Love to see how they worded that in the contract!
Car Talk
- Thread starter JHDK
- Start date
Friday was the first really nice spring day here, and it gave me the opportunity to install the wind-blocker I got for Christmas. As you can see, it's made specifically for the car; the side-panels of the back seat already have the holes for the pins in the blocker. After more than 20 years of driving convertibles, this is the first time I've installed one of these.
The effect is amazing. On a day where it barely hit 60 degrees, the air around me is now basically static; there's no cold air rushing in or hitting the back of my head. This will really extend the conditions where I can put the top down. And the vertical blocker portion just folds down, so I don't have to remove it when the top goes up, or even when I want to put things behind my seat. I only have to take it out if I put someone back there, and it folds nicely into the trunk. File this under "Likes".
The effect is amazing. On a day where it barely hit 60 degrees, the air around me is now basically static; there's no cold air rushing in or hitting the back of my head. This will really extend the conditions where I can put the top down. And the vertical blocker portion just folds down, so I don't have to remove it when the top goes up, or even when I want to put things behind my seat. I only have to take it out if I put someone back there, and it folds nicely into the trunk. File this under "Likes".
IdRatherBeSkiing
Sherbert is NOT and NEVER WILL BE ice cream.
One of the problem I would have with a convertible would be that in order to prevent sunburn on my rather exposed head, I would need to wear a hat. And hats have a habit of flipping off in the wind. Maybe the wind blocker would solve this.
Although the bigger reason to me is the only people I see driving around in convertibles are actually aged/aging men who look like they are desperately trying unsuccessfully to reclaim their youth. If I don't appear that way, then I can claim I have not lost my youth.
Although the bigger reason to me is the only people I see driving around in convertibles are actually aged/aging men who look like they are desperately trying unsuccessfully to reclaim their youth. If I don't appear that way, then I can claim I have not lost my youth.
In a car that has good air control, a hat works. Some of the pricier cars have deflectors built into the windshield header, as well as some sort of rear wind-blocker integrated into the top mechanism. What I've done for many years is have basically 2 settings for my hats: a relaxed one for the beach, and a tight one for the car. But now I can wear a hat in a normal way.One of the problem I would have with a convertible would be that in order to prevent sunburn on my rather exposed head, I would need to wear a hat. And hats have a habit of flipping off in the wind. Maybe the wind blocker would solve this.
Although the bigger reason to me is the only people I see driving around in convertibles are actually aged/aging men who look like they are desperately trying unsuccessfully to reclaim their youth. If I don't appear that way, then I can claim I have not lost my youth.
As far as the need or usability or point of a convertible, we've talked about this before. We live in different worlds. You see people in the business district of Toronto, showing off. I live in the country, and in-particular in a resort town, where on any nice day, lots of people are enjoying the day, by not being trapped in a stuffy car.
Maybe when we meet at Tuckaway Tavern, I'll take you for a ride on 102, or 107, or 27, or whatever the fuck roads are there.
I really am looking forward to that.
Last weekend = care for father-in-law (quadriplegic). Next weekend = empty basement for radon. Weekend after = wife's birthday/Easter. Weekend after = care for father (stroke).
Calgon, take me away...
Last weekend = care for father-in-law (quadriplegic). Next weekend = empty basement for radon. Weekend after = wife's birthday/Easter. Weekend after = care for father (stroke).
Calgon, take me away...
I have:
This weekend is colonoscopy prep
Next weekend is passover
Weekend after is a band concert
Then I think I have some time before memorial weekend.
Edit: I often get together with friends on Thursdays. Fridays are either off days, or days where I take some time off.
This weekend is colonoscopy prep
Next weekend is passover
Weekend after is a band concert
Then I think I have some time before memorial weekend.
Edit: I often get together with friends on Thursdays. Fridays are either off days, or days where I take some time off.
Cool I'll shoot for a Thursday if I can swing it!
I usually play tennis but with this tennis elbow I've been out of commission for a few weeks, and probably a few more.
I usually play tennis but with this tennis elbow I've been out of commission for a few weeks, and probably a few more.
I was at the very popular NH State Liquor store the other day, parked next to a Lincoln Nautilus. At first glance, it looked like his side molding was popping-off.
But that's their new integrated door handle. I guess their owners like to create the impression that they're ripping the trim off the car whenever they open the door.
But that's their new integrated door handle. I guess their owners like to create the impression that they're ripping the trim off the car whenever they open the door.
That's really cool. I had no idea they made that much of a difference. I'm glad you're enjoying it and it 'll make you enjoy your car all the more going forward.
Whatever happened to the roll bars that convertibles in the '90s used to have? I had a friend whose older sister and mom would drive convertible Mercedes. I forget what model but all of them had that roll bar. I think it was like in between the backseat and the front seats. Do the cars just not roll as much anymore or did they not really work in the first place? You have any idea about that? You're the convertible guy around here.
When the Mrs buys a new toy and asks if you're down for trying something new, you don't need to come up with some funny name for it and tell us about how you're preparing for trying it Scotch.
At first glance I don't like that one bit. But that is the first time I've ever seen it so I'll need to see it in person. I like the new integrated door handles that aren't really new anymore that are flush with the door.
I have two Hyundai Venue bits of news.
First off on my way home from Universal yesterday I realized that the latch under the driver seat or by the driver seat to open the gas tank isn't working anymore. And oh boy that was scary cuz I was only halfway home when I was getting gas but I managed to get it open.
Good news is I'm getting it fixed for free next Monday cuz it's part of the warranty. Having a new car with a warranty is freaking cool. I've never experienced this before.
All right now this one is going to make me sound like an idiot, but I was in Pam's car today and I was playing with my fob....
(Yes, I am aware that joke writes itself but unlike you all I am mature and am not going to make a joke about playing with my fob in Pam's car)
....I knew the fob had four buttons but I never really looked at them. The only ones I've ever used were the opening and closing door ones. So there's this one button that kind of looks like the refresh button on a browser and I was just you know spewing bullshit while talking to a pretty girl who somehow likes me.......As you all know I'm very good at vomiting random bullshit.....So I asked Pam, "What is this button for?" and she said... "That's the one that starts your car dummy."
HOLY SHIT. I CAN REMOTE START MY CAR FROM MY KEY FOB!!!
I had no idea. And it works like a charm so that is fucking awesome. And I don't know. It's just really cool to find new things about my car 11 and 1/2 months into owning it.
First off on my way home from Universal yesterday I realized that the latch under the driver seat or by the driver seat to open the gas tank isn't working anymore. And oh boy that was scary cuz I was only halfway home when I was getting gas but I managed to get it open.
Good news is I'm getting it fixed for free next Monday cuz it's part of the warranty. Having a new car with a warranty is freaking cool. I've never experienced this before.
All right now this one is going to make me sound like an idiot, but I was in Pam's car today and I was playing with my fob....
(Yes, I am aware that joke writes itself but unlike you all I am mature and am not going to make a joke about playing with my fob in Pam's car)
....I knew the fob had four buttons but I never really looked at them. The only ones I've ever used were the opening and closing door ones. So there's this one button that kind of looks like the refresh button on a browser and I was just you know spewing bullshit while talking to a pretty girl who somehow likes me.......As you all know I'm very good at vomiting random bullshit.....So I asked Pam, "What is this button for?" and she said... "That's the one that starts your car dummy."
HOLY SHIT. I CAN REMOTE START MY CAR FROM MY KEY FOB!!!
I had no idea. And it works like a charm so that is fucking awesome. And I don't know. It's just really cool to find new things about my car 11 and 1/2 months into owning it.
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What kind of a man are you that you don't push all of the buttons?!?!
I'm pretty good at getting tops down remotely too..... Just need to know how to say the right things to get all those cylinders warm and purring.
Anyway, enough of my dumb jokes.... Scotch have you ever heard of The Thermal Club? It's this like super rich community out in Palm Springs CA?
I haven't looked into it but I had a buddy whose friend's sister had passes that she gave to him for race lessons there. Apparently they were around $1,500 per ticket..... It's this race track that BMW, I don't know is associated with somehow, and you can just get in awesome high performance BMWs and race around the track. And if you're poor like my buddy and only get the tickets from a friend of a friend then you can drive around a little bit. And then a real professional drives you around and scares the shit out of you.
And the people who have access to the entire track (it's a real professional track)..... They are required to buy a house there and pay a due like it's a country club but it's a crazy due half a mil per year.
Apparently........I know these are two wildly different people, but Bill Gates and James Corden both own houses there so they have access to the track.
I could be totally wrong about all of this. All I know is there's a racetrack in Palm Springs he went to. It was like a fucking $1,500 ticket and he was allowed to drive as fast as he wanted to and then a professional got in and drove way faster with him in shotgun.
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IdRatherBeSkiing
Sherbert is NOT and NEVER WILL BE ice cream.
My car has remote start but Toyota did it in a completely fucked up way. When you open the door, the engine shuts off. They claim its a safety feature. I think its just stupid. So I never use it. And with my fob it is some combination of buttons which I can't remember anymore. My wife had a more straight forward starter (there was only 1 fancy one so she got it). That is MIA right now. When I get deeper into cleaning out her office I expect to find it. But I still won't use it.
I just read this.
You all know one of my greatest joys in life is making fun of Scotch. So I just want to say that up front because a part of me dies every time I defend him.
Rocking a fucking Kick-Ass BMW convertible in Maine is like the most alpha move a non-douchebag alpha man can make.
You've all seen the YouTube videos of those fucking horrible alpha men. They say like oh yeah everybody else is a beta man. Yeah blah blah blah. Yeah it's ridiculous like that dude.....The Tate guy or whatever. That is not what's happening here at all. Those guys were probably pussies in high school who are constantly trying to make up for it the rest of their lives. They probably couldn't even play holder for the kicker on the high school JV football team.
Being a Mandy Patinkin or at worst a Chuck Schumer in Maine rolling around in a boss BMW is not at all trying to reclaim youth. It's fucking showing....Hey, I'm an F1 fan who's done okay in life. I've got a fucking pantry window and I deserve this. I'm not showing off like an asshole with a suped up Camaro or Civic or 911 turbo that isn't manual. I'm not pretending to be in fast and furious in my 60s. I've got at least a little bit of class, dignity and professionalism. While still being pretty fucking cool in this goddamn car.
We're all boys here. We all want fun toys. A convertible BMW is a fucking fun toy. That's a goddamn objective fact.
Our stations in life might be somewhat different but me getting my silly large TV is kind of the same thing. It's a fun toy for an adult man that is useful, a bit excessive, but makes me very happy every day.
Those are my thoughts about people who are dual pantry window and BMW owners.
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I don't know that place, but I know about BMWCCA - their car club. Members can drive on race tracks in their local area. It's like a social club. I was married with a kid on the way by 23, so I never bothered with car clubs. And also, I was 32 when I got my first BMW, and going through a divorce.
I also have a friend who's in a club with a Mini Cooper. They do the same sort of stuff.
I am aware this is antiquated thinking but Mazda Miatas (no one tells memebag) and all models of Minis will always be girl cars to me.
Pam's last car was a manual Mini with racing stripes and it made me like her more. Both having a cute girl car and knowing stick.
Mrs. Scotch had driven a Honda CRX-Si with a stick, which impressed me.
Girls drive New Beetles and purple pick-ups. Miatas and Minis are bare-boned sports cars that are generally driven by car guys, although I do see many women with Minis too.