- I have made an executive decision – At the end of January, the puppies will graduate up to ‘critter’. At the end of July, they will be fully matriculated to ‘dawg’.
- Moonshine, the Wonder Lab, has retired to “Throw Rug” status, also known as “Hound Emeritus”.
- If some darned varmint doesn’t stop digging up my front and side yards, I’m going to have to invest in some rather extensive anti-varmint technology. If it isn’t fixed by the 4th of July, there shall be gunpowder involved.
- Sophie keeps trying to fix the problem herself, but her solution involves extensive excavation, which is what I’m trying to avoid. She wants to dig down, the mole is trying to dig up, but both ways leave me with a lawn that looks like the Somme battlefield.
- The hunt for a new, smallish car continues. For the first time in my life, I’m considering a Subaru. Ford still gets first pick, but they’re a bit thin on the ground at the moment, and what is there appears to have been hand crafted by Hmong tinsmiths out of the most exclusive Tasmanian unobtanium.
- In today’s auto market, it’s hard to find the Goldilocks car. This one is too big, this one is too small, this one is too much, this one is too cheap, but this one is juuust right.
- Looking at the lots and online inventory, my choices appear to be “Car” or “No Car”, take your pick.
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Musings
Posted by daddybear71 on January 4, 2023
https://daddybearsden.com/2023/01/04/musings-375/
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DaddyBear
DaddyBear’s Den 
Peter Grant
/ January 4, 2023My wife and I had to face that choice in March last year, when her Subaru finally gave up the ghost. We eventually settled on the entry-level model of the Toyota Camry as the most economical solution that also met our needs. Big enough to fit a big guy like me; superb fuel economy (40 mpg on the open road); decent ride comfort; yet priced at least 25% below all comparable SUV’s. Sure, it’s a car, so big loads can be a problem, but if worse comes to worst there are small cargo trailers.
We also bought new, because at the time used car prices were astronomical, making the “drive it off the lot and lose 25% of its value” consideration redundant. We could have turned around and sold it for what we paid for it, even six months later! I understand used car prices are now dropping, but I have no regrets about what we did. We also got a new car warranty out of the deal, and a couple of years’ free routine maintenance.
You might want to consider something like that.
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daddybear71
/ January 4, 2023Thanks, Peter. Toyota is my next stop in looking at what’s available that would fit. I’ll be keeping the truck for hauling stuff around, so as long as I can do a multi-hour drive in it and not need a chiropractor, a smaller Toyota would also be a good fit.
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daddybear71
/ January 4, 2023As for used versus new prices, the difference in price between a decent, relatively young used car and a new car is there, but it’s nowhere near what it used to be. so, yeah, having the first few thousand miles with fewer worries is worth the extra couple thousand dollars, if I can find the right car at the right price.
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daddybear71
/ January 4, 2023Wow. Just took a look at the two Toyota dealerships in Louisville. They have 4, count them 4, new Camry’s listed. 1 is in transit to the dealership, 2 are already sold, but are marked as “Pending”, and 1 is on the lot and not spoken for. Thin on the ground, indeed.
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Dorothy Grant
/ January 5, 2023That’s why we got the entry level. I wanted butt warmer seats.
I was willing to take he car that was there, without butt warmers, over waiting for a car with the options I wanted to be delivered.
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daddybear71
/ January 5, 2023Unfortunately, doesn’t look like there are a lot of base models in the pipe. I have time, so I’ll keep an eye on things.
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Peter Grant
/ January 4, 2023As for the Camry’s comfort, we took it from Texas to Tennessee for Libertycon last year – two days each way – plus a lengthy detour in Arkansas on the way home. No problems with comfort at all. I was impressed. It also cost us less than half as much in fuel as it would have in our Nissan Pathfinder SUV. That didn’t hurt…
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Old NFO
/ January 5, 2023All the choices are ‘thin’ on the ground right now… sigh Good luck! Subaru is a good product, but make sure there is a dealer within decent driving range! They require service be done by the dealer for any warranty work!
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mrgarabaldi
/ January 5, 2023hey DB;
I drive a 2017 Ford Focus, and I really like the car, but because of my back, it is problematic getting into the car. So I am looking at a slightly used Escape or Lincoln MKC or Corsair(The Price is reasonable) believe it or not. Look at Lincoln comparable for a slightly used one, they tend to be owned by older people that don’t drive them much, do the maintenance and an older vehicle is cheeper on the insurance. Just a thought.
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