G. David Felt

That is so true, she would be from Kent!!! You and me both my friend, I am HIGH Mileage, but only a few broken OEM parts that have been re-welded due to Skiing and power lifting!

IT's not the age but the miles!

@balthazar While I hate dealerships for the most part, I do agree with you that they have their place and the good ones have morphed into a more Hybrid model for the 21st century. These dealerships that have morphed saw what Amazon was doing to retail and realized they had to change to survive. Good for them, wish them all the best. The terrible dealerships that have prayed on ignorant customers and have had bad press in the local news are closing up or being sold off to other dealership groups due to state investigation and hopefully they correct and survive, but I have seen a massive closing of dealerships in my state. One has to drive much farther between brands now than in the past. I think the Pandemic has forced the living week by week playing money games of the weak businesses out and that is good for everyone IMHO. @ccap41 I would love to see what your friend has told you in writing as comments like that are like assholes, everyone has one and only in writing does it hold water. I hope it is true and the local folks do not get the terrible AMPs. I totally agree with you about the cost thing, this is the one thing I wish Schools, Fire Departments, Police, City, County and state government would be forced to be held accountable to actually telling the truth on real full year cost. At the voting time, they are always pushing the need to increase taxes by saying it is only $1.50 per $500 assessed home value tax as an example. Yet when you live in an area where the average home is selling at $750,000, then that tax becomes a $2,250 tax bill on your annual property taxes paid every 6 months. Not everyone actually plans for large bills like this. Local school district put out a $175 million-dollar 40-year levy saying they needed the money for new technology in the school but were very vague on what specifics they would spend that money on and only the year before had put out and passed two new bonds of $40 million and $85 million as the first was to pay for maintenance on schools over the next decade and the second was to pay for new elementary replacement schools. People have short memory of all the bonds, levy's etc. and how those taxes add up. My house property tax was only $2,500 in 2019, my 2021 tax was $5,700 and I just got the notice that for $2022 my tax will be $6,127 due to the latest taxes the local city and county gov passed this past November. It would be great if I could get pay raises that go up as fast as the taxes have gone up. People wonder why it is so hard to buy a home now if you are not a dual income household and even then, without saving first for that 20% down as the first-time buyers 3% down makes the monthly mortgage payment crazy. In regard to EVs incentives here in Washington state, we still have the same ones they passed in 2019. Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Plug-In Hybrids Washington State Tax Exemptions On August 1, 2019, Washington State reinstated the sales and use tax exemption for the sales of: Vehicles powered by a clean alternative fuel. Certain plug-in hybrids. The exemption applies to dealer and private sales of new, used, and leased vehicles sold on or after August 1, 2019. New vehicle transactions must not exceed $45,000 in purchase price or lease payments. Used vehicles transactions must not exceed $30,000 in fair market value or lease payments. These thresholds may also include the value of your trade-in, if applicable. Example If the cost of a new vehicle is $48,000, and the value of your trade-in is worth $6,000, you can't receive the tax exemption. Even though the trade-in brought the cost down to $42,000, the new vehicle was still worth over the $45,000 limit. You cannot use a trade-in to lower the price of a vehicle to meet the exemption limits.

So True, save and enjoy the best when you have it, never go cheap, the experience is such a letdown. After skiing yesterday, enjoyed a both of Cab Sauv 2014 from one of my favorite wineries while watching a movie. Great way to relax after a awesome day of pounding the slopes.

@surreal1272 Happy B-Day Old Man, I got ya beat by 5 years. 54 isn't bad, Like @balthazar I do wake up and wonder what body parts are gonna hurt, but today was day 5 of ski season, nailed 16 miles of skiing, so not too bad on this old body. For you, a young 49, Keep Rocking life to the fullest, have a great drink, dinner and after dinner drink and enjoy the perks of another year of Life on this big blue marble!

Yup still ugly to me. Hard Pass, no wonder they died off.

Damn those are UGLY!

Awesome to hear your doing well and yes sadly, there does seem to be a clear divide that is more political due to ignorance from the leadership of that side rather than intelligence, science and medical testing of facts proving otherwise. I can say from my own work with the CDC, John Hopkins, Harvard Medical and Oxford that a Mix of say Pfizer and Moderna Booster seems to do really well also. So you can stay with just one brand or mix it up between Moderna and Pfizer and still do really well since both are based on the same MRNA technology. Have a great relaxing healthy and safe Holiday Season.

It would seem that Tech Features and Conquest Cash is what is doing it to get BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi customers to buy Genesis. Genesis hopes a little pampering results in lots of conquest sales | Automotive News Europe (autonews.com) Interesting is that there is nothing yet on the statistics web sites for their sales in conquest. Hopefully in 2022 we will finally get some firm data on where the luxury sales are coming from. What info is out there shows Genesis dropped market share in 2020 and has promised to double dealerships starting in 2021 to 2022 to help increase luxury sales. Genesis U.S Sales Figures (carsalesbase.com) In regard to what is available on Statista, you have to pay to see the numbers. • Search | Statista (upenn.edu)

Toyota IMHO does not have Reliability. Too much proof out there online but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Even with a 180 that Toyota is implying they are doing as they have announced a battery plant to be built and operational by 2025 in Liberty NC Toyota to build $1.29 billion EV battery plant in North Carolina (cnbc.com) They are still going to be behind everyone else and they have stated that the bulk of their EVs will be out by 2030 but everyone else especially GM is planning to have most in production by 2025 with more coming out and refresh versions between 2025 and 2030. Toyota is late and there is NOTHING they can do at this point to make up the ground. Lemmings are always willing to wait to be told when and what to do, so I am sure the Toyota Lemmings buyers will wait and be half a decade behind everyone else.

Toyota is late to the party, late to starting battery development and supplies, late to the whole EV movement as they bet on Hybrids going to Hydrogen. Yet Hydrogen makes no sense in the retail auto space unlike Semi trucks which make more sense. Sadly, we all know that Hydrogen takes more energy to produce the fuel than what you get out of it and the market has spoken so Toyota is behind the 8 ball and is doing the same thing they did the last 5 years, legal lawsuits to try and postpone them losing market share. They not only still are pushing their worthless lawsuit against CARB and California to stop EVs, but they have also even filed legal motions against their own Japanese government which is moving forward with support for EVs over Hydrogen. They might have money in the bank, but they have idiots in leadership positions and that will cost them in the long run. Interesting times we live in and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top as I do not expect Tesla to be tops in the EV auto market once Everyone Has EVs to sell. Agree, Toyota is a good 5 to 6 years behind everyone else since they bet big on Hydrogen only to lose out. I actually expect them to do ok with Electric Semi Trucks powered by Hydrogen Generators, but in the retail auto space, they are falling behind fast.

Ultimate Gas Production food!

? Maybe like BMW M and Mercedes AMG it was awaiting hand made parts so it could fly again.

I agree, good question to ask, seems you can find plenty of cold weather results on the Chevrolet Bolt and yet all these stories talk about how great the Tesla Alaska testing site it, but still no real data. An exclusive look at Tesla's extreme cold testing facility - Roadshow (cnet.com) Tesla's Winter Testing Facility In Alaska Is Pretty Incredible (insideevs.com) Interesting that even on Tesla own forum owners admit that they want to see but have found no info on Tesla 3 cold weather battery degradation. Cold weather testing — Tesla Forums Interesting that another Tesla Forum also has the same results of no info on any of Tesla products even though they have their winter testing ground. They do mention Bolt data and how good the Bolt is at minimal battery degradation in extreme cold. Cold weather testing? | Tesla Motors Club This is probably one of the best news stories on Tesla and how it matches up to the Bolt. Tesla in -36c Saskatchewan Canada takes 10 min to heat up before it lets you drive it. Chevrolet Bolt heats up in seconds and due to the battery tech that manages the battery pack, even in the extreme cold you can get in and drive right away. WIN GM. Teslas & Other EVs In Extreme Cold (-36°C) - CleanTechnica Tesla Support has plenty of cold weather tips and they state to use their software app to make sure the auto is ready for you 10 minutes before you leave by having it do the cold weather start up process. This makes me even more want to take a GM EV over a Tesla. Winter Driving Tips | Tesla Interesting that RIVIAN has learned from GM as they manage the heating of the battery pack in extreme cold to keep it ready to use instantly rather than a 10 min preheat like Tesla. Rivian testing is done near the north pole in -40C in Canada. Rivian tests R1T electric pickup in sub-zero temperatures - Electrek This tends to make me think GM and Ford will have far superior EVs in Cold Climates over Tesla.

I love it all, Multi-Cultural Food Fest! ?

I think allot of this is still up in the air. We could see a TTI6 or a TTV6. Might be easier for them to beef up their existing V6 than clean sheet an I6.

Agree, I am liking what I see on the GMC Sierra EV. Based on GM's corporate web site and there, GMC/Chevrolet social media pages, the CES or Consumer Electric Show in January we will see these trucks unveiled.

Toyota is not new to auto electrification, but they have found themselves on the far side of the moon in comparison to other OEMs in being ready to sell electric autos to the global public. Toyota sued California CARB in attempts to stay ICE with their hybrid Prius line-up and Hydrogen as Toyota had bet big on Hydrogen over electric autos to the extent of selling Hydrogen autos in California and building some Hydrogen fueling stations. Yet while this could be the way for Semi trucks or what is known as Class 8 heavy haulers that use hydrogen generators to power an electric power train, it seems the public has chosen to endorse BEV or battery electric autos. As such, Toyota has had to make a massive change and went on a hiring spree of engineers to support a global electric auto lineup for Toyota and Lexus and with that, they have announced the following: Akio Toyoda announces 30 battery electric models by 2030 Total global battery electric vehicle sales to reach 3.5M within same timeframe Lexus aims for 100% battery electric mix in Europe*, N. America and China by 2030 Announcement underpins Toyota Motor Europe plan for 100% CO2 reduction in all new vehicles sales by 2035 in West Europe bZ battery electric family in Europe to expand with introduction of a small crossover as follow up to bZ4X launch They also had a Media Briefing on their battery EV strategies: It would appear that the Toyota Tacoma electric pickup is their most complete concept EV that could go into production. Sadly, for some weird reason, I cannot download the press release images from their website, please look at the images here: Electric Auto Portfolio It would seem Bugatti has rubbed off on Toyota / Lexus for one of their electric super cars. Strangely I find the future design directive of Toyota / Lexus to be a very Angular style. I did find that all the extra-large images have been posted here: Toyota Pickup EV Concept Likely Previews Electric Tacoma (insideevs.com) Toyota unveils full global battery electric line-up Video: Media Briefing on Battery EV Strategies | Corporate | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website View full article

Interesting thought about the revving. It will be interesting to see how their TTV6 holds up under the LEAD FEET of a Hellcat or TRX owner.

GMC has given us a peak of the upcoming electric Sierra pickup truck which will launch only in a Denali Trim and being the third all-electric auto in the GMC Portfolio. According to GMC Vice President Duncan Aldred, the Denali Trim line holds tremendous equity for GMC and their customers being one of the most popular trims sold. To quote the VP: “We now have an opportunity to evolve Sierra’s capabilities and technologies, as afforded by transitioning to an all-electric propulsion while also elevating the luxurious design and comfort associated with Denali.” The electric Sierra will be purposefully built on the Ultium Platform with premium materials and capabilities that GMC Customers have come to expect. This truck will have a full reveal next year in 2022 and be assembled at the Factory ZERO Assembly Plant in Detroit and Hamtramck, Michigan. GMC Expands EV Lineup, Offers 1st Look at Electric Sierra Denali View full article

Thank you, yup, no need to be at anyone's wedding, I guess. LOL Party was good, at the Golden Breeders second home on Camano Island up north in the San Juan Islands area. Here are some pics. FYI, there were 10 humans and 13 goldens. LOL As the evening wore on, everyone got pretty comfy. Mark and His wife who are the dog breeders and home owner changed cloths as Mark broke out his latest batches of Whisky that he makes for Tast testing. Overall ended up being a good night. Dogs were having a blast playing. Seems my Cadillac dealership is doing a major remodel to the 21st century from the existing 1960's building it was.

RIP. Hemi V8 is officially canceled and the Hellcats and everything else V8 is dead after 2023 model year. Dodge Is Cancelling The Hemi V8 (msn.com)

LOL, I actually have NOT been to a wedding since my own wedding in 1991. I switched from Computer sales to engineering in 1994 and donated all my formal wear in 2000 to Goodwill. I have had no reason to have any dress pants or any other formal attire since then. The few people who got married that I know that are close to my kids ended up going to a justice of the peace and skipping the whole marriage thing due to the pandemic and as such are planning a celebration party in 2022. FYI, I did end up going to the party in blue jeans and a polo shirt. Most were in cocktail dresses for the ladies except my wife who wore nice slacks and a sparkly cocktail shirt. All the guys were in what I call the old business casual of dress slacks, dress shoes and a dress shirt with no tie. All of the guys said they should have followed my post and just come comfy as everything was fitting snug due to pandemic weight. 21st century, comfy is the new formal.