the shark from entering Canadian waters.  There is no COVID situation in the oceans either where Maritime Province  cod, halibut and lobster all gang up on these Mexican and especially American Great Whites telling them to stay the *%#@ out of Canadian waters...

They roam as they damn well please...

 

PS:  I felt bad for that woman getting killed by a Great White a couple of days ago in Maine. 

Edited August 10, 2020 by oldshurst442

[oldshurst442]

1 hour ago, balthazar said:

That is an awesome-looking SUV. Love the bumperless look up front.

I actually prefer this look to the Escalade.  I have come full circle with Chevy truck front ends.  I just dont like the Chevy HD front end.  I dont think I ever will. But these are awesome!  

 

[surreal1272]

4 hours ago, ocnblu said:

You just love to stir the pot.  Another insane idea.

Says the same person who shows up in the alternative propulsion threads, at every chance, with his largest spoon, just for stirring.

[balthazar]

Whew- just had some home-made stuffed mushroom pie. Terrific!