We are back to looking at cars, used cars. The Michelin Climate are great tires but they didn't help or fix the 2016 Volvo V60 low profile tire bumpy ride. I even went up to a 45 aspect for a somewhat larger sidewall, albeit a minimal addition to the height. We've test drove Lincoln MKC cars but I want one that was built after mid year 2019 because that is when they got around to fixing their stupid head & gasket design. Saw one online but dealer said sold yesterday, they go fast. He sent me a window sticker for a 2024 Lincoln Corsair (replaced the MKC). Looking I saw that yuck, the Nav system is subscription. I don't do subscription! Sales guy says, sync your phone to system. I said I am in my 70's and don't use my cell phone that much nor do I want to buy an unlimited data plan. We have Tracfones and have done so for many years, I am happy.
So it seems that the subscription model has taken hold in cars. Then of course there is my disdain for CVT transmissions which limits our sources of cars. It seems I am back to my axiom that when we find a car, the 2019 may be the newest model we will ever own. Our 2011 Honda CR-V runs great and has a Nav system that I paid @ $50 for disc to update the Nav. To me that's fair and reasonable and if I chose not to update -- I'd still have the working Nav.
I don't do HOA either. But every new development that is built has an HOA and the developer that just built 125 houses behind us doesn't nothing for that HOA fee. There is no pool, there is no open recreation areas, nothing. Yeah the fee is not that high but they are paying a small fee for nothing in return. Run it out over the years, with the 125 houses and the developer has a nice income stream for doing nothing. He can send his kid to Harvard on the homeowners dime.
I do get tired of complaining but it just seems like more and more and more we the consumer are getting drained like a hung deer being dressed at the hunting cabin. Was it BMW that started all this crap with their heated seat subscription. Which they received a lot of blow-back about and they finally recanted. Errrr!!
So it seems that the subscription model has taken hold in cars. Then of course there is my disdain for CVT transmissions which limits our sources of cars. It seems I am back to my axiom that when we find a car, the 2019 may be the newest model we will ever own. Our 2011 Honda CR-V runs great and has a Nav system that I paid @ $50 for disc to update the Nav. To me that's fair and reasonable and if I chose not to update -- I'd still have the working Nav.
I don't do HOA either. But every new development that is built has an HOA and the developer that just built 125 houses behind us doesn't nothing for that HOA fee. There is no pool, there is no open recreation areas, nothing. Yeah the fee is not that high but they are paying a small fee for nothing in return. Run it out over the years, with the 125 houses and the developer has a nice income stream for doing nothing. He can send his kid to Harvard on the homeowners dime.
I do get tired of complaining but it just seems like more and more and more we the consumer are getting drained like a hung deer being dressed at the hunting cabin. Was it BMW that started all this crap with their heated seat subscription. Which they received a lot of blow-back about and they finally recanted. Errrr!!
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