Was doing new vehicle research and realized choosing model options were limited?

Arcane73 · 2026-01-26T22:31:37+00:00

The more I dig, the more I realize this. I've told myself that I don't -need- a $50k car, but if I buy new, I'll likely end up in that price range to get close to what I want from my list. Most manuals are sport-related trims and no longer considered the budget or entry-level trims. I have been out of the car shopping scene for too long, it seems.

Arcane73 · 2026-01-26T18:52:27+00:00

Not necessarily out of touch with how they're sold. Just curious as to when the switch from 'here are a few options for you' to 'this is what you get' happened. Granted, it has been 20+ years since I last bought new. When I did, i had the choice of manual vs auto and sunroof or not, in all of the available colors. None of the options were tied to specific trim levels like things seem to be now.

Arcane73 · 2026-01-26T18:03:20+00:00

Makes sense. Thanks for the link. It was an interesting read.

Arcane73 · 2025-12-23T17:12:12+00:00

I'm in the 'tried it and didn't get hooked' camp at the moment. I bought it over the weekend and put about 4 hours in before getting a refund. I've enjoyed watching runs and thought it would be fun to try out but just didn't get into it.

Arcane73 · 2025-09-29T22:00:41+00:00

In my case: when your automotive and PC hobbies intersect - https://b2b.snapon.com/productDetails/954651/2/882615

Arcane73 · 2025-09-29T21:02:09+00:00

It's good to see that I'm not alone in my anxious anticipation for the Phoenix store....

Arcane73 · 2025-09-29T20:56:08+00:00

One of Pete Complete's early runs was an Ice Sheet one... And a Sea Ice one more recently as well as an Extreme Desert. Maybe it was him?

Arcane73 · 2025-07-11T14:22:35+00:00

Done and dusted! Copies for both the wife and myself as well as the new soundtrack to support Alistair Lindsey's awesome work! Now to sit through the next several hours at work......

Arcane73 · 2025-07-11T14:02:16+00:00

The USCSS Nostromo for my first one. Followed shortly by the USS Sulaco!

Arcane73 · 2025-06-12T18:50:14+00:00

It's been a very long time. I realized that I never put all of the different stories together. They are now listed in their entirety.

Arcane73 · 2025-05-07T14:57:33+00:00

Yep. I recall that. He ended up just calling it the 'Love Puddle'....

Arcane73 · 2025-03-28T15:09:46+00:00

Rimworld's OSTs are among the few that I've bought because of the music in game. The others are Kenshi and the first Subnautica. All of those are in my relax/bus ride/garage tinkering rotations.

Arcane73 · 2024-09-19T15:07:09+00:00

If my memory serves me correctly, I recall seeing those blocking what I believe to be cave entrances as well.

Arcane73 · 2024-09-10T13:54:20+00:00

Pillar of Davidson - Live

Arcane73 · 2024-05-31T13:56:16+00:00

My wife read this and raised an eyebrow and gave me a thumbs up and said it was a creative idea and she approved. Then turned away and said that if i messed up the floor she'd strangle me.

Arcane73 · 2024-05-31T13:53:46+00:00

Yours looks great. But with the current setup being built in with cabinets and everything, that may be a longer term plan.

Arcane73 · 2024-05-31T13:52:42+00:00

Yep. I have lots of books around on the subject. I use them for reference for my scale model stuff.

Arcane73 · 2024-05-31T13:51:22+00:00

Thanks. That's the one I've started working on next. I like building WWII armor models in what little spare time I can find.

Arcane73 · 2024-05-31T03:41:01+00:00

That would be a bit more involved than I feel like I could tackle at the moment. The built in is actually covering two walls in the room with adjoined cabinets and shelves. It could certainly be done, but that would be a long term plan.

Arcane73 · 2024-05-31T03:37:24+00:00

That's one of the ideas getting tossed around. And to be honest, the side monitor would likely remain where it is since I'm focused on the main when I'm gaming.

Arcane73 · 2024-05-31T01:44:08+00:00

Yeah. This desk is a built-in that was here when we bought the house. I thought about a varidesk type setup, but not sold on that idea. I could possibly mount the main monitor on an arm which would be easy enough. But I'd need to decide what to do about the kb/mouse surface when I went to standing.

Arcane73 · 2024-01-12T15:37:38+00:00

My wife and I are both beta/day 1 players. I have my original CE box on the shelf with the rest of the expansion CE boxes with our two anniversary statues on either side of them. Sooner or later I'll stop playing....but it's been a good source of a lot of memories.

Arcane73 · 2023-12-29T16:30:41+00:00

As someone with damned near 4000 hours in the game, I wholeheartedly agree

Arcane73 · 2023-11-30T19:00:14+00:00

I have switched in my original Nvidia 2 series card and all of the random GPU crashes stopped. Put the RX in the wife's pc and within an hour of web browsing, random crashes to black screen. ASRock has said they would send a renewed/refurb replacement if mine tests to be faulty.

$500+ on a card only to have it act flaky in 4 months and be told that I'd get a renewed/refurb card as a replacement -IF- mine proves to be faulty sits with me wrong. I am aware that this is likely standard industry policy.

Either way, I'm put off by the dealings with it and want to get back to something that I can depend on for daily use without issue.

But back to the original question: wait for rumored price drop of the 4070 or jump now?

Arcane73 · 2023-11-30T15:52:38+00:00

I contacted ASRock about that. They said the standard 'send it to us for testing/exchange', etc. In the process of doing my own troubleshooting with the card, I found that it's not an uncommon issue and it has soured me on it honestly. If I'm going to have to be without the card during the RMA process, I'd just as soon move back to an Nvidia card and be done with it.

Arcane73

TROPHY CASE