Chatbox Thread

[CDsDontBurn]

My MIL is over right now asking for help with her car - 2012 Focus, w/Titanium package - and it sounds like hot garbage.

There's a buzzing type noise from the front right at pretty much all times, but is most pronounced when the wheel is clocked left. My MIL claims that the dealer was telling her her motor mounts were done and needing replacement and that was almost 2yrs ago she says. I'll start with that. It has the transmission issues that the focus has so there's that too. It also has a fuel leak from where the fuel hose meets the fuel tank. The plastic connection joint thing is cracked there.

All I know is that I hate working on this car because of how cramped everything is in it if it requires me to go into the engine bay.

All she knows is that she hates the car and wants a new / replaced vehicle.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

My MIL is over right now asking for help with her car - 2012 Focus, w/Titanium package - and it sounds like hot garbage.

There's a buzzing type noise from the front right at pretty much all times, but is most pronounced when the wheel is clocked left. My MIL claims that the dealer was telling her her motor mounts were done and needing replacement and that was almost 2yrs ago she says. I'll start with that. It has the transmission issues that the focus has so there's that too. It also has a fuel leak from where the fuel hose meets the fuel tank. The plastic connection joint thing is cracked there.

All I know is that I hate working on this car because of how cramped everything is in it if it requires me to go into the engine bay.

All she knows is that she hates the car and wants a new / replaced vehicle.

Put the minimum amount of effort into getting it sale ready and get rid of the shit box.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Forget high egg prices, I was looking to buy some steaks for the holiday weekend and was blown away by the prices. Two basic choice steaks were like $35

No way am I paying that. That steak can rot on the shelf before I'll pay that much for it.

It looks like beef prices are at or near an all time high right now. The national average, according to my research, is almost $11.50 a pound! Unreal!

Has anyone else noticed this where you live either in the store or in restaurants?

 

[Grog6]

And tarriffs made you pay twice!
A lot of our beef comes from brasil.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Put the minimum amount of effort into getting it sale ready and get rid of the shit box.

She plans to get rid of it, but needs to wait a little longer to save more for a better down payment on something new(er). I told her about selling it, but she's one of those that doesn't want to put any effort into things that take work to maximize returns.

That said, her car is pretty thrashed because of all the sun damage over the last 13 years with her living in Palm Desert. Her summer months typically range from April to November where 100° days isn't uncommon just about daily. During actual summer, June - September, the daily average out there is 113°.

Where this is all leading into is her car's interior and why I said what I said above. Over the last 13 years of ownership, her car has succumbed to the following bits of sun / UV related damage:

• Cracked dashboard
• Eyeglasses holder
• Plastic chrome peeling
• Broken door panel
• Deteriorated rubber trim
• Yellowed headlights
• Failed plastic tabs that hold up the rear deck
• Other things I can't remember

That said, my MIL is fed up with the car both mechanically and cosmetically and she would send it straight to the crusher. She was one of the first to sue Ford over the transmission issues and won.

Ford paid her out for the car and she decided to keep the car instead of getting rid of it, mainly because she was free and clear of a car payment after winning the lawsuit.

So yeah, she has a real bad taste with this car and is adamant that her next car isn't going to be an American car because of her experiences with this car specifically.

Forget high egg prices, I was looking to buy some steaks for the holiday weekend and was blown away by the prices. Two basic choice steaks were like $35

No way am I paying that. That steak can rot on the shelf before I'll pay that much for it.

It looks like beef prices are at or near an all time high right now. The national average, according to my research, is almost $11.50 a pound! Unreal!

Has anyone else noticed this where you live either in the store or in restaurants?

View attachment 14250

Beef has always been a bougie thing in my household meant only for special occasions, so I've been a largely insulted from this. We typically eat chicken and fish.

The only beef I buy is primarily from burgers and taco joints already cooked and ready for me to eat, lol. That said, In-N-Out has been steadily increasing their prices over the past year or so. What we usually order right now comes out to $40.32. just a few months ago it used to be $38.xx, and before that, it was $36.xx.

 

[Zep5.0]

Forget high egg prices, I was looking to buy some steaks for the holiday weekend and was blown away by the prices. Two basic choice steaks were like $35

No way am I paying that. That steak can rot on the shelf before I'll pay that much for it.

It looks like beef prices are at or near an all time high right now. The national average, according to my research, is almost $11.50 a pound! Unreal!

Has anyone else noticed this where you live either in the store or in restaurants?

View attachment 14250

I read an article on it. I haven't been buying steaks for nearly 2 years unless it's a crazy sale. But the basics of it are that in 2019 we had 35 million cattle and today we have 29 million (I'm estimating about what I heard). So that plus the fact we basically have 2 packers controlling the market, is why we have the mess we do. I'm amazed people still buy any, TBH.

 

[Zep5.0]

A V-8 Couldn't Save Ford's Directionless MN12 Platform - Hagerty Media https://share.google/yf39W5M4iaOrW98e8.

Interesting read. Can't remember if this was shared yet or not.

 

[XR7-4.6]

A V-8 Couldn't Save Ford's Directionless MN12 Platform - Hagerty Media https://share.google/yf39W5M4iaOrW98e8.

Interesting read. Can't remember if this was shared yet or not.

I always liked Sajeev, he actually was in the club in the good old days and I used to read his articles on The Truth About Cars back when that place was tolerable, he does good research without much hyperbole like most automotive bloggers, didnt know he moved to Hagerty, good for him!. He has a really sweet 88 XR7 too,

 

[KevinVarnes]

A V-8 Couldn't Save Ford's Directionless MN12 Platform - Hagerty Media https://share.google/yf39W5M4iaOrW98e8.

Interesting read. Can't remember if this was shared yet or not.

Kind of harsh. It has been many years, but from what I recall the T-Bird/Cougar more than held its own in the market it was competing in sales-wise. I guess I don't really care? I love all of the 89-98 T-Birds/Cougars/Marks.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Kind of harsh. It has been many years, but from what I recall the T-Bird/Cougar more than held its own in the market it was competing in sales-wise. I guess I don't really care? I love all of the 89-98 T-Birds/Cougars/Marks.

The whole coupe market as a whole was retracting in the 90s, be it Personal luxury coupes, sports cars pony cars etc. MN12s held their own against the competition fine but compared to their namesakes in the 70s they were definitely struggling.

My attitude is who cares? The normal happiness flowchart of capitalism is Business>shareholder>consumer. The MN12 was a rare win where the consumer actually got a great product at the latter’s expense

 

[Derphound01]

Both my kids started school 3 weeks ago. My son said a few days ago that he's not feeling well, like he has a cold coming in. This morning I woke up with the start of something myself.

Fuck.

Us too. None of ours are in daycare or preschool, yet somehow they bring it all home to us. The last two weeks have been unpleasant here.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Purchased tickets to go see my mom in NC. Haven't been on a plane since I helped her move to NC (return home) two years ago. My trip is scheduled for January 2nd, so after the holiday hoopla, lol.

 

[Boston-Bull]

I never knew that HF had a hand in this.

KINGSFORD CHARCOAL HISTORY

 

[CDsDontBurn]

I never knew that HF had a hand in this.

KINGSFORD CHARCOAL HISTORY

You know, I read "HF" as "Harbor Freight" and I had to click the link, because I already knew that HENRY FORD had a hand in Kingsford charcoal

 

[XR7-4.6]

Just saw Leno’s Law got shot down in CA. Sorry CA peeps, I don’t care if your weather and scenery’s great, your state as a state is dogshit. And I say that as an Illinois resident!

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Just saw Leno’s Law got shot down in CA. Sorry CA peeps, I don’t care if your weather and scenery’s great, your state as a state is dogshit. And I say that as an Illinois resident!

You know what. It's really the only downside to living here if you're a car guy. And Even then, there are "ways around this" issue.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

I just looked at my parts list over on RA. Prices have GONE UP since earlier this week!

I had the complete braking system replacement for PBR mod, including hoses on all 4 corners, including new pads and rotors for the rear. Everything I had originally priced out to $397.xx and now its at $427!

I have some maintenance items for my wife's Hyundai and was originally at $163 and now its at $187!

I have some items for my Honda to get her back on the road. Originally, that cart was at $984 and now its at $1,023.

Shits aggravating. Really makes the "when you make more so now you're middle class, but inflation gets so high that you're back to low class" meme hella legit.

 

[XR7-4.6]

You know what. It's really the only downside to living here if you're a car guy. And Even then, there are "ways around this" issue.

The $6/gallon 87 octane and sun fade isn’t appealing either

 

[CDsDontBurn]

The $6/gallon 87 octane and sun fade isn’t appealing either

$6/gal? Where? I'll avoid that place!

 

[XR7-4.6]

$6/gal? Where? I'll avoid that place!

View attachment 14408

 

[Grog6]

Tarrifs suck. The court threw them out because illegal Taxation.

 

[Grog6]

I think every magazine I own is illegal in CA.

 

[KevinVarnes]

Keep checking the prices once a day. They do fluctuate sometimes. I have Cobra calipers in one of my carts and they bounce around from day to day sometimes.

 

[Kenz]

I think every magazine I own is illegal in CA.

So are all my pew pews in one way or another. Maybe my childhood 20-gauge single shot is legal there?

 

[Grog6]

Even the mags for my .22s would be illegal. (50,30,20 round)
Your shotgun would be ok unless it holds over 5 rounds. My 12 ga Mossberg, with the pistol grip, 18" barrel, and 8 round mag, not so much.

 

[Kenz]

Even the mags for my .22s would be illegal. (50,30,20 round)

Same here, I think my 22 DA revolver is actually cali compliant at 9.... I'm a fan of the 22, quite a bit can fit in a small mag

 

[Vicinity]

Motorweek recently uploaded an old 92 Bonneville take today. I quite like the exterior styling. The blue looks a lot better than the red one they test drive

 

[XR7-4.6]

Motorweek recently uploaded an old 92 Bonneville take today. I quite like the exterior styling. The blue looks a lot better than the red one they test drive

Those were common as dirt when I was a kid. The 06 Charger totally ripped the front end design off…

 

[Grog6]

I remember laughing at those new. Bonneville, hell.If they sent one here, they never published it.
In that timeframe, Jerry was making a Mark try for 200MPH!

 

[Kenz]

Motorweek recently uploaded an old 92 Bonneville take today. I quite like the exterior styling. The blue looks a lot better than the red one they test drive

The interior in those is super comfortable and modern looking for the time. Especially the seats, they were adjustable in multiple ways and had that plushness that isn't really in cars anymore

Pontiac was really on fire in the 90s, they were always and still are my favorite GM brand. It's a shame they got shitcanned by the whole bailout deal.