Random Thoughts 15: Crystal Clear 2021 Edition

[Ms3r4ISU]

Think we just bought a RAV4. But @cmjh10 ’s pickup may interest me. What you got?

Just to tag on the RAV4 convo, about 7 years ago we got a Forester as a rental car on a trip (to Montana) and really liked it. Was driving a minivan at the time and knew we were soon to be in the market. Ended up with a RAV4 and really like it,except for not being able to see much beyond the front windshield and side mirrors. On test drive the salesman told us if you can’t see it (meaning the hood or door) you won’t hit anything. I was concerned about driving into our garage and knocking off a side mirror or scraping the front bumper. Haven’t done either in 5 1/2 years;

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

LAST DAY AT WORK!
View attachment 86998

Cold Smoke in your honor (It’s a Montana beer)!

 

[wxman1]

I would like to sell my Accord but replacing it with something I want at an affordable price is the issue.

 

[Rabbuk]

I would like to sell my Accord but replacing it with something I want at an affordable price is the issue.

I think my brother has a 7 year oldish accord and was pricing out replacements with something comparable and is in the same boat.

 

[cmjh10]

Local county fair…..yeesh

 

[wxman1]

I think my brother has a 7 year oldish accord and was pricing out replacements with something comparable and is in the same boat.

With the third kid on the way I am looking at something bigger but yeah...probably going to wait until next spring. Mine is a 2013 XLE with 80K miles so a ton of life left, just outgrowing it.

 

[cmjh10]

Saw this on the way back from the fair. Only a mile or 2 from @BCClone site.

 

[madguy30]

View attachment 87067
Saw this on the way back from the fair. Only a mile or 2 from @BCClone site.

Weird.

Radar shows nothing.

 

[cmjh10]

Weird.

Radar shows nothing.

Yeah, really weird. Dad said it was probably a cold funnel. Second one tried to form behind it at one point.

 

[BCClone]

Local county fair…..yeesh

There last night. Sad part, it’s better than it was 5 years ago.

 

[NWICY]

I'm trying to get mentally prepared for car shopping. The exhaust is crapping out on my car. Mo is 10 years old, has 140K miles, and is beginning to rust in spots - pretty much a fact of life on Iowa gravel roads, with rock dings exacerbated by road salt on the streets/highways. So the question becomes, do we invest in fixing the exhaust or just trade her in. I like the car, but now that I'm not driving daily in my commute I wouldn't mind something a little bit bigger & more comfy for non-RV road trips. Maybe with heated seats? Not because I'm cold, but because the warmth felt really good on my bad back on long drives when we had heated seats...in the car Lew wrapped around a telephone pole after hitting a patch of black ice.

So, looking for something a little newer and a little bigger than a 2011 Malibu. DO NOT WANT an SUV size chunk. Any suggestions?

PS - don't even mention Fords. Lew will never buy one.

Chevy Impalas (drove one when my Cruze was broke) Toyota Avalon (They look pretty roomy, bigger than the Camrys) never drove one though. I've rented a Camry before for a long trip and really liked it, excellent mileage, drove well, was comfortable etc) Other than that I don't have any recs.

 

[NWICY]

Winner,winner View attachment 87038View attachment 87039

Not near as dangerous as the "shot ski" that was at a tailgate I visited. 4 shot glasses all glued onto a long downhill ski fill all 4 and 4 people take a shot at once. The greater the height differential between participants the funnier it is.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

Not near as dangerous as the "shot ski" that was at a tailgate I visited. 4 shot glasses all glued onto a long downhill ski fill all 4 and 4 people take a shot at once. The greater the height differential between participants the funnier it is.

Saw that, too, though just the ski, not the action.

 

[NWICY]

@SCyclone, @stormchaser2014 Congrats on the big Bucks W tonite! Chaser tear up Milwaukee tonight!!!!!!

 

[do4CY]

I'm trying to get mentally prepared for car shopping. The exhaust is crapping out on my car. Mo is 10 years old, has 140K miles, and is beginning to rust in spots - pretty much a fact of life on Iowa gravel roads, with rock dings exacerbated by road salt on the streets/highways. So the question becomes, do we invest in fixing the exhaust or just trade her in. I like the car, but now that I'm not driving daily in my commute I wouldn't mind something a little bit bigger & more comfy for non-RV road trips. Maybe with heated seats? Not because I'm cold, but because the warmth felt really good on my bad back on long drives when we had heated seats...in the car Lew wrapped around a telephone pole after hitting a patch of black ice.

So, looking for something a little newer and a little bigger than a 2011 Malibu. DO NOT WANT an SUV size chunk. Any suggestions?

PS - don't even mention Fords. Lew will never buy one.

A little info if you check out the crossovers like Boxster suggested. My wife has an outback which is almost the same length as a Malibu but is a little wider and taller. The rear hatch makes it seem bigger too. The biggest difference though is that it has as much ground clearance as a suv, a big plus on gravel in the winter. You don't have a big step up into it like a suv, more like a car to get in and out.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

My sister has driven an Outback for years and loves it. She's about 5'2"

 

[ImJustKCClone]

Not near as dangerous as the "shot ski" that was at a tailgate I visited. 4 shot glasses all glued onto a long downhill ski fill all 4 and 4 people take a shot at once. The greater the height differential between participants the funnier it is.

I did one of those in Germany. I was in the middle of my father and my two step-brothers. My father was 5'11" at the time, both step-brothers were over 6 foot. Basically, they just poured the shot over my face. Yay? It was pretty funny to everyone else. I just ended up stinking of schnapps the rest of the night.

 

[NWICY]

I did one of those in Germany. I was in the middle of my father and my two step-brothers. My father was 5'11" at the time, both step-brothers were over 6 foot. Basically, they just poured the shot over my face. Yay? It was pretty funny to everyone else. I just ended up stinking of schnapps the rest of the night.

I've seen it done successfully with big height differentials but I think they were "seasoned" veterans LOL. The tall ones kind of squished down, but it wasn't their 1st time as a group.

 

[NWICY]

Holy cow I must officially be a liberal CyBri dumbed me on two posts in the cave. By the way Rtter's notice that I didn't @ him I have no desire to drag that drivel into our little group

 

[NWICY]

I've seen it done successfully with big height differentials but I think they were "seasoned" veterans LOL. The tall ones kind of squished down, but it wasn't their 1st time as a group.

Yep they needed to put you at an end.