Phenom

It’s all about demand. Pickups are the hottest selling vehicle in North America. They get first dibs on all the high tech feature and creature comforts. It’s the only vehicle that transcends all the generations. 

35 minutes ago, ActionfigureJoe said:

And people are saying no to traditional car dealers by the millions. Good on them. 

And that’s good for them. We have a choice, I explore all avenues and choose the best deal. I don’t rule out any options. I’d buy a car from my evil ex wife if it was the best deal. 

Transparent, how the people are compensated is nobody’s business. Same as a carpenter who gets a bonus from the boss if the customer gives excellent feedback. All those costs and desired profit are part of the price. The customer has the final say so, either they buy the car or hire the contractor. Nobody is forcing them. Where is it the customers right to tell someone how they make their money?

Well, at least here in Wisconsin we don’t have a pre payment penalty. You can make larger payments that go to principal or if desired and have the funds pay it off early. 

4 hours ago, ActionfigureJoe said:

Of course not. They get kick backs from finance companies. Dealerships are ripoffs. 

So why is it a ripoff, it’s just their style of making money in a capitalist system. Nobody is forcing anyone to buy anything. F&I guys have to feed their family too. 

20 hours ago, Sled_Hed said:

Kinda like the people doing 12 year financing on ice castles 

Huh, I just traded my 5th wheel for more than I paid for it 3 years ago on a gorgeous Ice Castle, 10 year mortgage, I’m retired and live more up in northern Wisconsin than I do in Milwaukee County. The 5th wheel is great except when it gets cccccold. This will enable me to spend even more time up north enjoying winter sports…priceless. I guess it’s all up to an individuals desires and their own cost/benefit analysis. 

Money is a poor excuse when you have that guys eduction. There are legitimate ways to make lots of money in the USA especially with a good education. I’m sure the guy and his wife were able to do very well on their “ non spy” income…makes for all the worse. 

8 hours ago, ActionfigureJoe said:

I’m rethinking a diesel sprinter. Between higher fuel costs, the complicated fuel system, and increased maintenance costs they’re quickly losing any advantage. Honestly, they’ve pretty much lost any advantage.  The Promaster or Ford’s gasser vans are more practical options. And who knows what kind of diesel fuel guidelines are coming down the pike?

I’ve been driving a Chevy 6.6 diesel since I bought it new in 2017. I love the way that motor tows. My occasional heavy load is around 17k pounds and it’s like it’s not there. When I do allow myself to fantasize about a new truck that I would want because my max tow might be around 8k, I’d be looking at the Ford F-150 hybrid… but boy, towing with a diesel pickup that gets up to max torque of almost 1000 ft lbs at only 2000rpm is soooooo nice. 

I will be looking forward to Lester Holt doing a Dateline episode on the event, lol

Agreed, how in the world do you do this with like you say, them having kids who will essentially become orphans with no parents…looks like the outdated concept of godparents will come into play. They will end up with grandparents or aunt/uncles, but still have to carry this stigma for the rest of their lives. 

Dumb ass traitor and his wife tried to sell nuclear submarine secrets to Dorian country. FBI intercepted and now they are arrested. Good job FBI, tax dollars well spent for once. 

Well, I’d rather have that cargo ship out in the middle of the ocean most of the time. I’m older, in my early 60s and recently got  diagnosed with small airway disease. I’ve lived in a metro area my entire life, but now have land in northern Wisconsin. I have an RV with a light grey rubber roof and when I store it outside at my home for the winter, by spring the top is almost black. I then keep it up north all summer. Last week I was up there to adjust the antenna and noticed the roof is light grey again. 
 

Bottom line is I think my lungs will be much happier for a longer time with the cleaner air. In my previous line of work I experienced first hand people, kids, middle age and elderly who were fighting for air with lung diseases. None of them complained about the price of gas…it was the furthest thing from their mind, all they wanted was that next breath. 

2 minutes ago, Rigid1 said:

Well considering I've been in the power equipment industry for 27 years, I'm a sales rep for a company that distributes outdoor power equipment including battery equipment and I also own a landscape business, and I am also involved in R&D with power equipment including battery equipment I'm going to say I'm pretty damn knowledgeable on it's capabilities and limitations..

Awesome, I’m just wondering if you went out to the wood lot with the Milwaukee chainsaw and a couple of 12ah batteries and experienced it for yourself. My buddy has a Mikita and mine runs circles around his. 

I have two batteries for the chainsaw and have cleared an acre of trees that averaged 8-10” in diameter, about 25 of them and only did a change out, no going anywhere to recharge. That Milwaukee kicks ass. The logs are 4’ long and stacked waiting for my ambition to turn them into firewood. 

1 minute ago, racer254 said:

It is amazing the fools who can't see what this is.  Where do you suppose the power to charge the batteries will come from?  FFS California has to have rolling blackouts now because they can't produce enough electricity.

Good news for my nephew who is out in the NY area updating their power grid. The same will be done across the country and that’s JOBS, and an eventual better and healthier life. I’m sure recharging lawn equipment will have a very minute impact on the power demands. 

Just now, Rigid1 said:

It's not there yet with run time, cost, and durability. Maybe some day, but not anytime in the near future

Do you actually own and run these Milwaukee tools?  I do and also their Stihl counterparts, and the Milwaukee give up nothing and outperform. 

2 minutes ago, racer254 said:

This is a law that directly effects the middle class.  They are the majority that will be having to change because of this law.

I’m middle class, single income and transitioning just fine. 

Hmm, maybe because off this Cali situation, Milwaukee will expand into mowers, both push and riding…I wonder what Milwaukee tools stock is trading at…might be a good investment? V

Like I said, size for size and I’m comparing my Milwaukee to their Stihl counterparts, and those are top of the line gas. I would maybe have gone Stihl battery, but I already had the Milwaukee batteries from my M18 cordless tools which are drills, grinders, lights, sawzalls, circular saws, and a few more. The cost is mitigated when sticking with an individual battery group as their all interchangeable. 
 

I believe commercial size would easily duplicate this. Many of the tools I own are also used by professionals in their trades. 

I’ve gone electric in my “garden” equipment and some other things. So far my list is string trimmer, chainsaw, leaf blower, and hedge clipper. All are Milwaukee and use the same batteries. All of these outperform their gas counterparts size for size and are much quieter and a joy to run. I’m still on my 30 year old John Deere for mowing, but if it gave up the ghost I wouldn’t count out electric if feasible. 
 

Cali is big and if the usual laws of supply and demand apply, production of electric will go way up and cost will come down…while getting better. Look at microwaves, cell phones TVs and computers. 
 

My ice auger is an ION and works fantastic. No more stinking gas on the ice fishing spot. 

I’ll take a sled that’s fastest on a whooped out tight trail over the fastest sled in a straight line any day. 

36 minutes ago, Mainecat said:

Have you had a latte from Panera? 

I’m addicted to those dam caramel frappes from Mc Donald’s

8 hours ago, Ez ryder said:

Boomers wreck everyplace they live

In a boomer and recently retired and I can half agree with that. I hate crowds and everywhere I go it’s full of grey hairs. I blame modern medicine on keeping us not only alive, but able to still do stuff that usually stinks up a place…

And there’s the ever increasing development of AI and robotics. There will come a time where income will be generated off of investment. Imagine a world where a robot performs labor for you. You invest in the robot and receive a monthly fee. It’s kind of like owning rental properties. 

Pretty current event for me. I’m selling and getting out of the high rent district and moving up to northern Wisconsin.