trinacriabob

The black F-bird: Says 4.9, if I'm reading it correctly. So, that's a 301 c.i. Pontiac V8, it has no air (look at all that space under the hood ... and pull tabs for interior venting!), manual windows, and cloth seats. I'd happily own it, but not in that color. The maroon F-bird: My favorite year for this car; just need to get rid of the hood intake scoops, the white vinyl interior, and the aftermarket wheels

@A Horse With No Name Uruguay is rated highly on those retirement lists among the South American countries. It has a lot of good things going for it - relative stability, progressive thinking, good health care, and the highest literacy rate on that continent. I know that they rank Costa Rica (have never been) highly, but it's Central America, and not South America, and, when you start reading more and more, it has its hazards. - - - - - My real random thought upon logging in this morning: I wonder what Lorena and John Bobbitt are up to these days ...

This looked familiar, in a general way, because of the trees (pines) in the background and the word Barra (not Mary). Barra de Maldonado is close to beautiful Punta del Este, one of the better known resorts in South America and a mecca for people from Buenos Aires with money. Punta del Este (UY) is one of the coolest places I've been to. Uruguay and Argentina may be in South America, but it feels more like being in Europe Punta del Este, Uruguay: This is the actual point (punta) - "downtown" Punta del Este jutting out to its point - to the left (east) is the Atlantic and to the right (west) is the Rio de la Plata ... all those cool homes would be about 5 and 10 miles up, mostly going up along the road fronting the Atlantic side. I will never forget this place.

That's how it is currently pronounced in southern Europe. First heard it some 5 to 10 years ago across the pond, when pointing and laughing, "Look, there's a Subaru dealership."

As for gasoline purchases, I no longer pay outside with a card. I always go into the store and pay with a card and get a receipt until the statement arrives. Or with cash if I didn't spend down what I took out "fast enough." I am also fairly careful about where I pay for parking with a card. If it's a major airport where people are using it all the time, at a beach in Florida, like in the fancy part of St. Pete, or for parking in a nice downtown area, I might do it. I once paid for parking with a card in downtown Detroit. Lesson learned ... a month or two later. That's what I assume to have been the cause and effect. This is why I do carry some cash ... and especially quarters. One of the best things is a reloadable travel card. You can get one at AAA. Less than $5. It's great for restaurants and gift shops when traveling and overseas. It's a stand-alone product with a preset amount you've loaded onto it and it's better to put all those small transactions in places you don't know on one of these cards. They're valid for 2 to 3 years, not having one nearby to look at.

It's interesting to look over at the right of the C&G homepage and see whose birthday it might be on any given day. Sometimes, it's of members who haven't posted in a while and were characters. Today, it's that of a member named "grandprixman." If he is in fact a Grand Prix man, he must be a cool enough guy.

When I lived up there, the infatuation with being able to drive to Vancouver was strong at first but declined after the honeymoon period. I don't think I'd like living there and I "met" Vancouver when one could actually make it pencil to live there.

Strudel - absolutely Beer - pass Cars - just a select few VW products, given how I am into budgeting Fascinating ... so that's what a De Soto looks like. Fairly fresh Calif. plates, based on the numbering. Now I'll have to look up to see where "Lakeside Car Wash" might be, with its Jetson-era font and those Flintstone rocks.

Yes, I love one-story homes. I much prefer hip roofs to gabled roofs, though. They make the house look more dynamic from different angles. As for Texas, I am a much bigger fan of the Houston area than the Dallas area. I like the southern pine instead of the mesquite. And being able to get to the Gulf in less than an hour. This might crack you up. I've always liked going through new homes, even when I was a kid. In about 1989, I was visiting the Seattle suburbs and was driving around Mill Creek with a college friend, where they were building new homes. They had a subdivision with some 4/2.5s at about $174.9K. They had ONE rambler/ranch model, a 3/2.5, for $156.9K. I loved that house. And, for those days, the price looked reasonable. I was in no way in any position to buy at that time, but I still think about that house and how I'd like to be its owner.

That's right. To Amish folks, those of apparent European descent who are not part of their religious group would be "the English." That's funny to me, since I don't have any ancestry north of the English Channel, let alone the Alps.

Please go. No one is stopping you. There's daily nonstop service from PHL by their own Lufthansa and some American carriers as well. Since you are seeming slightly anti-American at this juncture, I recommend Lufthansa. And, since you've never shown much of a penchant for foreign languages on here over the years, you will have one hell of a time learning to communicate in German.

Full brick ranch (rambler, to some) homes resonate with me. They don't build them like they used to (literally and figuratively)!

@Drew Dowdell Good one and its timing with your birthday! And, since I've only had one dog and it was a "velcro dog" breed, I'd be a little perplexed if my dog wasn't my shadow. It became sort of a baseline with me.

Holy smokes. I just saw that and got beaten to creating the thread. Happy birthday, Drew!

PHOTO GALLERY EXTERIOR The silhouette of the 2020 Kia Rio S sedan Rear 3/4 view of the car View of the front lights, grille, and more pronounced bumper strip than in the related Hyundai Accent Even with the one-up S model, metal wheel covers are what comes with this car, as do Continental brand tires, and alloy wheels are not available INTERIOR General view of the front part of the passenger cabin and steering wheel with controls ... note the armrest and storage bin between the seats The main instrument pod has two main bezels, both a fuel gauge and a temperature gauge, and a logical square info center with the most important things - gear selected, mph, temperature, odometer, and range/mpg (this was upon picking it up, but mileage I got was far higher than 27.4 mpg shown here) Infotainment center screen - mostly engaged with the dash (protrudes slightly at the top) (sidebar: is that a Karen Pence-alike, seen above the dashboard?) Simple and easy to use climate controls, with ports and a lighter behind the flap that says 12 V Front seats were more supportive than most for this economy compact segment, but larger cars obviously offer more comfortable seats for longer trips Rear seat leg room depends on the seat adjustment of the front seats, but it is sufficient for average sized passengers The visibility toward the rear is very good The center gear shift lever is straightforward. There are economy and sport modes for the car that are selected by buttons on this pod. Kudos for easy to pull release tabs for the trunk and the fuel door MECHANICAL This is the 1.6 4 cylinder that Kia (and Hyundai) use(s) a lot; that beige rubber gromeet appears to buffer the top of the engine from the hood Things are logically laid out and accessible: windshield washer fluid, oil dipstick, brake master cylinder, battery, and fuse box (from front to back of this sideways photo); the air filter looks like it might be easy to replace up by that snorkel The engine is a 16 valve DOHC unit with VVT and, most likely, GDI (that does not mean G-d Damn Independent, or Gamma Delta Iota to some, meaning you did not partake in the collegiate Greek system, though, upon looking it up, it is an actual Greek organization founded in 1974 at Purdue University) - - - - - END OF PHOTOS

For some reason, an older thread querying members as to whether or not fins on cars - a previous Cadillac signature - would return was seeking attention. I feel a little more strongly that opera windows, in one form or another, are more likely to return.

I needed a small car for a few days and the rate at a suburban location for a small car was excellent in these times of not so great rates for rental cars. I didn't know whether I'd get an upgrade one or two categories upward, as I sometimes do. I did not. I was given three cars to choose from. I chose a blue Kia Rio S sedan. The Kia Rio is the fraternal twin of the Hyundai Accent. There aren't many differences, and one certainly sees that in the switches, knobs, and readouts on the dashboard, for one. The difference is that, through the roofline, pillars, and even possibly the slope of the rear back lite, the Kia Rio looks like more of a notchback sedan while the Hyundai Accent looks more like a fastback sedan. I have previously reviewed a Hyundai Accent. The 1.6 DOHC 4 cylinder is a Hyundia/Kia staple and has VVT (variable valve timing) and, most likely, GDI (gasoline direction injection) since I did not see spark plug wires under the hood. While it may not be peppy on paper, it is lively enough for what it has to do on the road, be it urban or interstate driving. I did not know what the transmission might be, but the owner's manual indicated that it was a CVT. I wondered if, somehow, the 6 speed automatic got carried over for another year, and it did not. While I like the way the 6-speed automatic shifted in Hyundais I've driven, the CVT in Kia's entry level car was surprisingly well behaved and easy to live with. The first CVT I drove was in a rented Nissan Altima and the CVT transmission in this Kia Rio, some two categories down, seemed to function better - without big swings in rpms. That said, four years have passed since that rental and CVT technology has obviously improved. For its size and weight, the ride and handling on the interstate are more than acceptable. For its price point, some wind and tire noise come into the cabin, but it is not an annoyance. Clearly, like most cars, it likes interstates with fresh asphalt and the road imperfections come through a little more harshly than they would in related Hyundai Elantras and Sonatas I've driven. (I have not ever driven a Kia Forte or Optima.) The Kia Rio is adept in urban conditions, meaning it is zippy and nimble, in sprinting away from stop lights, getting into parking spots, and working its way through traffic. The build quality is surprisingly good for its price point. However, the materials are not uptown, which is to be expected. One of its strong suits is the instrument panel. The bezels in the instrument cluster, with the square "box" in between with information about how and what the car is doing, are incredibly straightforward when other cars' instrument panels are getting fussier and fussier. Similarly, the infotainment screen and climate controls were also easy to work with. One difference between the Kia Rio and the Hyundai Accent is that the infotainment system screen protrudes upward, but most of it is "engaged" with the dashboard (as is done on the Chevy Malibu). In my opinion, it's a nicer design than one that stands in a "disengaged" manner and protrudes vertically. On the Hyundai Accent, both the smaller and larger screens are flush and under the cowl of the dashboard and I prefer that design. A driving package with extra electronic assists is optional for more secure driving. Power steering and brakes are standard fare these days. This car also features standard power windows and power door locks. However, a power seat is not an option. No car in this segment has seats that will make for a happy camper for a handful of hours of continuous driving. However, the shape, support, and comfort of the seats is better than that in some of its competitors. Being that this was Kia Rio S, there is an actual console with a small armrest and storage cubby between the seats. In entry level Rios and Accents, the armrest is not there and I would not like that, since it's nice to actually rest one's arm on it at times. Kudos to this small car for having a remote tab for the fuel door. It is on the floor near the driver. Additional kudos are in order for the airy feel of the cabin, and for the commendable visibility behind the driver, which helps to make maneuvers in urban traffic and while parking. The trunk is sensibly shaped and roomy for this size of car. Again, I need to bring up some differences between the Kia Rio and the Hyundai Accent in how it can be equipped. While the Rio has two trim levels, the Accent has three. With the Hyundais midline and upper trim levels, 15" and 17" alloy wheels are standard, respectively. In both the base Rio and the S trim level, only wheel covers are available. It's too bad that they didn't differentiate the S trim level by just putting alloy wheels on it. It's just that Hyundai and Kia are probably not investing much in this segment, seeing that the Sonatas/Fortes and Elantras have been refreshed and are so popular. The most remarkable thing about this car is its fuel economy. The Kia Rio is rated at 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. Without even sticking to 65 mph, using cruise control, and driving on flat terrain, the mileage it returned for me was higher than the highway rating, coming in at about 43 or 44 mpg. I believe that the slightly better fuel efficiency rating for this car is Kia's transition from a geared automatic transmission to a CVT. However, I'd take 2 less mpg any day or the week and twice on Sundays to have the "old school" 6 speed automatic transmission. It shifted very well in Hyundais I've rented and driven. The compact and economical Kia Rio makes a lot of sense for certain types of budget minded buyers. The overarching characteristic is that it would appeal to people who seek value for their dollar. Students, retirees, people with long commutes in environments that are not harsh, and people who don't want to spend a lot and get a car that lasts a long time, with a strong warranty to back that up, are good candidates for this car. - - - - - Photos forthcoming

Didn't realize it was tequila until I read your captions. It looked like a trendy and expensive bottle of cologne or perfume. For that matter, the name Elon Musk sounds like a brand of men's cologne in and of itself.

@Robert Hall Look at you ... 30,000 posts ... I just noticed! - - - - - I have to get outside - to stores, restaurants, coffee, and the great outdoors. In indoor spaces for the general public, I obviously mask up. In the great outdoors, I do not do so where people are keeping their distance from each other.

Not trying to be self serving here, but I hope the Quebecois, and all of Canada, control it and get over it so that I and others who want to visit can get to Quebec and Canada again. I am not there yet. Even before this became a big deal, I have washed my hands a lot and always used hand sanitizer wherever it was offered at the entries of places of business. However, it is more difficult than people think to keep one's hands away from their faces. It's reflexive. I'm sorry to hear that ... wicked sick, as in flu-like symptoms magnified ... or other/additional symptoms that were also very hard on them?

It's somewhat of a relief that not many people are talking about coronavirus these days ... - - - - - @A Horse With No Name In terms of random one hit wonder-ness, I immediately think of this one. It might be the "king" of one hit wonders of its era ... by King Harvest, no less ...

Yep, this YouTuber has this interesting collection of videos he does. He's really knowledgeable. The A-380 photographs well from some angles ... and poorly from others. I've seen some of this guy's videos, made unique by his Australian accent. As for the person who always speaks at the beginning of his videos (most likely in the tower), I need a translator.

Pan Am, TWA, United, and American all had 747s going daily from LAX to New York back in the day. I don't know if that meant fewer flights per day. There was also 747 service from LAX to Chicago, Honolulu, and Miami. It was National that flew to Miami and the airline was absorbed by Pan Am, so they got the route. Some Honolulu bound 747s marketed that they had lounges for coach/economy in the back. Continental - absorbed by United - was one such airline. First class definitely had a lounge, and it was upstairs. They then turned to using the hump for additional seating and "suites" that produced revenue. This National 747 was the -100 series, the first ones. You can see this one is named Linda (near the second level's 3 windows). They had one named Patricia. You can see their Florida themed sunburst logo on the tail. Their marketing went along the lines of "fly Linda" or "fly Patricia." Back then, it would have been considered different and humorous. Today, some snively, uptight individual would come forth and say it's sexist and be offended.

I was having this discussion with the curator of a small aviation museum. I loved the Airbus 340. The 330 is basically the same fuselage, with 2-4-2 economy inside, but has 2 larger engines. In addition to saving fuel, he said that there are much fewer work hours spent on engine maintenance for the 2 engine Airbus 330. They are the norm for many European carriers for transatlantic flights. I am just thankful to have grown up "alongside" the Boeing 747, and being able to ride my bike to LAX, alone or with friends, to look at them from the observation tower or view areas surrounding the airport.

Beautiful. I love the Hudson River Valley. And driving along I-87 between Montreal and NYC. I stopped in Plattsburgh, where SUNY is located just south of the Canadian border, and got a fantastic gyro meal. And, a long time ago, I met up with "razoredge" in Albany, his general area, and that was a hoot. If you ever fly into Newark or LaGuardia airports and you diagonally go over the Hudson River Valley, it's amazing that so much pristine, wooded land is that close to NYC. The same would apply to the eastern ~2/3 of Long Island. The middle of it is very rural once you go way east.