The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Lilofan]

Yup, I did the cabin filter that same time I did that engine air filter and saved over $200.00 by doing it myself. Those opportunities are harder to come by the more they complicated the vehicles. I also replaced my wiper blades at the same time all of which I ordered from Amazon. The order was big enough that I didn't pay any shipping but if they did try to I could have gotten all those items at Walmart for about the same price. I know that many are afraid to do anything on a car, I know some that won't even add windshield washer fluid, but there are a few things, like these, that are on YouTube with very clear directions on how to do it. I ended up paying about $75 total, the other $200. would have been labor.

Wiper blades are easy and even if one buys quality wiper blades from Advance Auto Parts , the staff member can install for free if one asks them to do it. When I bought the top of the line Die Hard car battery from them , they installed it for free also. One doesn't only save money but one saves a lot of time. A lot of wasted time just sitting at the guest area at the dealership as an example when getting a car serviced. The one perk my dealer gives me if I have any service including oil change is that I get a free rental. The last time I was at Honda for a service , I got a 2024 Accord rental with 226 miles on the odometer. The car even smelled brand new.

 

[Lilofan]

I found that the more kids you had the more likely it was that your parents wanted you to be outside for as long as possible. Also if memory serves me right every child also had different bedtimes from the one before. Social changes over time, I guess.

When at WDW around 2012, we heard Michelle Obama was there for an event called " Let's Move ". It was a good event for all to address childhood obesity and the importance of diet and exercise for the kids. Yes, back in the day we used to play with our fellow peers outside until 5pm . Then we knew we had to ride our bikes back home to eat dinner , do homework then time for bed. I don't recall many overweight kids that I played with or even in my school. Different times back then. Nowadays some of the local neighborhood moms are drivers for their kids for after school activities. Our activity was different and I think much more fun.

 

[Figgy1]

 

[Goofyernmost]

Wiper blades are easy and even if one buys quality wiper blades from Advance Auto Parts , the staff member can install for free if one asks them to do it. When I bought the top of the line Die Hard car battery from them , they installed it for free also. One doesn't only save money but one saves a lot of time. A lot of wasted time just sitting at the guest area at the dealership as an example when getting a car serviced. The one perk my dealer gives me if I have any service including oil change is that I get a free rental. The last time I was at Honda for a service , I got a 2024 Accord rental with 226 miles on the odometer. The car even smelled brand new.

Buying them from Amazon doesn't necessarily mean that you sacrifice quality for price. I also bought top of the line wipers and paid a lot less than they cost at Advance and that means that your free installation actually did cost you extra than putting them on yourself which I did in less than three minutes. (and part of that was taking them out of the box they came in.)

 

[Goofyernmost]

Somehow I missed this post…

I’ve noticed the transition of cost of parts v labor over the decades. Parts used to be the main cost, not the labor. Parts are crazy-expensive now too, but it’s the labor that’s the real killer. And, again, among other factors, we all mostly know why…..

View attachment 779393View attachment 779392

The thing I hate about that is that those technicians are working there to make a living for themselves and usually for their families. It does bother me that my doing that stuff is also at the expense of the people doing the work. The bosses will never feel the pinch, just the workers. That said, however, I have to watch what I spend and anything that I can do to save a couple bucks, well, that is what I think is one of the few ways I can save a few pennies on living expenses and part of being responsible. The workers, of course, are not the ones setting the prices on things like that, but they are certainly the first to suffer if business is lost because of it.

 

[Lilofan]

Buying them from Amazon doesn't necessarily mean that you sacrifice quality for price. I also bought top of the line wipers and paid a lot less than they cost at Advance and that means that your free installation actually did cost you extra than putting them on yourself which I did in less than three minutes. (and part of that was taking them out of the box they came in.)

I order from Amazon too but lately we've been having porch pirates slowly driving in our area ( I've seen them ) . Some neighbors have gotten their packages stolen .

 

[Lilofan]

The thing I hate about that is that those technicians are working there to make a living for themselves and usually for their families. It does bother me that my doing that stuff is also at the expense of the people doing the work. The bosses will never feel the pinch, just the workers. That said, however, I have to watch what I spend and anything that I can do to save a couple bucks, well, that is what I think is one of the few ways I can save a few pennies on living expenses and part of being responsible. The workers, of course, are not the ones setting the prices on things like that, but they are certainly the first to suffer if business is lost because of it.

One time I met with the main tech in the Honda service bay area to discuss repairs by my car being worked on. He allowed me in the area. At one of the workshop walls there were goals and numbers written which I noticed.

Targeted revenue / yr, quarter, month, week
Actual revenue

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the more repairs they make the targeted goals can be reached.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Very quick response for a 102 year old

Yes, you seem very spry.

 

[FutureCEO]

The wheelchair races for the Boston Marathon have winners already.

 

[donaldtoo]

I found that the more kids you had the more likely it was that your parents wanted you to be outside for as long as possible. Also if memory serves me right every child also had different bedtimes from the one before. Social changes over time, I guess.

Yea, we were outside all the time when we were kids.
During the summer and weekends, unless we had a ball game, we’d be playing in the neighborhood, or we’d disappear on our bikes for hours at a time. Usually into the foothills a few miles away. All you needed was about $0.60 (incl. tax) of lawn mowing money to get a coupla’ items from Taco Bell. And, of course, we’d always be home in time for dinner…!!!!!
Pretty sure not nearly as many kids do that these days, unless they’re involved in sports, but that’s just not random play outside like in our day.

 

[rshell68]

I got ya my twin short woman!

Okay, I've got to know....I'm 5'1 where do I fit in @93boomer and @StarWarsGirl

 

[donaldtoo]

View attachment 779389

Just look at what you can see and repair on that engine. Radiator and hose, alternator, air filter unit, carburetor, distributor cap, spark plug wires to the spark plug locations, valve covers, heads, intake manifold, exhaust manifold, fan belt, brake master cylinder, steering column, heater fan and part of the block and more. What do you see on that new engine? Who the hell knows, but hopefully it's something important.

Yep, all right in front of your face, and within easy reach (relative to today, by far).
Brings to mind other thoughts, off the top of my head…
The thermostat was another easy replacement item. Two bolts and a gasket, on the top front of the intake manifold. Easily tested by putting it in a pot of water on the stove. If it didn’t open about the time the water started to boil, you knew it needed to be replaced…!!!!!

I also chose that pic because there’s no power booster for the brakes, just like my folks truck, although it did have power steering.
There are conversion kits out there, but Pop never bothered, although we had a cab over camper on the thing most of the time…!!!!!

With so many engine compartments looking like that back in the day, your average shade tree mechanic could do so many repairs on their own.
Shops lost that money back then.
These days, part prices are easier to quantify than labor. You can get a general idea on part prices by going online, but who knows (within a few dollars, and with techs varying in proficiency) how many hours it’s gonna’ take to replace the disgronificator on ones 2018 Bozomobile…???!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

When at WDW around 2012, we heard Michelle Obama was there for an event called " Let's Move ". It was a good event for all to address childhood obesity and the importance of diet and exercise for the kids. Yes, back in the day we used to play with our fellow peers outside until 5pm . Then we knew we had to ride our bikes back home to eat dinner , do homework then time for bed. I don't recall many overweight kids that I played with or even in my school. Different times back then. Nowadays some of the local neighborhood moms are drivers for their kids for after school activities. Our activity was different and I think much more fun.

There are only 2 guys, from our neighborhood and school, I can think of that were obese when we lived in No Cal from ‘68-‘76.
There were these 2 brothers that were kinda’ chunky, but definitely not obese.
I can’t think of anyone, for at least my 4 years in HS back here in Texas, that was…
As for me, I was thin, but in good shape back during those days, as we burned off all the food we wolfed down.
As for me these days, I have no clue what my BMI is, but I know it ain’t ideal…

 

[Lilofan]

There are only 2 guys, from our neighborhood and school, I can think of that were obese when we lived in No Cal from ‘68-‘76.
There were these 2 brothers that were kinda’ chunky, but definitely not obese.
I can’t think of anyone, for at least my 4 years in HS back here in Texas, that was…
As for me, I was thin, but in good shape back during those days, as we burned off all the food we wolfed down.
As for me these days, I have no clue what my BMI is, but I know it ain’t ideal…

I think we burned lots of calories back in the day at elementary school. There were no vending machines that sold all that unhealthy junk food , no provided school lunches , only water fountains. My mom packed a bologna and cheese sandwich or similar , an apple and a drink in my metal GI Joe lunch box . We burned calories at gym class, at lunch time where we ate for a few minutes then we played in the recess area outside until the bell sounded that lunch was over. After school ended we went out and played stickball, bike riding, etc until we rode our bikes back home to have dinner. My parents believed in no snacking at night and after dinner no food until breakfast. Years ago my bloodwork numbers scared me straight , and I knew I was overweight. Never easy but diet and exercise is what brought my numbers to acceptable levels. Also to mention a number of my classmates, peers, bosses all had heart attacks, most passed away at an early age , some after open heart changed their lifestyle and are doing well.

 

[93boomer]

Okay, I've got to know....I'm 5'1 where do I fit in @93boomer and @StarWarsGirl

5’2 for me

 

[StarWarsGirl]

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Okay, I've got to know....I'm 5'1 where do I fit in @93boomer and @StarWarsGirl

5’2 for me

I'm five feet tall.

 

[Dead2009]

Woo, Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 10 pm!

 

[donaldtoo]

Megan just sent me a pic of Emmy’s first haircut today…!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Also, I stopped by the local music store on Saturday.
Really love the Martin 6-strings, the Alvarez 6-string, and the Alvarez 12-string in black, respectively…!!!