"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")

I have an f350 4x4 that isn't great on fuel. It will haul or pull anything though. These days I leave the truck parked unless needed and drive a little 2006 civic. That thing is awesome on gas, I just worry about ripping my pants every time I hit a bump.

Bought an older land rover with a V8 that I tinker a bit with, with the price of fuel I won't be driving it anytime soon . I think it would get worse mileage than my superduty.
 
knarfeng said:
Though I have in the past looked longingly at large macho trucks, these days I am quite glad I drive a little Kia.
A man's got to know his limitations.
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In 2019, when my old 2001 Toyota Tacoma has 200,000 thousand miles on it and I didn't feel comfortable driving it to California anymore, I bought a new Toyota Corolla. I was kind of tired of the little truck, and I used it more to move things for family and friends than for myself. The new car was more quiet and comfortable, with all the modern bells a whistles like tech stuff, but got silly gas milage on the road. I'm not kidding, between 2am and 5am between Castle Rock Arizona and Yuma Arizona, it got close to 50mpg. I was driving more than normal cautious because I was very wary of hitting a Jabalina with the car in the middle of the night. Those darn wild pigs are like squirrels in Arizona and will mess a car up.

In the three years I've had the car, its averaged 32mpg in town with 40 or better on the road with use a light foot. I bought the car for both the gas milage stretching the social security check at the pump, and mistrust of world politics and oil supply. The wife's Toyota Highlander has to work hard to get in the low 20's on the road and teens in town. Karen loves it, but if I had my way, it'd be traded in on a Prius. This is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better, if it ever really does. I wouldn't plan on ever seeing low cost gas again. Americans are going to review their love of the car culture. I don't think most people have any idea how bad this can go.
 
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5K Qs said:
We bought a brand new Civic for my wife to drive in 2005, and it's currently our only vehicle. After 17 years, it still has only 99K miles, so we obviously don't put a lot of miles on the car since we live and work in the same city. It's been a good car, and you CAN get quite a bit of stuff in it, including quite long stuff, if you fold down the rear seat, move the front passenger seat way forward and recline its seat back as far as possible. You can run stuff from the dashboard to the back of the trunk, and even farther back if you're willing to let stuff extend out the partially-open trunk lid. We've cut down 8' Christmas trees and carried them home inside the car (well, only 1 tree per year, but I bet I could get at least 2 "twine-bound" trees in there if I had to). 🤓 :thumbsup:

- GT
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I did just that with my Toyota Corolla last summer. I needed to replace some boards in my back fence, so I drove over to Home Depot. Got a lumber cart and loaded several fence boards about 7 feet long. Chcked out and rolled it over to my car. A couple young guys with trucks were leaning up against one truck shooting the bull and glanced over at me opening the trunk of my Corolla, and kinds of sniggered. They watched amazed as I loaded all the boards in, closed the trunk, and put the car back. They didn't know that I had prepared the car by putting down the back seat, pushing the front passenger seat all the way forward with the seat back lowered all the way down. The fence boards had all the space from the dashboard to the back edge of the truck. Old blankets where down to protect the car and we just loaded and drove off.

To the young guys leaning on the truck, it must have looked like a magic act. You can load a lot in a small car if you do it right.
 
J jackknife

We've owned Corollas since 1976, but bought a Civic in 2005 (still have it). Replaced our 2003 Camry with an Accord (averages over 40 mpg, not a hybrid). We've been very happy with it, a lot more luxurious than our previous cars and super quiet on the road. All the bells and whistles can be helpful for older drivers (like us). Love having a back up camera and blind spot monitoring.

One rule in owning a truck or a small trailer: everyone want's you to haul something for them. I traded my last truck years ago.

The Tesla is too expensive for me, but the technology is amazing. I do own a fair amount of Telsa stock, enough to own at least one :)
 
r8shell said:
There was a time, in my youth, that I wanted a small pickup. Then I realized that none of my friends at the time had one, so it would mean being asked to lend it or help move all the time.
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I never would have thought of this in time myself, but I knew a guy who complained about it.
 
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JB in SC said:
J jackknife

We've owned Corollas since 1976, but bought a Civic in 2005 (still have it). Replaced our 2003 Camry with an Accord (averages over 40 mpg, not a hybrid). We've been very happy with it, a lot more luxurious than our previous cars and super quiet on the road. All the bells and whistles can be helpful for older drivers (like us). Love having a back up camera and blind spot monitoring.

One rule in owning a truck or a small trailer: everyone want's you to haul something for them. I traded my last truck years ago.

The Tesla is too expensive for me, but the technology is amazing. I do own a fair amount of Telsa stock, enough to own at least one :)
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Soooo true on the technology!

My old Tacoma was near a stripper truck. Plain regular cab, no frills except air and stereo. With the new car have lane wander buzzer, smart cruise control to maintain distance, automatic braking, and the back up camera. I love it! Its a shock for an old technophobe like me to realize how nice it is to have all that stuff. Especially the back up camera. And I love how quiet it is on the road. They must be putting a lot of sound dampening material in the new cars. Miles above my old pickup!

And nobody is asking me to haul anything for them! If I need a truck, I'll go rent one for a day.
 
Trout Hound said:
You’d be surprised how much you can fit in it at the home center, if you’re determined enough!
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No I wouldn't. I drove Honda Civic Hatchbacks for years. Had a tiny '75 into which the previous owner had put an engine from the wider 1981 model. You shoulda seen the eyes of the mechanics widen every time I took it in for service and they got a look under the hood. That little bugger drove like a bat out of Piccadilly, having been made for a 1200 cc engine and getting a 1500 cc engine in its stead.
 
jackknife said:
Soooo true on the technology!

My old Tacoma was near a stripper truck. Plain regular cab, no frills except air and stereo. With the new car have lane wander buzzer, smart cruise control to maintain distance, automatic braking, and the back up camera. I love it! Its a shock for an old technophobe like me to realize how nice it is to have all that stuff. Especially the back up camera. And I love how quiet it is on the road. They must be putting a lot of sound dampening material in the new cars. Miles above my old pickup!

And nobody is asking me to haul anything for them! If I need a truck, I'll go rent one for a day.
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The '91 to '93 pre Tacos were the best Toyota ever built (IMO). Simple and a delight for around town. Decent ride but not for towing anything of any size. All the new trucks are huge in comparison. I had a '92 4WD drive that was a great truck but I hardly used the 4WD.

Toyota could build a smaller truck again at a reasonable price, they'd sell like hotcakes.
 
JB in SC said:
The '91 to '93 pre Tacos were the best Toyota ever built (IMO). Simple and a delight for around town. Decent ride but not for towing anything of any size. All the new trucks are huge in comparison. I had a '92 4WD drive that was a great truck but I hardly used the 4WD.

Toyota could build a smaller truck again at a reasonable price, they'd sell like hotcakes.
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Judging by the sales of the Ford Maverick, I can't believe that Toyota is not picking up the gauntlet!
 
For all you fellow motorcyclist:
All this talk 'bout economical transportation I just gotta mention my miserly mount, an '82 two wheel Honda.
It gets 70 MPG and has been ridden in every month of the year for 30 years.
Only one issue that has just recently surfaced.
I so enjoy the comfort of a windshield, heater, wipers, four tires and a roof when I absolutely have to be someplace and it's snowing. Unfortunately that is all to frequent, being that I live in Michigan. So in 2018 I bought a Civic.
But the two wheel Honda still gets 70 MPG when air temps are between 60 and 90 deg. F. ( about 6 mo. per year)
 
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Got home late last night from a trip that started in Charleston, SC and finished in Atlanta, GA. My wife and I have found that we really enjoy doing mini road trips like this where we fly into one city, pick up a rental car, and then gradually make our way to our return flight city with one or more stops along the way.

BTW, if you ever find yourself in Saint Simons Island, GA, check out this place:

1C40958C-E8E1-428B-A29C-D80DF3DA59EA.jpeg

They had good fried chicken—I got the Nashville Hot—and sides and, hey, ya can't beat the name. :D
 
WhittlinAway said:
Got home late last night from a trip that started in Charleston, SC and finished in Atlanta, GA. My wife and I have found that we really enjoy doing mini road trips like this where we fly into one city, pick up a rental car, and then gradually make our way to our return flight city with one or more stops along the way.

BTW, if you ever find yourself in Saint Simons Island, GA, check out this place:

View attachment 1765920

They had good fried chicken—I got the Nashville Hot—and sides and, hey, ya can't beat the name. :D
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Looks like they have catfish too?
 
redsparrow said:
For all you fellow motorcyclist:
All this talk 'bout economical transportation I just gotta mention my miserly mount, an '82 two wheel Honda.
It gets 70 MPG and has been ridden in every month of the year for 30 years.
Only one issue that has just recently surfaced.
I so enjoy the comfort of a windshield, heater, wipers, four tires and a roof when I absolutely have to be someplace and it's snowing. Unfortunately that is all to frequent, being that I live in Michigan. So in 2018 I bought a Civic.
But the two wheel Honda still gets 70 MPG when air temps are between 60 and 90 deg. F. ( about 6 mo. per year)
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Kudos to you for getting on your scoot when possible. The only thing I would suggest is that you move to motorcycle Meca so that you can ride all year round. My BMW R9 doesn’t get 70mpg but at 50mpg I’m satisfied. That and 0-60 in less than four seconds. A big plus are the heated hand grips on
foggy SF days. Always remember, Ride Hard Die Free‼️ That and keep the shinny side up 😃.
 
The BMW R9 is a fine machine! :thumbsup:
Here I've learned to appreciate electric gloves and vest. My sport touring bike has been an Yamaha FJ 1200. It gets 50 MPG and unbelievable acceleration but, it may be sold this year. Time changes us all and a nice twin cylinder 650 with 70 HP that I have is lighter, more manageable and preferred for the back road riding I'm likely to spend my time on these days.
And yes my friend, Keep the Shinny Side Up !!! :)
 
redsparrow said:
The BMW R9 is a fine machine! :thumbsup:
Here I've learned to appreciate electric gloves and vest. My sport touring bike has been an Yamaha FJ 1200. It gets 50 MPG and unbelievable acceleration but, it may be sold this year. Time changes us all and a nice twin cylinder 650 with 70 HP that I have is lighter, more manageable and preferred for the back road riding I'm likely to spend my time on these days.
And yes my friend, Keep the Shinny Side Up !!! :)
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The FJ is indeed a fine machine! I’m a firm believer that if its got two wheels and an engine and you like it, go for it! Please let us know what you get. Oh yeah, time changed me too. I rode GSs for over 30 years until I had to have a hip replacement and needed a bike with a lower seat height. That being said, if my only choice was a Vespa I’d buy the biggest and fastest available. 😃
 
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sf fanatic said:
The FJ is indeed a fine machine! I’m a firm believer that if its got two wheels and an engine and you like it, go for it! Please let us know what you get. Oh yeah, time changed me too. I rode GSs for over 30 years until I had to have a hip replacement and needed a bike with a lower seat height. That being said, if my only choice was a Vespa I’d buy the biggest and fastest available. 😃
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flamevespa.jpg
 
jackknife said:
I did just that with my Toyota Corolla last summer. I needed to replace some boards in my back fence, so I drove over to Home Depot. Got a lumber cart and loaded several fence boards about 7 feet long. Chcked out and rolled it over to my car. A couple young guys with trucks were leaning up against one truck shooting the bull and glanced over at me opening the trunk of my Corolla, and kinds of sniggered. They watched amazed as I loaded all the boards in, closed the trunk, and put the car back. They didn't know that I had prepared the car by putting down the back seat, pushing the front passenger seat all the way forward with the seat back lowered all the way down. The fence boards had all the space from the dashboard to the back edge of the truck. Old blankets where down to protect the car and we just loaded and drove off.

To the young guys leaning on the truck, it must have looked like a magic act. You can load a lot in a small car if you do it right.
Click to expand...

The expression that comes to mind is “clowns in a Volkswagen”.
 
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