Robert Hall

My Merc experience has been limited to occasionally driving my sister's old money pits, the '84 500 SEL and '91 300CE here in AZ. Fun cars, but way too $$$$ to maintain. I wouldn't mind having something like a late model, CPO CLS with low mileage, though, for a commuter car. I'd love an SL55 AMG or SL63 AMG, but they are waaaay outside my price range, new or used.. Rob

I've been really happy w/ Goodyears (Fortera triple tread on the Jeep, Wranglers originally), and Michelins (esp. Pilots).

I think Homer Simpson likes them..

Beyond replacing bulbs, checking the fluids, adding washer fluid, and the rare flat tire change, I take my cars to a good local shop or the dealer for everything. I don't have the time, tools, talent, or space to play mechanic. I also can replace my own wiper blades..

Maybe Buick could get this as a replacement for the G6 convertible.

I don't think I've ever done any car repairs in nasty weather, or outside. In the past, I've changed flat tires, but in a garage or a parking lot on nice day. In 15 years of having AAA, I think I've only had to call for assistance 3 times, had to be towed once.

On the freeway this afternoon I saw a Pontiac Matiz G2, talk about EXCITEMENT!!! overload, was a metallic lime green. Also saw a maroon late model Toyota Hilux crew cab, looked smaller and narrower than a Tacoma.

It has beer--a kegorator w/ a tap. A buddy of mine in Denver has two kegerators and two Jaegermeister chillers in his basement party room..pretty cool.

This is kind of cool, made me think of the conversation about the 4 video screens we had a while back.. Man Wall Rob

Hot, dry and 104 here in Phoenix today..supposed to be 108 by Friday w/ a chance of rain. AC at 74. Rob

Hmm.. Metasequoia glyptostroboides. Meta prefix means 'information about'... so it's something used to describe a Toyota Sequoia--like a type of catalog or something?

Beautiful...we just don't get those intense greens in the desert. I miss greenery and fall colors.

June in Phoenix has been strange this year..the last two weeks have been the coolest stretch since 1913, 15 days of highs in the mid 90s, with a couple cloudy days w/ light rain. Was 100 today, going to be in the low hundys up to 108 by Friday--20 percent or so humidity. Going to be great pool weather. The worst part of the year in AZ is July and August, when many days are 112-115 or higher, and the humidity rises leading to night storms (strangely, last year they all seemed to be Thurs and Friday nights) of the monsoon season. I still don't know what my ideal climate is, having lived in Ohio and Michigan (and briefly Illinois) most of the first 26 of my 38 years, Colorado for 12 years, and Arizona for over a year now, and six years of 9 months in S. Florida as a kid. I love the abundant sunshine of Fla, Co, and Az, usually don't like excess humidity, can tolerate heat as long as I have good A/C and a pool. But I like being near the ocean, love being near mountains and forests..don't care for desert that much, though. I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

Saw another Caddy on the way to pick up the Westies from the dog wash---saw a clean dark green '73 Fleetwood Brougham...had an inside louvered sunshade in the rear window. Rob

Supposed to be back over 100 today. The last two weeks have been the coolest June here since 1913--two weeks in a row w/ highs only in the 90s.

Just saw a goregous silver w/ black interior '65 Eldorado convertible cruising thru a Walgreens parking lot. Beautiful boat to have out on a sunny Saturday.

Happy B-day. Enjoy!

I've debated using a sig pic again. They can take up so much space.

Great sig, but that doesn't look like a '66 Mustang to me...

Ahh...nah, it was funny, I had driven the Merc to the job interview--50 mile round trip--with no problems two days before the brakes failed. I probably need to get the rear brake pads on the Jeep replaced, though. Need to do a number of things to it this summer. Rob

Got the bank gig, still there, 3+ months later. Painfully boring, 50 mile round trip commute, but it pays well. Had to replace the master cylinder on the Merc 500SEL. It's got 176,xxx miles (the odometer stopped at 176k last year). Don't drive it much. My sister's other Merc (the 300CE) is in the shop now--it has a huge oil leak (loses 1 quart in less than 15 min). I may drive it to Sacramento for her once it's fixed. Rob

It's been my daily driver, but I've always had 1-2 other cars also. And my commute has varied wildly over the years----for several years it was about 20 miles a day, for about 2 years it was about 1 mile a day, at one point it was 140 a day for 3 months, and for the last few months it's been about 50 a day. Lived in 3 cities w/ it (Colorado Springs, Denver, Phoenix) and made a few road trips (I usually always fly unless I need to take stuff). Rob

I took a couple...will upload tonight (don't have my USB cable w/ me and don't want to load via my work laptop). Rob

Woo hoo! My '00 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x4 hit 100k this morning on the way to work. Had to stop and take pics of the odo at 99,999 and 100,000. First time I've ever put that many miles on a vehicle. Bought it new in July, '00. Been very reliable. Anyone else have any mileage milestones recently? Rob

I drove a Vibe rental back in early May. Who knows, that may be my last Pontiac rental car ever. Did G8s ever make it to Alamo or Avis fleets?