Search found 5150 matches

by lazydavid
Thu Feb 15, 2024 9:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College student considering staying in a hotel to save money.
Replies: 55
Views: 5364

Re: College student considering staying in a hotel to save money.

Your plan might not even be possible, as many hotels have a minimum age for renters. I used to work with someone whose daughter did this for a year, staying in a hotel Sunday night through Wednesday morning to go to class, then coming back home for the long weekend. Every Sunday he had to drive 2.5 hours each way just to check her into the hotel.
by lazydavid
Thu Feb 15, 2024 8:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?
Replies: 119
Views: 10294

Re: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?

i’m actually surprised how many hire someone to clean their own house. We didn't until late 2022. When we were in our own small starter house with just the two of us it was no issue. We then moved to a significantly larger one so my FIL could move in with us and our son. For the ~10 years he was here, he did laundry and a little tidying during the week, and much of the weeknight cooking. That freed up some time for us to manage the remainder of the cleaning without giving up a substantial chunk of our Saturday every week. When he got sick and ultimately died, that reverted back to us. With our long work hours and my volunteering commitments, we really need some downtime on the weekend, so having someone to do the cleaning for us is absolut...
by lazydavid
Wed Feb 14, 2024 6:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?
Replies: 119
Views: 10294

Re: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?

Yes, we can afford it on this board. A few months ago said to my wife you probably should give house cleaner a raise due to inflation. She said, oh I did giving her extra $40 per bi-weekly cleaning. Ha I was thinking $20 but did not say a word and went on with my day. At end of day we have very loyal and trust worthy housekeeper. Also give her annual holiday bonus. I think of Mega Corp and how they spoil me with Benefits so, try to pass that on to my one housekeeper. I've been toying with the idea of increasing our rate from $35/hr to $40, and I think this post tipped me over the edge. She comes weekly, so this is probably another $80-100/mo. We also always give her something nice for Christmas, usually a gift of some sort and a nice bottl...
by lazydavid
Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tips on car rental
Replies: 72
Views: 13118

Re: Tips on car rental

Side benefit of the Bilt card for non-homeowners, is that it's the only card I'm aware of that earns miles/points when using it to pay rent. It also has a good list of travel partners for point transfers including UA and AA. I got 500 bonus points for each airline loyalty program I linked. :happy. This card seems too good to be true and I would not be surprised if they start charging soon but for now I'm enjoying it. :beer Yea, there have been some blog write ups about how much money they are losing (due to giving points on rent payments which comprise 80% of their business and for which they make no money on interchange). Unless they change their model, this won't be a long term card - but no reason not to take advantage of it while it la...
by lazydavid
Mon Feb 12, 2024 6:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?
Replies: 174
Views: 16206

Re: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?

Vito and Nick's are the best thin crust frozen pizzas I've ever had, but they're pricey and might only be available in the Chicagoland area (they're in most grocery stores and Walmart here). They're named after/related to a relatively famous local pizzaria. For making our own, we've settled on the Aldi fresh dough. It's $1.25, tastes good, and is incredibly easy to work with. One ball will completely fill a half-sheet pan with a thin (but not cracker-thin) crust. If you don't have an Aldi nearby, our second choice is the Walmart brand in a tube. The best tasting is actually Whole Foods' ancient grain dough. But it's $5 and a little more difficult to stretch, so we don't get it very often. In all cases, the key is to stretch it out and then ...
by lazydavid
Sun Feb 11, 2024 8:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Size TV for Master Bedroom?
Replies: 57
Views: 7037

Re: What Size TV for Master Bedroom?

snackdog wrote: Wed Jan 04, 2023 8:39 pm Apparently a tv in the bedroom can make you sleepless, sick and fat.

https://eachnight.com/sleep/tv-in-bedroom/
Ironically, I didn't start having trouble sleeping, get fat, or develop a persistent cough until 5+ years after we completely stopped using our bedroom TV before bed. :wink:

To answer the thread question though, ours is a 65" and it worked well for us when we used it. Now it pretty much only gets used when others in the house are in use, or if using one in the common areas would be distracting. Maybe 20 hours per year at most. If it failed tomorrow I wouldn't replace it.
by lazydavid
Sat Feb 10, 2024 7:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 1Password Question
Replies: 4
Views: 544

Re: 1Password Question

If you install the 1Password application (different from, but tied into, the browser extension), there will be an icon in your system tray/notification area. Click that once and it will open the full application, which has far more capability than the website or the browser extension. You could create your secure notes there.
by lazydavid
Sat Feb 10, 2024 7:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Paying for A Car Boglehead Style
Replies: 64
Views: 7185

Re: Paying for A Car Boglehead Style

eric321 wrote: Fri Feb 09, 2024 7:38 pm $25k options - Chevy Trax (new model, no relations to the old one, car and driver 10 best, awarded based on value)
The Trax was chosen as the overall "best of show" vehicle at the Chicago Auto Show, entirely based on value for cost.
by lazydavid
Fri Feb 09, 2024 2:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Watches for $1K
Replies: 45
Views: 6095

Re: Watches for $1K

SuperSaver wrote: Thu Jun 15, 2023 12:41 pm Seiki’s are nice, but those could be had at Macy’s.
Hamilton, or Tag Quartz better
I'm a fan of Tag as well, but they don't have many options under $2k, and none anywhere near $1k.
by lazydavid
Fri Feb 09, 2024 2:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Paying for A Car Boglehead Style
Replies: 64
Views: 7185

Re: Paying for A Car Boglehead Style

I've purchased via dealership with cash, both from a manufacturers dealership and a third party one and neither would accept checks. Once I paid in literal cash, and the next time I paid with a cashiers check. Both had their own level of annoying, like I mentioned. I agree if they accept a personal check, awesome. That definitely makes it easier, assuming you actually have personal checks(I don't anymore). I don't know if things have changed since you last bought a car with cash, or if your dealership was just nice or the ones I've used were more strict. I would think it's more likely to be the latter, since my most recent purchase was in June of 2023, so things should not have changed dramatically since then. The one before that (differen...
by lazydavid
Fri Feb 09, 2024 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Paying for A Car Boglehead Style
Replies: 64
Views: 7185

Re: Paying for A Car Boglehead Style

If you are stuck at 6-7% on your loan, then it might make sense to borrow the loan and then immediately pay it off, just because paying cash at a dealership is kind of a pain. They generally don't allow CC transactions for the cost of the car(they usually limit their CC transactions to $1k or so). So you would need special dispensation from them, or you will have to go get a cashiers check, which mean haggling over price and then going to the bank and then returning. Annoying. The other option is to carry around a giant wad of cash, which is, for me at least, a little scary. Have you actually done this (paid cash at a dealership)? Or are you projecting what the experience might be like? Because that's not my experience at all. My last two ...
by lazydavid
Fri Feb 09, 2024 7:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best & Worst "Mid-Life Crisis" expenditures
Replies: 129
Views: 24663

Re: Best & Worst "Mid-Life Crisis" expenditures

investingdad wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 8:28 am We have a Jura fully automatic. It’s the best. My wife and I make at least 4 cups daily and mine are always doubles.
This is going to be our splurge this year. Probably either an E8 or Z10, or the S8 if it gets updated before we're ready to buy.

As for the thread topic, last year I bought the modern version of a car I've been lusting after since I was a teenager. It cost just slightly more--in nominal dollars--than my last three vehicles combined. :shock: But we're doing well (just crossed a major investment milestone last month), I enjoy it and am keeping it forever.
by lazydavid
Fri Feb 09, 2024 6:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 4runner vs. Highlander?
Replies: 109
Views: 27853

Re: 4runner vs. Highlander?

SurferLife wrote: Fri Feb 09, 2024 12:26 am
Wannaretireearly wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:56 pm Thanks. Old thread :) Got a Pallisade 4 years ago!
That’s too bad. You really missed out on not getting a 4Runner!
Unless one is offroading regularly, the Pallisade is a far superior vehicle in every way.
by lazydavid
Thu Feb 08, 2024 12:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Paying for A Car Boglehead Style
Replies: 64
Views: 7185

Re: Paying for A Car Boglehead Style

tibbitts wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:58 am I wouldn't take your path of not planning to replace a 220k car and rolling the dice that your taxable equity fund (or a loan) would bail you out, but you did roll the dice and won (or at least roughly broke even), so I'm not seeing the problem with selling equities.
Exactly. We always talk about not confusing outcome with strategy. Here we have a case where the strategy may have been sub-optimal, but the outcome was lucky. Take the W, cash out and buy the car.
by lazydavid
Thu Feb 08, 2024 5:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best < $100 purchase?
Replies: 299
Views: 56507

Re: Best < $100 purchase?

While shopping, noticed Campbell's Chicken Noodle soup flavored with Ghost Pepper broth. Thought it sounded interesting. How bad could it be? Certainly Campbell's wouldn't sell anything that could kill off its customers. Nice light flavor. Then the burning throat, chocking, watery eyes/nose started. Finished the bowl. For those who believe in predestination ...I'm glad that experience is behind me. See: https://www.campbells.com/products/chunky/ghost-pepper-chicken-noodle-soup/ I was really impressed by the level of heat from a major brand. I fully expected it to be some lame "ghost pepper" product in name only, like Popeye's thoroughly disappointing ghost pepper wings, which my son who doesn't like spice at all can eat readily. ...
by lazydavid
Wed Feb 07, 2024 10:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best < $100 purchase?
Replies: 299
Views: 56507

Re: Best < $100 purchase?

protagonist wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 9:20 am My fav is one that goes by the unappetizing name of "Colon Cleaner". I will try yours to compare if I find it in my local hot sauce store. You might want to give mine a try, if you haven't already.
I will give it a try if I can find it. You should be able to find the Tabasco Scorpion at most grocery stores.
by lazydavid
Wed Feb 07, 2024 7:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: EV Charging Station at Home
Replies: 48
Views: 3525

Re: EV Charging Station at Home

If you're going to re-use the existing circuit, make sure there's actually a ground. A fair number of 14-30s wired as "dryer outlets" were converted from older 3-prong receptacles and have hot/hot/neutral but no ground.
by lazydavid
Wed Feb 07, 2024 6:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best < $100 purchase?
Replies: 299
Views: 56507

Re: Best < $100 purchase?

yolointopants wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 5:05 pm4. Yellowbird brand habanero hot sauce. The perfect blend of heat, flavor, consistency of any hot sauce I've ever tried -- and I've sampled literally hundreds of them. About $8.
I so wanted to like this one. It's one of, if not the, most consistently-loved sauces in the hot sauce community (yes, that's a thing. :) ) But it's WAY too sweet for me. My surprise find that I absolutely love is Tabasco Scorpion. Nice and hot, and an absolute fruit bomb of flavor, but without being too sweet.
by lazydavid
Mon Feb 05, 2024 5:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are there any reliable refrigirators with water dispenser on door?
Replies: 58
Views: 4787

Re: Are there any reliable refrigirators with water dispenser on door?

400bicycle wrote: Sun Feb 04, 2024 3:05 pm
barnaclebob wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 9:33 am All ice makers need some regular usage to not have ice freeze together.
Are all equally easy to knock the whole frozen block out of when this happens? The LG in my current rental is very easy to expunge to the whole block, it seems reasonably well designed.
On my last two LGs, when it (rarely) does happen to get bound up like that, opening the icemaker door and giving the hopper a couple of gentle punches typically breaks up the chunk.
by lazydavid
Sun Feb 04, 2024 6:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Emergency minivan replacement
Replies: 29
Views: 2899

Re: Emergency minivan replacement

ScubaHogg wrote: Sun Feb 04, 2024 3:01 am
lazydavid wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 5:20 pm You can certainly fit three in the much larger Camry
Impressive. Is that yours? Is it miserable strapping in the middle one?
Nope, my only child started driving himself last year. :) Just searched for pictures.
by lazydavid
Sat Feb 03, 2024 5:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Emergency minivan replacement
Replies: 29
Views: 2899

Re: Emergency minivan replacement

ScubaHogg wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 11:53 am
Watty wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 5:41 pm
There are lots of other new cars and SUVs which can fit three kids in the back seat for a lot less like a lower trim level Camry or Outback.
You think you could get three car seats in the back of a Camry?
If you can fit three in the compact Corolla Cross:

Image

You can certainly fit three in the much larger Camry
by lazydavid
Sat Feb 03, 2024 9:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are there any reliable refrigirators with water dispenser on door?
Replies: 58
Views: 4787

Re: Are there any reliable refrigirators with water dispenser on door?

MathWizard wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 6:59 am The refrigerator is reliable. It's the water to the door that is unreliable, and a possible avenue for water damage to your floor.
And yet, while everyone I know has had multiple fridge failures of many different types over the years, none have ever had an issue with their water dispenser. Three refrigerators ago, we did have an icemaker failure that was replaced under warranty. But all other failures have had nothing whatsoever to do with the water line.

I think you might be overstating the case just a bit.
by lazydavid
Sat Feb 03, 2024 8:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Emergency minivan replacement
Replies: 29
Views: 2899

Re: Emergency minivan replacement

lthenderson wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 5:04 pm For a misfiring van that otherwise runs, I would seek a second opinion. My next option with your finances would be option 3. 125,000 miles for an Odyssey or Sienna is just getting started. I’ve owned both.
For a van that suddenly started misfiring right after it overheated, 125k may very well be the end of the line. I'm guessing neither your Odyssey nor Sienna had a cooling system failure and overheated.
by lazydavid
Thu Feb 01, 2024 8:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Free or cheap .pdf software?
Replies: 20
Views: 2920

Re: Free or cheap .pdf software?

Foxit Editor is ~180USD for lifetime and its lightweight and just more pleasant to use than Adobe I switched my organization from Adobe to Foxit many years ago, when this product was called PhantomPDF. We moved because of Adobe's constant security vulnerabilities, but wound up liking the product well enough and it was cheap enough that we just bought licenses to cover every employee, rather than metering out PDF editing capabilities like we had with Acrobat. Our SKU is more similar to the $160 standard editor rather than the $180 Pro version. Highly, highly recommended. Unless I’m not seeing it correctly, it appears the license is now $180/year instead of lifetime. You are not seeing it correctly. “PDF Editor for Individuals 13” is $180/1-...
by lazydavid
Mon Jan 29, 2024 11:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ring alarm system questions.
Replies: 27
Views: 3038

Re: Ring alarm system questions.

We have been happy with our Ring system. The sensors quickly become invisible once you get acclimated to them. Agreed, and they can be installed in multiple orientations. For example, our sliding doors have them inside the door frame, so you can only see their size if you stand in the door and look up. We've had our system almost 2 years, and all the door/window sensor batteries still show as full in the app. The motion detectors show as half. When they do need to be changed, it's ridiculously easy and the batteries are cheap. We moved from ADT and couldn't be happier. $200/year for the alarm and unlimited cameras (we have five, including the doorbell) is a bargain. Our ADT bill was increasing by around $2/mo every year like clockwork. And...
by lazydavid
Sun Jan 28, 2024 2:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best cookware to buy
Replies: 143
Views: 13943

Re: Best cookware to buy

PottedPlant wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 12:39 am
Beensabu wrote: Sat Jan 27, 2024 3:39 pm If you know how to cook, you know how to cook.
I prove this every time I cook in an AirBnB.
Lol, agreed, though after a while it became so frustrating that we put together a travel kit that just stays in one of our suitcases. It contains a commercial nonstick skillet, turner, cutting board, 4 self-sharpening knives, cheese slicer, bottle opener, and waiter’s corkscrew. All-in the whole setup cost well under $100, but is about 1000x less annoying to use than the absolute garbage we’re so often stuck with. :)
by lazydavid
Sat Jan 27, 2024 9:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best cookware to buy
Replies: 143
Views: 13943

Re: Best cookware to buy

PSA: there was a quick mention of baking sheets up thread. The best 1/2 sheet baking pan according to Food and Wine is Nordic Ware Naturals: https://www.foodandwine.com/cooking-techniques/baking/best-cookie-sheets They are showing up in TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, and Home Goods for $6.99. Some are a little scratched up, but nothing that wouldn’t make them unusable. The best price I have seen is $22 for 2 at Amazon. We use the generic uncoated aluminum sheets (basically the same as the Nordic ones) from Sam's club. Half sheets are $14 for two, quarter sheets are $9 for two. We bought them because they're so cheap we can just recycle and replace them when they become too hard to clean. But other than some staining in the corners and the rolled edg...
by lazydavid
Sat Jan 27, 2024 9:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best cookware to buy
Replies: 143
Views: 13943

Re: Best cookware to buy

femgineer wrote: Sat Jan 27, 2024 6:54 am Currently, induction is the most difficult to address if you care about even heating across the bottom of the pan. Thick Al or Cu disc bottom works best by far on induction for larger pans.
This is confusing to me, as Aluminum and Copper are both nonferrous metals. Or is the base actually stainless and the Al/Cu is on top of it?
by lazydavid
Sat Jan 27, 2024 7:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do we need a new car?
Replies: 70
Views: 8945

Re: Do we need a new car?

Parkinglotracer wrote: Sat Jan 27, 2024 7:03 am Why anyone would buy a Kia or Hyundai with the rash of stolen ones happening with the YouTube challenge going on.
Perhaps because none of the current or recent models were impacted, nor were any years of most models/trims likely to be selected in this thread?

Why would anyone buy a Toyota when they had several engines with high failure rates due to oil sludge? Because those engines are no longer for sale. Same deal.
by lazydavid
Fri Jan 26, 2024 8:13 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Comparing Car insurance coverage
Replies: 13
Views: 1480

Re: Comparing Car insurance coverage

For sure, id want more than the $50k property liability on the second quote. The last time I played with an online calculator, it was small increments to increase to $100k and above. I went with $300k bc I'd rather not involve the umbrella even though I could.have 50k as my property damage liability. Id want at least 100k nowadays bc there are many cars that are over 50k now. Agreed with everyone who says $50k property liability is woefully inadequate. All four of our cars had a new MSRP exceeding $50k, and two of them are 13 years old--one of those is a Nissan! The median price of a new vehicle today is right around $54k. And heaven forbid there's more than one claimant. We went with $250/500k for injury liability and $100k for property, ...
by lazydavid
Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank Wire to pay for car
Replies: 14
Views: 2064

Re: Bank Wire to pay for car

Seriously. Wires are the foundation upon which modern international trade is conducted. There aren’t a lot of fraud schemes involving wires and of those that do exist, and they’re so convoluted that I’m not even sure if they’re real. All of the fraud schemes I'm aware of that involve wires are actually very simple, explicitly because they rely on the relative immediacy and permanence of a wire transaction. They revolve around fraudulently convincing a sucker to wire money for some transaction that's never going to occur, or to "save" a friend or family member in "trouble". Once complete and the mark realizes they've been duped, it's too late--the money is not recoverable. Those same factors are exactly the reason why wi...
by lazydavid
Thu Jan 25, 2024 1:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: HR Block Deluxe wants to charge me $39.95 for the State program
Replies: 64
Views: 6063

Re: HR Block Deluxe wants to charge me $39.95 for the State program

Definitely some weirdness going on. Maybe completely uninstall it and reinstall from scratch?
by lazydavid
Thu Jan 25, 2024 11:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: HR Block Deluxe wants to charge me $39.95 for the State program
Replies: 64
Views: 6063

Re: HR Block Deluxe wants to charge me $39.95 for the State program

RationalWalk wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:44 am
lazydavid wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:34 am Try going to tools-->reinstall state program
There is no such option.
That makes no sense. That menu item has been there for over 20 years, and is present in my copy of Deluxe 2023.

Tools menu items should be, in order (some will be greyed out):

Accuracy Review
------------------------
Memo Pad
Calculator
------------------------
Recalculate
------------------------
Update the Program
Auto Check Alerts and Updates
Proxy Settings...
------------------------
Upload Return to Customer Service Center
Show Tax Return ID
------------------------
Get State Program
Reinstall State Program
by lazydavid
Wed Jan 24, 2024 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: The Mother of all Breaches
Replies: 21
Views: 2874

Re: The Mother of all Breaches

Zanmar wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 11:54 am World population is 8.1 billion. More than 3 docs per person. Kind of doubt their numbers.
Not docs, records. I have 1403 items stored in 1Password. Not all of those are credentials, but let's be conservative and say that 1,000 of them are. That's a lot of accounts in a lot of places. I guarantee at least several dozen of those have experienced breaches at some point.

There are probably nowhere near 8 billion people represented in those 26 billion records, but there are certainly a large number of people who have had information about them stolen from significantly more than 3 places.
by lazydavid
Wed Jan 24, 2024 6:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best car for icy weather? Advice about driving in snowy conditions?
Replies: 113
Views: 7618

Re: Best car for icy weather? Advice about driving in snowy conditions?

I also live in the Chicago area. Today was just horrible bc freezing rain is a different beast than snow. I would rather drive in a snow storm that freezing rain. Freezing rain can wash away salt that was applied if not immediately freezing and then later the water that does freeze is now pure ice. Even if roads are treated properly, I'm not going out bc sidewalks and parking lots are often ice rinks. Best action is not to drive in this but winter tires are the first and biggest improvement you can make.it has been discussed here before but a RWD car with winter tires will perform better than AWD or 4WD with all seasons. Yep. My son was at a basketball game Monday night when the freezing rain started. His car is RWD with new winter tires (...
by lazydavid
Tue Jan 23, 2024 9:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New gas range vents LOTS of heat into kitchen
Replies: 45
Views: 44374

Re: New gas range vents LOTS of heat into kitchen

TomatoTomahto wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 6:11 am I don’t know if it’s a new thing (I’d never heard of it before), but around us, makeup air is required by code.
I think it's becoming more common as houses get tighter and tighter. It wasn't required here, but I wanted to do it anyway. But my contractor wasn't familiar, and parts alone was going to be like $7500. So we went the manual method of opening a window/door when we need to use the hood.
by lazydavid
Tue Jan 23, 2024 7:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Feb. 7 Update -- Brand new Subaru needs new transmission
Replies: 173
Views: 16505

Re: Brand new Subaru needs new transmission

tibbitts wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:55 pm
lazydavid wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 3:42 pm See that belt in the middle of both of them, which rides on a pair of adjustable pulleys? That's the CVT.
In the 2nd photo what's that part in front of the larger belt/pulleys? It looks like a v-belt and pulley.
I don't know that I'm seeing what you're seeing. If it's the kinda cone-shaped thing in between the main belt and the motor, that should be part of the output clutch for the motor. Here's a slightly more detailed picture:

Image

Actually reading the theory of operation here, that sprocket might be the chain drive for the mechanical oil pump.
by lazydavid
Mon Jan 22, 2024 9:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New gas range vents LOTS of heat into kitchen
Replies: 45
Views: 44374

Re: New gas range vents LOTS of heat into kitchen

jebmke wrote: Tue Nov 22, 2016 2:03 pm
barnaclebob wrote:High BTU gas stoves NEED to have a good vent hood
Had to laugh. When we remodeled a kitchen a few years ago (different house) we had a gas top with high BTU burners. In particular, I wanted to make sure smells (fish!) and heat could be vented quickly. I told the contractor "when I reach for that vent switch I want the cat to look for something to hang on to."
Classic! Yeah a good hood is key. I learned pretty early on not to use our 600-1200fm hood while the fireplace was lit. When I do, the smoke detector goes off less than a minute later, unless I open the back door first.

Should have done makeup air, but it was more than I wanted to spend.
by lazydavid
Mon Jan 22, 2024 3:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Feb. 7 Update -- Brand new Subaru needs new transmission
Replies: 173
Views: 16505

Re: Brand new Subaru needs new transmission

So how does the eCVT in hybrids figure in here ? Do those last longer ? Are they more reliable ? I am considering the new hybrid Forester when it makes its debut. Subaru's standard Hybrid does not use an eCVT as most of us understand it. It uses essentially the same "Lineartronic" as in their ICE cars, with an additional input for the hybrid motor. Still not a CVT though. Yes it is. "Lineartronic" is the name Subaru uses for their CVT. "Hybrid Lineartronic" is that same transmission core with an additional motor and clutch. Here is the Lineartronic: http://cdn.carcomplaints.com/minisites/img/subaru/cvt.jpg And here is the Hybrid Lineartronic: https://edgecast-img.yahoo.net/mysterio/api/B35525F0350428005572E10E...
by lazydavid
Mon Jan 22, 2024 2:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Feb. 7 Update -- Brand new Subaru needs new transmission
Replies: 173
Views: 16505

Re: Brand new Subaru needs new transmission

That's interesting that you said the Honda Hybrids don't have a transmission at all, so I googled it. And you are right - no transmission. The things run on the electric motor like an EV at speeds below 45 and then the gas motor kicks in and drives the vehicle like it is stuck in overdrive with no shifting. The electric motor kicks in now and then as needed, for example for acceleration or climbing a hill. Since it runs like an EV at lower speeds, can you drive it if you run out of gas and how far? You probably could by putting it in EV mode, but as a non-plug-in hybrid, it has a VERY small battery, which it likes to keep charged in the middle of its capacity. This means there roughly 1kWh available for use, which should let you drive mayb...
by lazydavid
Mon Jan 22, 2024 12:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Feb. 7 Update -- Brand new Subaru needs new transmission
Replies: 173
Views: 16505

Re: Brand new Subaru needs new transmission

Interestingly enough 4 of the top 6 most reliable auto brands use CVT transmissions. Most of the cars listed in that CR article do not have a belt/pulley CVT like is being discussed here. Honda: Accord, Accord Hybrid, Civic, CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, HR-V, Insight Accord Hybrid and CR-V Hybrid do not have a transmission at all . The motors are directly connected to the wheels, and the engine can optionally be connected to the wheels (mostly above 45mph) by way of a clutch. The rest use a belt/pulley CVT. With the exception of the first generation HR-V, whose CVT was hot garbage, the Honda ones seem to hold up far better than most. Perhaps because they've been doing them longer than anyone else, having introduced their first one in the 1996 Civic ...
by lazydavid
Mon Jan 22, 2024 6:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Feb. 7 Update -- Brand new Subaru needs new transmission
Replies: 173
Views: 16505

Re: Brand new Subaru needs new transmission

billaster wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 2:14 pm There are also lots of people with actual experience of driving various cars who would not recommend an EV. Many people prefer what they are used to. If you don't like something different, you shouldn't get one.
What about those of us who own and maintain vehicles with CVTs, and are extremely familiar with their shortcomings? Are we fearmongering about the "unknown" too?
by lazydavid
Mon Jan 22, 2024 6:06 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Feb. 7 Update -- Brand new Subaru needs new transmission
Replies: 173
Views: 16505

Re: Brand new Subaru needs new transmission

So how does the eCVT in hybrids figure in here ? Do those last longer ? Are they more reliable ? I am considering the new hybrid Forester when it makes its debut. Subaru's standard Hybrid does not use an eCVT as most of us understand it. It uses essentially the same "Lineartronic" as in their ICE cars, with an additional input for the hybrid motor. A real eCVT like the type used by Toyota utilizes a planetary gearset which has two outputs--one going to the road, and one to one of the SMGs (Starter Motor Generators). That allows the SMG to control the output speed to the road. But it's all meshed gears, so no fears of slippage grenading it. Stellantis' system is similar but not identical. Apparently the 2019+ Crosstrek PHEV uses a...
by lazydavid
Sun Jan 21, 2024 9:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: A misguided PayPal rant [Unauthorized account activity]
Replies: 44
Views: 5429

Re: A misguided PayPal rant [Unauthorized account activity]

bertilak wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 9:05 am There never was any actual transfer of money. It was probably a scam trying to get me to click on something.
Wait, you said there was an actual ACH transaction from your bank. Now you're saying all this hullaballu and misdirected rage has been over an email?
by lazydavid
Sun Jan 21, 2024 8:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Feb. 7 Update -- Brand new Subaru needs new transmission
Replies: 173
Views: 16505

Re: Brand new Subaru needs new transmission

I think CVTs are one of the best automotive innovations of the last couple of decades. Some people don't like them, especially geezers used to banging gears and hearing the revs go up in down with it, but it's all in their heads and they are unlikely to change. I wouldn't let the CVT fearmongering get to you. It's a lot like the EV stuff -- people afraid of change and what they are used to. Not a geezer, but traditional CVTs are garbage. They make the car drone horribly without actually improving performance, and have a dramatically higher failure rate than manuals, automatics, or eCVTs. The only way to make them even marginally reliable is to change the very expensive fluid every 30-40k miles. This is because if the friction modifier wear...
by lazydavid
Sun Jan 21, 2024 7:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Feb. 7 Update -- Brand new Subaru needs new transmission
Replies: 173
Views: 16505

Re: Brand new Subaru needs new transmission

PugetSoundguy wrote: Fri Jan 19, 2024 2:12 pm I'm old and have had a full life so I'm more or less expendable but we'd like the kid to be protected as much as possible.
I'm probably a horrible person, but this gave me a really solid chuckle. :D
by lazydavid
Sun Jan 21, 2024 7:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: A misguided PayPal rant [Unauthorized account activity]
Replies: 44
Views: 5429

Re: A PayPal rant

bertilak wrote: Fri Dec 22, 2023 10:13 am I want to emphasize that PayPal does NOT show you ANY transactions for the current month, making this kind of thing impossible to track down in a timely way.
My experience has been that I can see my transactions instantaneously. However, per the thread it seems this wasn't what most of us think of as a Paypal transaction, but rather a transaction where PayPal was simply the processor.
by lazydavid
Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tire flat-spotting on EV
Replies: 30
Views: 3449

Re: Tire flat-spotting on EV

Don't most car companies ship them without the tires on them? The put them on at the port. No. Most cars are transported on a RORO (Roll On, Roll Off) car carrier. That means that porters literally drive the car onto the ship via ramps, lash them down, and then drive them off at the destination port. That would be awfully difficult to achieve without wheels and tires. :) I have heard of some EXTREMELY expensive (like >$300k) cars that, while shipped this way, do so on "junk" wheels and tires that are just for transport, and the factory wheels/tires are shipped separately. The "junk" wheels/tires are then shipped back to the factory to be used again. But that adds a couple thousand to the overall shipping cost, so they'r...
by lazydavid
Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Microsoft One Drive
Replies: 37
Views: 4580

Re: Microsoft One Drive

BuddyJet wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 7:53 am Me too but I did set OneDrive to store docs locally as well as the cloud rather than just download as needed. If the cloud is not available or I’m offline, I still have the local copy.
Same. Both DropBox and OneDrive are fully synced to my primary desktop. OneDrive is also partially synced to the Surface Pro I use in the kitchen.

All of my work stuff is stored in OneDrive Enterprise, and fully synced to my company laptop. We've recently done away with shared network drives in favor of OneDrive/Sharepoint, and personal home drives will be next. Mine is already empty, as I've used OneDrive exclusively since we launched it.