Intelligent Discussion - Page 2

I know some of you don't like foreign cars, but I have a 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid. My 2 previous vehicles were also Toyotas (Corollas) Maintenance costs on all 3 vehilces have been ridiculously low, and they have rarely seen the inside of the repair shop except for oil changes and the occasional brake job.

The Higlander has (need to look up mileage) on it, and last Fall, had its first really major repair when the rear wheel bearings needed replacing.

I was doing visiting nursing when I purchased these vehicles, and was on the road in all sorts of weather. I did have to put snow tires on the Corolla, but it drove great with them. One day, it took me through a foot high wall of snow left by the plow, then through 8 inches of unplowed snow to get to a client's home.

I had the philosophy to buy American. And then I realized, I can get anything. I tend to keep my cars and don't put tons of miles on them. I will never, ever get past buying 5 more cars in my driving lifetime.

I will be wanting to lug larger sized canvases. But I don't want something over the top. I like my sporty coupe style, too. For the right vehicle, I can give that up. There must be all manor of new vehicles that I have not bothered to pay attention to. I would love a hybrid, too, but the last time I looked, what they had couldn't cut what I wanted. Mostly because it has to have luxury style; sleeper style though. I am sort of spoiled about that.

ML: What five vehicles should I test drive, that might work for that? Not a van girl, but I guess I could stand to test drive the right one.

 

If you don't mind a used vehicle, a Honda Element might be the ticket (they stopped making them in '11).  Rubber flooring, hosable and all of the seats can be removed.  It's also an awesome dog vehicle.  When I was looking for a vehicle, that would have been my second choice after a Jeep.  The Element would have been much more utile, but I chose fun over utitlity

That's the one drawback of my Highlander. It's hard to fit more than one GSD sized dog cage into it. I did manage to get 2 cages and one dog into it one time, but the dog that wasn't caged had a rather small space to curl up in!

The current version of the Highlander has gone really high-end, combining features of a family passenger van/sport ute and high end sedan. It no longer meets my needs as a dog owner, as the 3rd row of seats makes it  hard to find a flat spot for the crates. Also, the roof line is more slanted, again making it hard to fit in a crate.

Yes, I took a dog crate with me while shopping for the Highlander....   doesn't EVERY dog owner? 

Bee, I have visions of you in a Caddy Escalade...

ML,

If I stick with the Caddy, it will have to be the new XTS. In off black. And, only if it fits in the garage, too. Never giving up my spot, ever again!  I forgot, whatever I buy has got to fit my space. And since I wrote that last post, I don't think I could ever drive a van. So forget that idea. I was just trying to be very open minded! It did not work! My concern is, I can not pull off the "starving artist" thing if I drive up in a new caddy! I will stick out in the parking lot and be asking for trouble!

I think I want some kind of concept car that does not exist, yet! One with a cloaking device, would be great!

 

 

Bee buy the XTS and park it out back...LOL

I just bought the Expedition, details later, very busy here...

I have a Toyota 4runner...LOVE it!    Can't beat a Toyota when it comes to reliability.   Hubby drives a Ford F150.  Daughter has a Toyota Camry.  Son just bought a new Kia Soul and really likes it (too small for me).

Bee, my parents used to drive a Cadillac, but now they really love owning a Lexus.

....may i diviate from cars?....

I am reading a book, (I am not finished yet, so I don’t know the outcome) but I came across a dispute which is between 3 friends. I’ll keep dispute short but will highlight important parts. I found the whole discussion very interesting and somewhat enlightening, I loved the brutal honesty of a scenario in question and disarming of the “wall” that is built by a human….anyways there are more philosophical and fundamental discussions in the book, I figured I’ll share the most simple one.

2 friends (lets call them friend 1 & 2) were playing cards and invited 3^rd stranger (friend 3) (another guy similar in age) they are on a long trip on the train. Friend # 1 gets up to order beer from bartender while his friend #2 looks at his cards. 3^rd guy is little taken back and when 1^st one returns suggests to re shuffle cards, 2^nd objects, 1^st one laughs and asks if his buddy looked at the cards, than re shuffles cards and starts the game over.

During the game he asks new friend #3 if he is always so truthful? 3^rd guy replies, I try to be, so 1^st one says, lets say I had 5K in my jacket and I walked away, you are in debt to someone who is threatening to kill you on your arrival but you know that I am brining these $ to my mother for treatment which is she does not receive she will die.  What would you do and be very truthful! 3^rd guys thinks about it and says, no I would not steal it but after much discussion which includes description of what his body would look like he finally says “yes, I would take the $ and try to re pay you back” 1^st guys says but my mother would be dead already. The 3^rd guy is very confused and not sure what his new friends want to hear…so 1^st guy offers him another scenario:

We are in a life boat but it could only keep 2 people in, you and my buddy (#2) are in a boat, I am swimming to you, and trying to get it, 3 of us would not survive do you hit me on the head to save yourself? Or do u give me your place?

2^nd friend says “I’ll hit you on the head and save myself”

1^st friend says…that’s an honest answer. What will u do #3?

#3 says…I would probably hit and kill you so save me.

So 1^st friend says, what is the point of doing proper things like telling someone in a card game that they are being cheated if when it comes to serious matter you would kill them? Why lie to yourself to assure yourself that you are morally “healthy” and you are righteous, and you have right upbringing, why pacify yourself and your conscious with proper/right “acts” when fundamentally you are flawed and when it comes to life changing decision you are no better than the person who cheated at the card game. You are two faced and you are hiding behind “proper upbringing” why try to fool others about yourself while knowing that we all know what you are, you are just lying to yourself...

…..

So the question for discussion is: are we lying to ourselves about ourselves?

No, LF. That is not the lie.

The problem with #1 and his logic, is that he is equating the rather typical response against cheating by presumed new friends, with the standards that will result in a deadly consequence for someone, unknown.

It is not a surprise that an outcome among strangers facing dire death choices for a stranger, would then be to preserve oneself, first. In contrast, if #3 had accepted the cheating, he too only became a cheater. And by not accepting the cheating, he only risks the loss of two, dubious "new" friends to begin with. 

That is why we have hero's. They are special people. They risk their lives for strangers, it is oddly, ever human that they do.

#1 is the conman. #2 Knows he is a conman. #3 Has been dazzled with BS.