The Peckish Synapse

[Grumpy Bear]

So.......................from 401K errors................to................???????

  

Someone, build me a bridge!

 

 

 

[Grumpy Bear]

 

[customboss]

3 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

So.......................from 401K errors................to................???????

  

Someone, build me a bridge!

 

 

 

Just following the “logic” flow from a few posters plus I’m crazy.  

[customboss]

3 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

So.......................from 401K errors................to................???????

  

Someone, build me a bridge!

 

 

 

I have low cost bridge parts available if you’ll pick up near Baltimore

[customboss]

6 hours ago, KARNUT said:

I spent the last 10 years visiting every chance I got a highly decorated Sargent Major. I just learned at his funeral he was involved when North Korea crossed over and killed some servicemen. He was part of the crew, not his rotation. He found the dead. He was a Ranger and jumped out of planes. I’m a senior member of our church, my wife is a secretary there. My business have given me the opportunity to see the world. I’ve even been in the China airport. I’ve seen things, learned things from many influential people. Formed knowledge and opinions through experience. I don’t lump the misinformed or wishful thinkers into some kind of cult if they disagree. I feel sad for them. They always respond with name calling and degradation. You know who you are. Me I’m happily on my way. For ever grateful for knowing a man such as my Father in law. The Rush listening, America loving, highly respected conservative.

What have YOU done in service? 

[Grumpy Bear]

Vacation 

 

 

1,901.8 miles to Denver and back. 60.317 gallons of fuel. 31.53 mpg result of trip hand calculated from receipts. 12.8 cents per mile. This beats the EPA highway number of 28 by a bunch. She can make Denver from mid north central Illinois with ONE gas stop, mid-way and have 2.5 gallons in reserve each time. 475 mile range. Also over EPA numbers. 

 

ZERO oil consumption. Four days travel. 62 mph daily "average" speed. Seat speed a bit lower. How fast do you have to drive to average key on hour speeds of over 60 mph? Not as fast as one might think. The key is 'seat time'. My most used cruise control speed was 100 KPH or 62.14 mph. As low as 60 and as high as 70 as set speeds. We did have some construction and some big city rush hour 5 mph crawls for a half hour a few times. Omaha to Lincoln Nebraska and Des Moines Iowa. Interstate shut down on the latter forced a reroute at double the normal traffic. 

 

The lowest tank on this drive was 30.59 mpg on the last leg of the trip. Sheeting rain. Horrid cross winds and still......Whatever is happening outside isn't happening inside.

 

I learned a few things on this trip. Nebraska is not flat. You enter at 1,030 feet (east) and leave at 3457 feet (west), and it is a steady grind. Nearly all AM radio west of the Missouri River is FOX, and their religion is politics. Their politics is religion. I didn't listen to much radio. Iowa has the same radio but is the same elevation coming and going with 100-foot swells and troughs. 

 

Know what else I learned. The American killing of the full and mid-size luxury sedan was a mistake for the consumer. I don't care what you drive other, it will never ride like this class of cars. Minivan, Huge SUVs haven't a comparison. Like riding Aladin's carpet entombed in Pharos sarcophagus during Zen prayers. The HVAC system is flawless. Room galore, quiet and unruffled.

 

At 3,495 pounds the 200 hp / 230 Lb/Ft torque 3.8 V6 has more than enough power even at 5,280 feet to make any move you need made. Yes, even with 3.08 final gearing.  

 

Does it have a flaw? Yes....it was discontinued. 

 

 

[KARNUT]

Carful advertising got people out of cars. The minivan was the first hit. Hauling kids and goods got easier. Then they called the drivers soccer moms. So men weren’t going to drive minivans. So they bought trucks or SUVs. Soon soccer moms started driving SUVs according to those ads. So naturally the dude’s are going to drive trucks. So automakers were blissfully raking in the bucks. Look at all the goodies we can stack on these things. No self respecting parent is going to make their kid get into a 2 door sedan. Four door cars are for losers. You didn’t see many ads for 4 door cars when I was coming up. A family of 6 could easily ride in a 2 door Buick. Or any GM car. It’s not cool to have a car. We were carefully pointed towards the more profitable trucks and SUV. You can still get a car cheaper than a truck or suv they just aren’t as cool. I own a minivan, a full sized car, a truck and a sorts car. The most versatile easiest to drive that’s available in today’s market is the minivan. If I had to downsize it would go first. It’s not cool. When my wife is ready for her next full sized car. It won’t be a GM. They don’t make one. It’s a shame really. It wasn’t too long ago my garage had a 94 impala ss, a Z-28 and my toy was a 64 Chevy truck. I grew up in the back seat of Buicks my father’s favorite. He later upgraded to caddies. GM took away our choices. I can remember family picnics in NJ the driveway full of GM cars. Sad really. Malibu is done this year. Thanks GM.

[Grumpy Bear]

2 hours ago, KARNUT said:

GM took away our choices.

 

Amen. So are a few others.  

 

Official Venom F5 Website | Hennessey Special Vehicles

 

Goodmorning American last Sunday had an interview with the head of Hennessy Special Vehicles. In that interview he makes a statement something along the lines of, 'Anyone who spends more than 40K on a vehicle isn't buying transportation, their buying something else". I wish I could have added, "If you need to be seen then strip naked and stand in the middle of the street". 

 

COOL is one of the rationalizations we use for justification. My oldest daughter wouldn't ride in my ugly green Gremlin because it wasn't "cool". She walked to school.

 

Utility is another.....

Dad's favorites were full sized four door Ford/Mercury Sedans. Four boys, two parents and enough trunk to pack for two weeks including camping gear. You can hide buildings in those trunks. Standing five feet an adolescent child is still climbing UP in the back seat. If I have to choose between a four-door sedan and a minivan for COOL factor, the mini loses every time. A few of those four door family haulers had big blocks and four speeds. 

 

I always knew there was a ride difference between a Coup De Ville and the LTD back then but the last of the big Buicks rode better than either and used half the gas. Downsizing did give up on occupant, but families are smaller so a wash IMHO. 

 

Wish I had 3 million to blow on that Venom F5 

[KARNUT]

18 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

Amen. So are a few others.  

 

Official Venom F5 Website | Hennessey Special Vehicles

 

Goodmorning American last Sunday had an interview with the head of Hennessy Special Vehicles. In that interview he makes a statement something along the lines of, 'Anyone who spends more than 40K on a vehicle isn't buying transportation, their buying something else". I wish I could have added, "If you need to be seen then strip naked and stand in the middle of the street". 

 

COOL is one of the rationalizations we use for justification. My oldest daughter wouldn't ride in my ugly green Gremlin because it wasn't "cool". She walked to school.

 

Utility is another.....

Dad's favorites were full sized four door Ford/Mercury Sedans. Four boys, two parents and enough trunk to pack for two weeks including camping gear. You can hide buildings in those trunks. Standing five feet an adolescent child is still climbing UP in the back seat. If I have to choose between a four-door sedan and a minivan for COOL factor, the mini loses every time. A few of those four door family haulers had big blocks and four speeds. 

 

I always knew there was a ride difference between a Coup De Ville and the LTD back then but the last of the big Buicks rode better than either and used half the gas. Downsizing did give up on occupant, but families are smaller so a wash IMHO. 

 

Wish I had 3 million to blow on that Venom F5 

Most of my growing up my the family was GM. One cousin bought a Shelby. Around 1974 my father was driving a 72 elcamino ss. His same cousin who worked for him ordered a 1974 Ranchero GT it had all the performance stuff available. He ordered it unknown to my father in the company name. He had the identical elcamino company vehicle. My father had a car phone ( yes they had them back then) the secretary called him to say it was in. He picked it up and thrashed the daylights out of it. He came on the job sight with the biggest smile. He told that cousin that his ranchero was at the dealership. It was a regular brown 2bbl example. He did buy another GT for his brother another Forman on another job sight. It had the Cleveland 2bbl. Just stripes. The cousin learned his lesson. That started a string of Ford trucks but still GM car. The 5.7 diesel and the 6.5 in GM trucks changed all that.

[KARNUT]

34 minutes ago, KARNUT said:

Most of my growing up my the family was GM. One cousin bought a Shelby. Around 1974 my father was driving a 72 elcamino ss. His same cousin who worked for him ordered a 1974 Ranchero GT it had all the performance stuff available. He ordered it unknown to my father in the company name. He had the identical elcamino company vehicle. My father had a car phone ( yes they had them back then) the secretary called him to say it was in. He picked it up and thrashed the daylights out of it. He came on the job sight with the biggest smile. He told that cousin that his ranchero was at the dealership. It was a regular brown 2bbl example. He did buy another GT for his brother another Forman on another job sight. It had the Cleveland 2bbl. Just stripes. The cousin learned his lesson. That started a string of Ford trucks but still GM car. The 5.7 diesel and the 6.5 in GM trucks changed all that.

I got rambling and forgot what I really wanted to answer about. The 3 million dollar car. If I was inclined I would go with the super charger package that ford offers currently. You can pick even a two year old 5.0 truck and get a dealer install package with over 700 HP. One dealer in the Atlanta area was offering the package on a 5.0 work truck for the mid 40K. I don’t drive enough in a truck to justify it in my mind. If my wife could travel in a truck I’d be all in. 

[KARNUT]

On 5/21/2024 at 11:48 PM, Grumpy Bear said:

Vacation 

 

 

1,901.8 miles to Denver and back. 60.317 gallons of fuel. 31.53 mpg result of trip hand calculated from receipts. 12.8 cents per mile. This beats the EPA highway number of 28 by a bunch. She can make Denver from mid north central Illinois with ONE gas stop, mid-way and have 2.5 gallons in reserve each time. 475 mile range. Also over EPA numbers. 

 

ZERO oil consumption. Four days travel. 62 mph daily "average" speed. Seat speed a bit lower. How fast do you have to drive to average key on hour speeds of over 60 mph? Not as fast as one might think. The key is 'seat time'. My most used cruise control speed was 100 KPH or 62.14 mph. As low as 60 and as high as 70 as set speeds. We did have some construction and some big city rush hour 5 mph crawls for a half hour a few times. Omaha to Lincoln Nebraska and Des Moines Iowa. Interstate shut down on the latter forced a reroute at double the normal traffic. 

 

The lowest tank on this drive was 30.59 mpg on the last leg of the trip. Sheeting rain. Horrid cross winds and still......Whatever is happening outside isn't happening inside.

 

I learned a few things on this trip. Nebraska is not flat. You enter at 1,030 feet (east) and leave at 3457 feet (west), and it is a steady grind. Nearly all AM radio west of the Missouri River is FOX, and their religion is politics. Their politics is religion. I didn't listen to much radio. Iowa has the same radio but is the same elevation coming and going with 100-foot swells and troughs. 

 

Know what else I learned. The American killing of the full and mid-size luxury sedan was a mistake for the consumer. I don't care what you drive other, it will never ride like this class of cars. Minivan, Huge SUVs haven't a comparison. Like riding Aladin's carpet entombed in Pharos sarcophagus during Zen prayers. The HVAC system is flawless. Room galore, quiet and unruffled.

 

At 3,495 pounds the 200 hp / 230 Lb/Ft torque 3.8 V6 has more than enough power even at 5,280 feet to make any move you need made. Yes, even with 3.08 final gearing.  

 

Does it have a flaw? Yes....it was discontinued. 

 

 

How many Buicks do you have? I’m jealous.

[Grumpy Bear]

56 minutes ago, KARNUT said:

How many Buicks do you have? I’m jealous.

 

Two. Daisy and the wife's Verano. But I'm always on the hunt. Series III 3800's in Bonnivilles, Grand Prix, Cutlass, Monte Carlo and Impalas' are nice cars too. Any W body with a 3800 is a good find. 

 

I can keep an eye peeled if you like. 

 

 

[KARNUT]

20 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

Two. Daisy and the wife's Verano. But I'm always on the hunt. Series III 3800's in Bonnivilles, Grand Prix, Cutlass, Monte Carlo and Impalas' are nice cars too. Any W body with a 3800 is a good find. 

 

I can keep an eye peeled if you like. 

 

 

If I stumble across a  clean grand marquis I might bite. Otherwise I’m content at the moment.

[OnTheReel]

I’m more of an Olds guy. I miss the big old coupes like my 92’ Toronado. L27 (3800 series 1).

Our family had 4 of these. 86, 88, 90 and 92. Very unique looking cars with hidden headlights harkening back to the original 66 version. They ride like a dream and have the most comfortable seats I’ve sat in. Huge trunk too. Of course they were all extremely reliable as well. That’s why we kept buying them! 

[customboss]

28 minutes ago, OnTheReel said:

I’m more of an Olds guy. I miss the big old coupes like my 92’ Toronado. L27 (3800 series 1).

Our family had 4 of these. 86, 88, 90 and 92. Very unique looking cars with hidden headlights harkening back to the original 66 version. They ride like a dream and have the most comfortable seats I’ve sat in. Huge trunk too. Of course they were all extremely reliable as well. That’s why we kept buying them! 

I raced cars for Olds in IMSA.