Random Babbling Thread 120

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A hamster wouldn't eat the scarf. A gerbil would chew it to bits though. I used to crochet hamster bed/nests for our hamster a long time ago and he loved them.

 

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

Sorry about posting in the wrong place! My internet was dropping in and out and I tagged the wrong place, posted then signed out quick. Problem fixed now so I can take my slow pace and sometimes do things right.

 

So I told those 2 pensionadas not to upgrade their old pc's to windows 10 just yet. They still clicked it. Dad's pc is not that old, so after a botched install I forced it with the tool. The second wive's pc is older. Had to reinstall a very reluctant windows 7.

 

New car time. what will I get? The one I want, or the one I can afford without pain? It helps that I work for Toyota.

 

The one you can afford without pain. Cars depreciate in value too much to put more money into them than strictly necessary.

 

Order it today. Try to get a decent bike carrier on it.

Let me tell you something about the automotive branch. The cars themselves have small margins, the money is made in extra's and options.

A few years ago, suzuki(our second brand) introduced a type of car known in Europe as Alto, in Asia as Zen. The headrests were removed from the cars and sold as options.
A Daihatsu type of brake disc is bought for less than 10 euro. Sold for over 50 a set.

I have been told a story by a lorry driver that a certain type of golf, had its stock alloy wheels removed to be sold as options.


Toyota offer a nice custom bike carrier brace for 700 euros..... Bike carrier excluded. A very strong and pretty one, easy in use, for 60 KG. My bike weighs 15. Never buy this kind of stuff at the dealer. Towbar, roof rack, alloy wheels, always go to a car parts store.

And al those alloy and carbon looks stuff? 2mm plastic glued on. Mr CMOTD would be proud.

 

The garage / dealer I usually go to for maintenance converted half of their showroom to a bike shop. When I asked why, they told me that the margins on car sales are so low that it's more profitable for them to sell bikes.

Mind you, a part of that is probably the insanely high taxes on cars here in the netherlands. They used to add a little over 45% of taxes on the base price, then added VAT over the base + tax. That was nice. Nowadays they apparently scratched that and added a CO2 based tax. Depending on the CO2 g/km rating of the car, this could be more or less than the old 45%, though.

I wouldn't bother with the built-in GPS option, normally, as I've got a stand alone GPS. But it is quite common for them to add a GPS as part of a package. You want air conditioning? You get the entertainment system and GPS included. You could take the air conditioning separately, but that's often more expensive than the package which gives you AC + GPS + entertainment system + extra goodies.

Not that this is a thing I pay attention to. I always buy second hand as the depreciation of the value of the car is much less for a second hand.

 

The GPS on the smartphones I've tried is definitely inferior to a stand alone GPS. It wouldn't be a full replacement for me, though I suppose in a pinch it could do. I feel the same way about built-in GPS units, though.

 

Got both Tom Tom and z3 smart-phone. I will buy a stereo system for the sound it produces.

 

The only GPS I've ever needed is my brain. Hasn't failed me yet.

 

I actually have the entire map of the country memorized in my head.

Joking, obviously. I look at a map before I head out, but aside from a few scenic detours, I've never had any issues finding places.

 

This place sure is quiet some weeks even though a bunch of interesting stuff is happening.

 

I was thinking more in general across the forum, not this particular thread.