Things better improve

[LarryHoward]

So far, November is turning out to be a real charmer.

Broke a tooth yesterday that has to come out and be replaced with an implant or bridge. Since chemo apparently changes how your bones heal, my local dentist has referred me to an oral surgeon who can't see me for a consult until. 28 November and likely another 2-3 weeks to remove the remnants and get started on treatment. Of course, it will cost $$$. Just lovely...At least my flex account has some leftover and I can use some of next years with the delays.

Went back to the office from the dentist and, with DST gone, left after sunset with a light rain. Not 1 mile from the office, Bambi decided to commit suicide using the left front of my old faithful SUV as her preferred option. Drivable but needs a bumper, fender, adaptive headlight assembly and probably driver's door. May be enough to total it, given it's age and mileage (11 years and 171K miles). Last week, I had my son's 911 to drive as he was out of town. At least I wasn't driving it yesterday.

I've been trying to find someone to come repair my double oven range with one oven inop. Out here in the "County", I have once choice - Sears Appliance Repair. Poor reviews for the local provider and about 4 weeks before they can get to me. Likely cost would be around $500 so I was thinking about replacing it. Last night, the glass cooktop cracked. Likely repair price just reached replacement cost. Game over. I'll be buying a replacement this week.

Discovered this morning that my hot tub is leaking a bit after I serviced it on Saturday. Possible that I didn't fully tighter a drain cap but need daylight to troubleshoot.

So much for thinking I might retire sooner rather than later....

[Charlie]

Larry,

Sorry to hear about the convergence of bad stuff. Always seems to come in chunks, doesn’t it?

Hang in there because the trend always reverses. Sending some good vibes your way.

Charlie

[Orestes Munn]

Law of Averages vs. Gambler’s Fallacy is a matter of time frame, but I would choose to view this as half a year’s bad bad luck packed into a week and expect things to even out.

[TheOffice]

Hang in there Larry!

Don't buy an extended warranty from Sears! It might not be in business long enough for you to make use of it. At least appliances are on sale and you weren't hurt.

[Jamie]

I often feel like a fugitive from the law of averages.

Anyway, OM is right. Balance will be restored to the universe shortly.

[kdh]

What a bitch, Larry. Just remember it's always darkest just before it's pitch black.

[kimbottles]

Larry,

Sorry to hear about the convergence of bad stuff. Always seems to come in chunks, doesn’t it?

Hang in there because the trend always reverses. Sending some good vibes your way.

Charlie

Yeah, me too, good vibes from the PNW going your way Captain.

[LarryHoward]

What a bitch, Larry. Just remember it's always darkest just before it's pitch black.

Thanks Keith,

Speaking of that, I usually wake up before Lynne and have the coffee set on a timer so I slip out of the room in the dark and grab a cup of coffee to watch the early news. This morning was close to pitch black and I slightly misjudged the doorway and checked out the integrity of the door jamb with my forehead. Only a small bruise and abrasion. Not the shiner i was expecting.

[Orestes Munn]

What a bitch, Larry. Just remember it's always darkest just before it's pitch black.

And the light at the end of the tunnel is just a gorilla with a flashlight.

[BeauV]

Larry - consider just taking a seat and watching daytime TV! Geeeze!!! Sorry to hear all this. You are VERY lucky you weren't in the 911 when the Bambi Suicide Event occurred. That would have been ugly! Hang in there, things will get better.

[Olaf Hart]

So, you can look forward to a new tooth, new car and new stove.

Shame about the new head....

[Rob McAlpine]

How about you think of this instead:

DSC_1877.jpg

Or this:

IMG_4091_mhr.jpg

Gotta keep things in perspective.

[Tim Ford]

You are not alone, Larry...these series of unfortunate events seem to be hitting a lot of folks I know, lately. However, yours are just a bit more...ummm...numerous.

I'm sure things will improve. Sure they will. I keep telling myself that. Sure they will... sure.

[LarryHoward]

Well, purchased the new stove today. Should be delivered next Wednesday and all broken in for Thanksgiving. Given my luck today, all of the candidates I voted for better beware, I could be a jinx. You guys know that my head is pretty hard so I need to check and make sure I didn't knock the door jamb loose when I get home.

Rob,

Trust me, I think about those moments a lot.

[Ish]

Your main problem seems to be getting up in the morning. I would suggest not leaving bed until at least noon, if then. Maybe you can plead gout or something.

[LarryHoward]

Just got the word from USAA. My Lexus will be totaled. I can add buying a car to my schedule in the next week.

[Slick470]

Just got the word from USAA. My Lexus will be totaled. I can add buying a car to my schedule in the next week.

Ridgeline?

[Orestes Munn]

Just got the word from USAA. My Lexus will be totaled. I can add buying a car to my schedule in the next week.

Ridgeline?

Modified to roll coal, because St. Mary's County.

[Jamie]

Just got the word from USAA. My Lexus will be totaled. I can add buying a car to my schedule in the next week.

It's no fun to lose a favorite car - but finding a new one can be fun - at least the research part. I'm a big fan of the USAA buying service, though I've only used it once.

Next gen same Lexus?

[LarryHoward]

Ridgeline is a possibility at the “truck” end of the spectrum. Macan S CPO at the other.

If I’m not careful, I may also dump the Minivan as well and get a Honda Pilot for utility work and a used Panamera as a sedan. Or maybe a Cayenne and a Panamera. That’s just silly talk that would eat into the house renovation budget pretty deep.

OM, you know if I get something to Roll Coal, it will be you grocery getter when you tie up here.

[TheOffice]

Which model? RX or GX?
We have an 2018 Infiniti QX50 that we love, but the new ones have a CVT tranny and a variable compression engine. Can't go wrong with the Lexus, especially if they are on clearance. Honda can't seem to get Acura right, but the new RDX is popular. The dealer in Annapolis is not very good with service either.
I'm on my 4th BMW in 22 years. They are great for the first 150,000 miles.
Joel

[LarryHoward]

Jaime,

Next gen Lexus RX is a possibility but not fond of their newer grill. Also want to try to get something with Apple Play included and Toyota/Lexus are a bit slow on the uptake.

Joel

RDX is light on towing and agree that Acura sms to have lost its way.

[Slick470]

kidding about the Ridgeline, sorta. Mainly because of the love/hate thread on SA, but pretty sure Larry knew that.

I've been debating rolling my Explorer and S-10 4x4 into a mid-sized 4-door pickup for a couple years now, but will probably wait until I finally kill off one or both of them. S-10 is relatively low mileage, so it might be a while. Most of the nicer pickups in that range have so-so reviews for passenger comfort and this would be the primary family road trip vehicle. In reality, the Ridgeline might end up being a pretty good option in the end.

Also starting to need to balance having a "nicer" vehicle for work purposes that I can park in DC garages.

Will be watching this space with interest. Although I have no interest in one of those Porsche SUVs... I'm not fancy enough.

[TheOffice]

For anyone looking for a cheap car, the VW diesels are now being 'repaired' and sold by dealers. (One of my clients is a VW dealer)

[BeauV]

Larry, I don't know what your typical drive pattern is. But you owe yourself the opportunity to pick up a Tesla rather than the Panamera. My Admiral and I were doing exactly that evaluation and the Tesla clobbered the Porsche (and I was a Porsche 911 owner at the time). I was really surprised. We've now got the Model X also and like it as much or more. BTW, it's a LOT faster than the Macon and even the Lambo.

This YouTube of SUV racing is entertaining and a little surprising: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ye7Vh-_b50

[kimbottles]

VW fixed our V6 TDI Touareg and it is great, no issues.

[LarryHoward]

Beau, Kim,

Toureg/Cayenne is on the list. Tesla maybe an option for the future sedan but with 2 daughters and a grandchild in Florida, the future sedan may end up as an I-95 runner at times. certainly, 300 miles of electric range is adequate 90% of the time.

Right now, the actual plan is to replace the utility hauler/tow vehicle. Macan at the smaller end and Cayenne/Toureg at the large. Lexus RX hybrid, BMW X6, even the Subie Ascent (or forester at the lower end) are all in play. More utilitarian is the Pilot or even Ridgeline. Don't need a "real truck".

Had planned to do this in a couple of years and then dump the van for a sedan just before retirement. Plan 4 years from now has been a utility hauler of some sort with reasonable tow capability plus a sedan in the A6 size range to replace the existing Lexus and Lynne's leftover "soccer mom" minivan. AWD for both a requirement given our location. May have to look at an Explorer/Edge but they get pricing for a Ford with the options I'd like. Looking at my normal "buy a late model used or CPO to avoid initial depreciation and drive it until it is a donor." Not sure if the Fords are quite there yet on the reliable until 200,000 miles scale.

This is what totals an older luxury vehicle. At least according to the appraiser. It also need the door as the deer bounced off of it. Headlight, bumper, fender and door. Apparently that is a $2,000 headlight and aftermarket and used are not available.

Bambi!.jpg

[BeauV]

Larry - got it. As I think I mentioned around here, we bought a Ford 2018 Expedition as a hauler. It tows the Moore-24 without knowing it's there and also hauls our MAYAN trailer which I'm building out as a mobile workshop, sail storage, and parts holder. I have owned a bunch of Suburbans, 2 Porsche Cayenne, one Tahoe, and one Land Rover (a long time ago). Out of all of those the Expedition is by far the best hauler we've ever owned. I would not say this about the 2017 model. But, in 2018 Ford arrived with the alloy body and independent rear suspension along with a massive upgrade to the electronics and it's a great car. We (the Granddaughters) named it "OLAF" after the snowman in the movie Frozen.

Olaf has now done about 20,000 miles with much of it driving to-n-fro LA while I was working on MAYAN. Full tank range is genuinely 400 miles, cumulative milage to date is 20.3 MPG. Maintenance has been zero. It is the first time I've ever owned an American car with zero service calls in the first 20k miles. So, I'd strongly recommend the vehicle.

One genuinely misunderstood advantage to a Ford is that you can get the damn thing fixed anywhere in the US. We once lost a part on the 996 Turbo in the middle of Nevada, limped up to Boise (the nearest Porsche dealer - other choices were Seattle and Salt Lake), and waited for five days for a really trivial part. I'm sure they stock more Cayenne parts, but we've had similar problems with Porsche over the years. Panamera would have the same problem as would Tesla.

In any event, drive the Expedition before buying a mini-van. I think you'll be amazed and you'll be able to tow a much heavier load.

[Jamie]

I need a second car now that the spousal unit is about to complete the immigration process. We need something that can carry stuff and do road trips. I like road trips in the STi, but no one else does. I hate electronic crap in the cars. Give me heated seats, a plug for my iPod and that's it.

I like station wagons over SUVs. I like high powered station wagons even better. The problem is there are few in the US market.

Vololvo? V90 looks nice. Chinese mfg and part content high. Supercharge and turbo? That's asking for trouble.
Audi: A4 wagon is small
BMW: 3-series wagon is small (you can get upgraded brakes, but not engine)
MB: Super nice. Meets most of the requirements. Hard to get a stripper and long-term costs with a twin turbo?

I also don't know if it's safe to own these EU-ish cars with a lot of electronics out of warranty. Adaptive dampers and bumpers with sensors are shockingly expensive. Newer recycle friendly plastics the EU cars for piping and wiring decay fast.

Other Options?

Macan: Super nice, but small. Can't fit a rolled mainsail.
Cayenne: Nice, fits the mainsail but is Porsche's most profitable car on a unit basis.
Buick Tour X: Do you really want a re-badged Opel? All the EU and domestic car downsides in one car.
Subaru: A solid, but unexciting choice. Outback with the NA 2.5 is gutless, 3.6 H6 is pretty thirsty. CVT (though Subaru's unit is one of the better ones). Subaru styling.
Toyota: Land Cruiser - I like it - but sooo big and sooo thirsty. Choice of despots world-wide. 4Runner? Mini- Land Cruiser. Nice NA 6, but drives like a stage coach without KDSS.
Chevy Tahoe: Big, surprisingly expensive - for the same money I can get the MB wagon - and recent models have had transmission problems.
Ford: Flex: A lowered Explorer and nice with the 3.5l EcoTech (basically a Mazda engine) but ugly and you have to get the top-line model to get the good engine. Expedition is too much car for us. Explorer -
Mazda C-9: A sensible choice, decent looking but I hate cross-overs
Lexus RX? Per above, plus not so attractive
Acura RDX? Per above
Dodge Durango? I think you're brave if you own an FCA car
Jeep Grand Cherokee: +Has an SRT version - Better than most, but still an FCA car.
Tesla: How bleeding edge is it?

[kimbottles]

Larry, Beau, Jamie,

For the record:

VW (emissions repaired) 2004 Touareg TDI tows 7700 pounds (or more) gets 25-30 mpg while not towing (on diesel that is cheaper here than premium), tons of torque, Comfortable, lots of room, easy to drive, sit up high with great visability, AWD and locking diff. (Susan has taken this vehicle over as her’s.) Cheap to buy used (in Seattle.) VW gave us $7771 settlement and then repaired the emissions, they now supply Adblue refills for free.

2016 Mercedes AWD wagon, naturally aspired 301hp V6 gas. Very comfortable, sporty (paddle shifting), sports mode, 25-30 mpg (premium), lots of room, slightly bigger back area than Touareg, great cruise control, lots of warning devices, adaptive braking, great standard stereo, parking assist (never use it), I bought this for Susan, but she like the higher seat and visability of the Touareg, so I drive this vehicle. We bought it as a MBZ executive car with 3500 miles and $12k discount. Negotiated 6 year unlimited miles total warranty for 50% discount off their starting price.

YMMV of course.....