Truck Rental

Roadmaster? Isn't that what Clark Griswald drove?

In the North, for sure. Rust didn't get some of them. One loved to blow head gaskets (every 30K, like clockwork). Another a transmission (at just around 100K), not worth replacing.

Studs were illegal. Not really needed either. Studs are damned dangerous in anything but ice. They're deadly on rain.

I have absolutely no interest in working on cars. Those days are long past. I have better things to do and no time to do them either.

That was one of my first goals in adult life. Earn enough to have nice, reliable transportation and be able to pay a professional to fix it when it needed repairs.

Although -- recently the right rear wheel speed sensor went out on my jeep. I called the dealer and they wanted $200+ to replace it. Looking under the back, I could see it - held in with one 8mm bolt. Bought the sensor from Auto-Zone the next time I was in town for $27 and changed it myself in about

However, replacing a front one would be a job for the dealer, as would be most other work when needed.

In what state did/does this occur?

Did your mother complain about having to take the test more often as she aged?

Why *did* she have to take the test more often as she aged? Obviously I'm not the only one that realizes that our reflexes and mental capabilities may diminish as we age and probably at a faster rate.

That said, go ahead. Use the same time frame and the same standard for all ages. I'm fine with that as long as the time frame and standard is geared toward removing unsafe drivers quickly e.g. every 2 years not every 5. There's big difference in "diminishing capabilities" from 85 to 90 than from

Is needing to "get anywhere, *now*" the only "dangerous position" that an elderly driver could get into?

The driver that drove around the cones at a children's event may not have put *himself* in dangerous position but he could have seriously hurt the kids that were on the track.

The odds are pretty slim that either of those drivers would have driven like that during a road test. If they did, fine. Then don't renew their license.

We're not discussing intentionally unsafe driving, we're talking about diminished capabilities due to age (or any other factor). I have to take an eye test every few years. Why? Because if I can't see, I shouldn't be driving. Why aren't my overall driving skills tested also?

I have the same thing at work, I work at an air traffic control tower... several of my vehicles have so/so functioning windows... I've learned to quickly open the door to swipe myself into the gate out of habit... haha

Being up in age would be another example of technology like this being your friend.

Under the assumption that these more advanced systems will brick themselves while allowing the car to continue to function otherwise, preferably not in "limp" mode -- usually something like 2nd gear speed, that's OK then. However, if the car must be towed, or is stuck in "limp" mode, then said repair is likely not possible at home, and you'll have to pay very large sums of money to repair, or they'll hope that you'll just trade it on a new one.

My mother's last car, a Buick Encore, it would only be a few years old today... I recall she once came to "bail" me when one of my only vehicles that have ever had electric issues catastrophically failed (stupid S10)... I couldn't drive it at all. When she gets to me, her power steering somehow goes out. I pop the hood, where does the fluid go? Belt?? It's some kind of new-fangled electronic power steering. Something needs torn apart and replaced - not a simple repair. The car was very difficult to drive with it like that, and she had to have it towed, while I'm still stuck in Pittsburgh, and hour from home. Her insurance covered towing, and her warranty covered the part, but if it weren't covered, that would be massively inconvenient - and expensive.

I want to agree with you, especially if someone is a truly unsafe driver, but at the same time, some of these older folks are left on their own, their kids moved away and don't really care. They might not have the income to pay someone to bring them groceries. If they only slowly putz around town to pick up their groceries and head back home, I think they are far less of a hazard than, say, an overly cocky teenager thinking he's Dale Earnhardt. They only person I've seen in their late

Side note, Grandpap's insurance started going up in his early 80's or so. He was absolutely livid... hadn't had an accident in decades, perfect driving record. I recall him saying something along the lines of "why don't you just put me in the ground already".

I agree, while a standard test would be fair, I can tell you younger folks, some my age, that would NOT handle a stress test well, but they don't put themselves into situations where an accident would occur. Should they be barred from a license for life for a chance that they might do poorly in a high-stress situation? I shouldn't think so.

That's my point also, many younger drivers are far more dangerous. I did a few stupid things in my first car. It was a 4 year old car in

-- I might not be here today. Experience and maturity take time.

I would never buy something crazy, like a Lamborghini or some nutty super car, but something clean and solid with cash, that would be nice.

IL

No, not really. She was pissed when they were changing orders and yelling at her for no reason. It was a PITA but she knew that she wasn't as coordinated or as quick as she once was. She was never a professional driver.

Sure but why demand more of a senior than a 16yo. The senior will be a better driver anyway.

From 25 to 30, the skills (and unnecessary risks) improve. The safest group, from what I remember, is between 50 and 65. Insurance rates show it.

Of course not but that's exactly what younger drivers do. Most seniors, until well into the 80s, anyway, are much better drivers than

OK. Anecdote <> data. He should have been reported and perhaps lost his license on the spot, not left to drive off. Losing a license for dangerous driving, at any age, is a better way of getting dangerous drivers off the road than a driving test.

No, the odds that the drivers were 80yo is equally slim.

Dead is dead. It doesn't matter if it's intentional or not. Intentional is worse, IMO.

Well, I have a tail light out (paired so no big deal) and will replace it myself. The fast blink is annoying me but I haven't remembered it when I was close to a parts store. I don't drive by one during the week (rarely drive much at all on week days - no time).

I am building a tool collection, over time. I prefer to find nice second hand tools, good quality old USA made stuff, as opposed to some of the new stuff. For instance, you can find a really nice 3/4" socket set with tons of different sockets, quality stuff, not beat on, for sale at swap meets and nice flea markets here for say, $100, sometimes less. You'd have to pay 5X that for new today, and build quality is subjective.

By a Millionaire, I mean at lest over a million dollars liquid cash. I know it's in bad taste to discuss salary, but for reference, my take-home pay, after tax, is maybe $1,400/mo right now. I work part time for a decent hourly rate. I'm a rarity in my mid 20's -- no loans or rent. I own my cars and house outright. Maybe $650/yr in property tax, whatever utilities come out to be, gas to get to work, groceries, and I set aside very little for other spending. I buy my clothes on color tag sales at goodwill, $1 for shirts/pants, and I'm not embarrassed.

My point being, if we forget about inflation, if I were handed a million dollars, I could live for the next 60 years on that with what I spend in a year... that might last the rest of my life. Heck, throwing most of it in savings or investing in CD's or whatever for interest might cover the cost of inflation. I don't need to live a flashy life. Now, if I suddenly became a millionaire somehow, I would invest in real estate and rentals, and make that money grow. I'd be set for life either way.

My white hatchback, my first Metro is. The poor thing is turning green out back. I know right where they rot, I've owned too many of these things. That convertible will rot through eventually, it should have a few years. I'll sell it before then. That red one is really clean, unibody/subframe wise. There is a guy in Mercer PA with a junk yard of these cars. He's a professional welder, and for $600, he can do both sides of the front unibody over, better and stronger than from the factory.

Interesting, I did not know that. Funny thing is how many states over here are doing that on new cars. Ohio, Wisconsin, amongst others are charging $100, $200 extra or more when registering if it's a hybrid or electric car, to try to make up for lost gas tax revenue.

I couldn't find an "asky" anywhere... do you mean the Acty? Those a pretty cool mini-vans and trucks. I agree, it would be fun to drive something "weird" like that. I wish I could test drive one.

The only thing I've driven close to the speed of that Chrysler, kind of, would be my current 1989 Olds Cutlass wagon. Not quite the same, but peppy.

Now, when learning to drive a standard, so I could take one home, my dad allowed me to drive his 1970 Chevelle with a 396 engine and a 4 on the floor. That lasted exactly 2 short trips - no more after he could smell the clutch. I hopped in a '94 Geo Metro - my first one - a week later to take it home. The Chevelle having a cable clutch - I asked the guy selling the Metro if the clutch was broken when it went straight to the floor. Both have a cable clutch, but there is a big difference between driving that Chevelle and the Metro... Lol.

I've heard... craziness. I can't find $500 running beaters anymore. I had to pay $1,300 for that C10 truck, after looking for weeks. The only things less than $1k now have a blown engine, transmission, no title, rotten frame, etc. Even crap car prices have tripled.

They are running constant radio ads for dealers around here: "we'll buy your car today - top dollar - you don't even have to buy one of ours!"

I think that was a very twisted version of an 80's one... haha. The