trinacriabob

Thanks. This all makes a lot of sense. Also, I learned the word keystoning today. So, a good rule of thumb would be that the mechanics get it at a discount if they routinely deal with someone, they then mark it up, and it should return to about the retail price I see, but with a possible ceiling of no more than 1.333 x the retail cost to me. That sounds plausible.

I've sort of wound down to using 1 GM dealership and 1 or 2 independent shops. I've found an independent shop I really like. The owner, also a mechanic there, is real easy to talk to and has an excellent reputation among his peers and customers. So, here's the question. What is the normal mark up for parts that he has to get from the auto parts stores that he works with? Is it 20% 33.33% Or something else? I am wondering if there is a rule of thumb. Or, put another way, say I walk into AutoZone and a part retails to me for $ 100. What is a reasonable amount for that part on the final repair bill if the mechanic had to purchase it from the same store? I'm sure knowing this will be helpful to some folks reading this. As for labor, they will tell you their hourly and book rates.

You're probably right. I still prefer to stick to a conservative regimen of fuel, fuel injector treatment, and engine oil. I also like to put the newish RED Fram air filter in the car (a minor upcharge). I'm stuck with AC Delco engine oil because that's what GM dealerships use (it's made for them by Mobil). However, when the car hopefully hits 100,000 miles, I plan to switch to Castrol GTX. I still think Shell and Chevron/Texaco are the best fuels available to most Americans. To me, it's cheap insurance.

I couldn't find a more recent LaCrosse article so I figured I'd post my comment here. Buick's website shows their 2019 lineup sans Regal, possibly because it recently got released. I'm sure they'll add the Regal to 2019 sooner than later. At any rate, there are SIX LaCrosse levels to choose from. It was interesting to see that the base model is given an unflattering 1SV designation, as was the case for the decontented Verano as it was on its way out. The base model is something like $29,### and it is only available with a 2.5 L 4 with start-stop, a 6 speed automatic transmission, a choice of 2 exterior colors, and 1 interior trim model. When it's all added up, I believe it priced out at $ 30,495. Not bad for their flagship. BUT ... is this the same 2.5 L 4 that powered the Chevy Malibu in 2013 and 2014? If you want one trim level up, so you can get the 3.6 V6 (it pushes you up to a 9 speed automatic transmission), along with a REAL choice of exterior colors, you will be hitting a MSRP in the mid $37K range. Obviously, there's much more standard equipment in the car, but $7 K is a big jump. I have never read much about the new LaCrosse nor have I driven one. I then proceed to read some consumer reviews. A good many are pleased as punch while some are pissed. They say that noise isn't suppressed as well and the ride isn't as nice as it was in the previous gen LaCrosse which they traded in to get the most recent gen LaCrosse. I like the svelte current gen LaCrosse much more so than the chunky looking last gen LaCrosse. I never warmed up to the last version. However, between the huge price changes with the trim levels, the iffy consumer sound-offs, and the confining high center console, I don't know what to think of this car. I just wish a person could get a more simple one with a 3.6 V6 (one of Ward's Top 10 engines, as we all probably know) and a few colors to pick from with a MSRP of less than $ 37,000. I don't need 9 gears, either.

Apparently filmed in or near Havana, Cuba. Makes me want to go. I've been fascinated by Cuba for as long as I can remember.

I'd really like to get one of these (the Hyundai) if and when I rent an economy car next. I was looking at on-line dealer inventories. They are few and far between, relative to other Hyundai models. Some, however, show up and are marked "in transit."

I didn't know that. I thought it had a different platform letter, just like they changed Regals to a W-body when they went FWD.

Yes, that would indeed be an "unusual" car ... this would have been the pre-X-body platform and the replacement badging for the Ventura. I preferred the Ventura nameplate. It sort of made sense alongside Catalina. IIRC, these cars had the stiff and rudimentary rear leaf (nomenclature?) suspension whereas, a step and two up - at a LeMans or a Grand Prix - you got coil springs all around. Seeing an X-body on the road and in any kind of shape would be close to a miracle. That would also go for the Chrysler K-car. Haven't seen either in quite a while.

Well, it's the 1st of August. Seen anything you care to share, describe, and/or have photographed? Have at it. Today, I was driving down a major street with two traffic lanes in each direction that had residential homes on each side of it. I was in the right hand lane. Following me along in traffic in the left hand lane was a silver 2002-2003ish Olds Alero coupe. It sounded pretty good as it accelerated in the stop and go traffic. At a certain point, the traffic was stopped in front of a house with a silver 2002-2003ish Olds Alero sedan. At this point, these two silver Olds Aleros were perpendicular to each other. It was funny to me because just last night a friend and I were talking about cars and talking about what was junk and what was in it for the long haul. He mentioned that Aleros are in it for the long haul. He, too, sees many on the road.

This was a very random and unexpected sighting (Sicily). So I'll put it under random thoughts (stateside). It even has my reflection in it taking the photo. I just noticed that.

Epic. I was listening to this thinking it was a new take on Barry White and an African-American musical artist. It's not. It's a Sicilian musical artist named Mario Biondi. This gives hope that competent musical talent may return because we've been missing it for about a decade now. The lady synching the song in the beginning, apparently a joke of sorts, may be Lisa Stansfiled. Not sure. Also, perfect to hear the first time in a Fiat 500!

I will. I know that most of them have a layer of features. My concern is that someone had to have bought something. I did ... the upcharge to put the bag underneath. Thanks.

Thank you. I have scanned various links and they talk about reimbursing what is expected and reasonable for what you purchased to tide you over. If the bags are lost, the likelihood of finding the things you packed (clothing, specifically) in another geographic locale would be unlikely and a major inconvenience. It would take a week just ot shop for the clothing that had to be replaced. And, if the bags are simply coming in late and a person had a rough night because of it, that's a major stressor, too. As they say, "It's not over until the fat lady sings." Here, that means that a person can't relax until the bags are reunited with them ... and not just their knowing that they never left the previous airport and another airline will be carrying them for the airline that missed the mark and that the bags will be with you the next day. Thanks for the links. I'll go through them again.

I could use some help here. If your luggage doesn't make a connection and there are many connecting flights later that day, aren't you entitled to some form of compensation, even if they bring it to you the next day ... and you're at a hotel? Also, for a nonstop flight in the morning where you are checking in over 1.5 hours ahead of departure and the same thing happens, shouldn't they give you some token money, even though it comes the following day? A nonstop flight! It never got loaded onto the plane! No one is going to go out and start buying things if there's a probability of it arriving in a day. However, it means one may have to sleep in their clothes or in their birthday suit, or something between the two, not to mention the stress of wondering if the luggage will in fact arrive. I thought there's a token amount that is reasonable for such inconveniences. I thought this convention about some token remuneration was written down somewhere. Luggage losses and delays are a minute percentage of all the luggage that they move. Looking for some input and information ...

I can't even do this ratio off of the number 10, so I'll use 20. If you go onto a Hyundai lot, you'll see approximately the following ratio of Sonatas : Elantras : Accents - 11 : 7.5 : 1.5 They have boatloads of Sonatas. Evidently, people are seeing them as good values and are scooping them up. On the other hand, with the restyling and slight enlargement of the Accent, the line between the Elantra and it has gotten finer. In short, one has to really scour a Hyundai dealership lot to spot an Accent. That's what I have experienced.

Today marks yet another anniversary of the sinking of the "Andrea Doria." *sigh*

Not really a joke, but a funny story with a joke embedded in it. When I lived on Atlanta's north side, I would drive to the MARTA station and take the train to work. (I couldn't believe all the trees ... beautiful.) A couple of times, I would pass this chiropractor's office that was near a small private college. This chiropractor had one of those message boards outside with the hanging letters that said "Free Spinal Exam." The nearby college students would periodically remove some letters so the message would read "Free Sex." Nowadays, that board would be electronic. Regardless, I thought those college kids doing that must have had a good sense of humor. Q: What is New York's 6th borough? A: Miami.

I like the sail panel lamps but not much else here. Very tacky. But then it's on a ritzy street in FL, per the houses and trees. A family friend who was too short to drive an' 80s Eldorado had one and had the fake tire affixed to the trunk ... terrible. Here you go. One such year was 1975. I had forgotten that there was a Calais series one step down from the Deville. Most of the cloth interiors offered were pretty wild. Only one, the "Manhattan," was consistent enough with the cloth seating offered for at least a decade going forward. http://automotivemileposts.com/cadillac/cadi1975interiortrim.html

I'm going to assume that this vehicle does NOT have platinum plugs then. My last car had conventional plugs and each tune up (30,000) showed them to still be in great shape. I still did a tune up every 30,000 miles. I watched a YouTube on throttle body (TB) cleaning (it was either a Bonneville or a GP) and the inside was gunked up pretty bad. I'm thinking it had to have been neglected or high mileage. The video said that a person has to be careful with the throttle body flap and that you had better be very careful with your fingers! Isn't a good air filter one of the first lines of defense for the TB?

Cool to get some consensus on the Techron. Some already know, but the small bottle is only intended for cars with smaller fuel tank capacities. I don't go to Costco that much anymore but keep my membership up. It's about tire rotations, large electronics purchases now and then, and jeans (great prices on some name brands). So, then, I need to make use of "Cafe 150" and the "sample lunch" to make it worth my while. LOL. Yes, I would imagine they bundle Techron at a good price. At the auto parts stores, I tend to see STP bundled in 2s for about $9.99. I have bought that before. I guess I like the double protection of top tier gasoline and fuel injector cleaner. I started this regimen beginning with the last car I owned. I didn't do any of this stuff with the '84 Supreme Brougham coupe, since it was a carbureted 3.8. At what point or place does one insert the throttle body cleaner? I just put in a new Fram higher end air filter every 10,000 miles. If a person has pulled off the air filter assembly to slide in the air filter and they see the outward side of the throttle body flap and it's really clean, does that mean that the inboard side would be clean, too? No driveability issues thus far.

It was interesting how, when first released, everything about the Seville was very purist. It was a clean looking "little" car! Within a few years, they felt compelled to make it more complicated ... busier grille, etc. Then, when it came down the combining the bustle back Seville with a V8-6-4 and/or a somewhat unreliable 4100 aluminum V8, the Seville became downright frightening. Have not seen a bustle back Seville IRL in at least 5 years. But I do see first-gen ones from time to time. Did anyone remember when the entry level Cadillacs of that era could be had with cloth (plaid) seats? I believe they were a "credit" option. Sevilles either had mono-color leather or velour seats. I know that the 252 Buick V6 was a "credit" option when it was offered.

Yesterday, I saw a 1975* (maybe 1974) Olds Delta 88 convertible at a light that was perpendicular to me. It was red, with a white top and a white interior. It had whitewalls and wire wheel covers. It was spotless. It was a retired guy driving it and his wife (probably) was in the passenger seat. She had a scarf or whatever it was around her head. I'm guessing they were channeling National Geographic and the World's Fair of 1964 in Flushing, NY. * round lamps up front - IIRC, it was only the Olds 98 that received quad rectangular lamps up front that year.

I get the sense that a few of the regulars on this forum are sort of taken by Mavericks ... possibly for their humorous qualities.

Do you routinely use a fuel injector cleaner or fuel system additive? I do. I add a bottle to the tank about every 5,000 miles, in addition to using the better detergent gasoline brands. Which ones do you use, like, and/or know have a good reputation? I've heard Techron is the best. Others mention brands like Lucas and Seafoam. I don't know much about these, so I don't use them. I have also used STP and Valvoline fuel system cleaner. You need to read the label on the Techron bottle. The one that is nicely priced only treats 12 gallons of gasoline. The one in the larger plastic bottle treats up to 21 gallons. My tank holds about 17 gallons. Any ideas on fuel injector/fuel system cleaner brands and frequency?

Yesterday, the car received a new transmission fitting where the line comes in (or out) to being cooled. There was a small leak that had been there for a while. No more drips. Keeping my fingers crossed. I like a clean concrete parking apron.