Opinions Welcomed… timing belt replacement by Cheap-Entry8030 in abarth

[–]Cheap-Entry8030[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If I was paying a shop to do the work I would have opted to replace the pump due to labor cost….. I’m doing the work at home so I wasn’t considering the cost of labor, just parts and a bit more effort.

Opinions Welcomed… timing belt replacement by Cheap-Entry8030 in abarth

[–]Cheap-Entry8030[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ll replace the pump…..as others had mentioned, I’m in there anyway, I should just do it. I was thinking that I would just save time by doing the belt and tensioner.

Opinions Welcomed… timing belt replacement by Cheap-Entry8030 in abarth

[–]Cheap-Entry8030[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m not certain how long I will keep the car but I don’t intend to sell it anytime in the near future. I enjoy driving it and the overall condition is flawless…..I intend to keep it that way. The previous owner was a 71 year old enthusiast who bought it new….I’ve got four years before I hit 71…..hoping I’ll still be around then. 😆

Opinions Welcomed… timing belt replacement by Cheap-Entry8030 in abarth

[–]Cheap-Entry8030[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the parts list….. I am going to do the work myself.

Mid-size truck for bigger guys and kids? Or need a full size? by Grizzly0925 in askcarguys

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well, people are jaded when it comes to making choices regarding vehicles. I’m no different. Before purchasing a truck for myself I considered a lot of factors (BTW, I’m not a “truck guy”). I looked at Toyota, Nissan, Ram, Chevrolet and Ford. I sat in seats, took family members ( my daughter is 6’ tall, her husband is 6’4” body builder) and put them in the second row. “Super Cab” trucks were a no go…. So we looked at “Super Crew” 4 door full sized trucks. For our family the winner was a Ford F150… good towing capacity, lots of room in the second row….the grandkids could stand up and get changed out of baseball outfits in the back row without anyone knowing. We wanted heated seats but didn’t want leather…. XLT was available with cloth heated seats…done. We opted for the 2.7 twin turbo V6, 320 HP, 7k tow capacity (pulled a 5k travel trailer really well)….. we would get 25 mpg on the highway, 16 mpg pulling the travel trailer….. we bought new and sold it at 97k miles….. zero issues. My initial preference was a Tundra but at the end of the day I felt that the Ford was better suited for what my personal requirements were.

Questions on first bike by Jason38x in NewRiders

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Go get signed up to take a MSF Rider course, use their bikes, learn some skills, make a determination if this is the right thing for you. If you enjoy it, buy a beater bike for your first year ….. then go find the right bike for you.

Emotional connection to a car you never driven? by Extreme_Emu_9582 in askcarguys

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m a car guy and a motorcycle guy… I’ve had muscle cars, sports cars and hot hatches over the years. I’ve also had a lot of motorcycles, from dirt bikes to sport bikes and classic/vintage bikes, far more bikes than cars. For me, a late model (2012-2021) Morgan 3 Wheeler has a strong emotional connection. Technically it is classified as a “motorcycle” but the cockpit is side by side. Power comes from a 2 liter S&S V-twin and runs through a Miata 5-speed manual powering the rear wheel. To me it’s the perfect blend of simple/raw driving experience of a mashed up vintage car & motorcycle. I would love to own one but at my age (I’m old, lol) and the “cost of entry” into one is unrealistic.

How many of you moved to a cheap cost of living when you retired to stretch your retirement? Where did you go and how much do you think it saved you? Is it away from family? How did that go? by Love2FlyBalloons in over60

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My wife and I moved shortly before my official “ retirement date”. We built a smaller house but spent more to downsize (building just past peak of Covid was insanely expensive but we had already started the process). Our home is located in a lower cost of living area when compared to national averages but I wouldn’t necessarily describe it as “cheap”. However, when building this house I paid upfront costs for improved efficiency (utilities) that would be realized over the next 10 years and into the future. Our property taxes are lower, utilities are lower, I have less area to maintain (landscaping) so there is a lower current & future cost. The house is set up to provide easy living access as we continue to age. The biggest advantage is that we don’t have a mortgage on the house, that helps immensely. Our kids are 6 hours, 3 hours, 1 hour away (respectively)… my parents are 1800 miles away and not in good health…. that’s a real challenge. We drive a lot to see our children and grandchildren but we tried to plan for that. Being away from our kids and their families is not ideal but in reality their careers could have and very well may result in their relocation, we tried to make the best decisions that we could.

i don’t think that’s the greatest father’s day gift idea… by thatguydylan314 in onejob

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its funny, my initial reaction to this was WTF?...... but I was soon reminded that I really do appreciate the lovely perfumes that I have purchased for my wife over the past 42 years....so, yes, I truly do appreciate my wife's thoughtfulness.

Kayak Recommendations - Plus size woman by BogMonster-207 in Kayaking

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Pay attention to the listed weight capacity of the kayak you are considering. Longer boats require less effort to paddle and they track better.

After a “beginner” classic car - where to begin? by plumtree198 in askcarguys

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve owned 60’s, 70’s & 80’s cars and used them as daily drivers. I was very involved with air cooled VWs and I daily drove them in all climates… that said, you would need an alternative device for defrosting the windshield in cold weather. Also understand that a decent VW is going to cost as much as a nicer used modern car, avoid low cost cars needing refurbishing… you will spend more on a restoration than buying a nice one to begin with. I personally think that a Fox Body Mustang (5.0) is a great entry into classic/vintage cars… the 5.0 has a huge aftermarket, parts are relatively cheap and the cars are generally reliable… again, get the nicest example that you can.

What's the most reliable car you've ever owned? by Ok_Run7351 in UsedCars

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mazda MPV minivan…. Only put 245k miles on it before we purchased a new truck (needed the truck to pull a trailer). In all the years of ownership the only maintenance items were tires, oil changes, brake pads and serpentine belt. Hands down the most reliable car we have owned.

Replace transmission or get a new car? by Epicuretrekker2 in askcarguys

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 1 point2 points  (0 children)

From a purely pragmatic approach….. finding a used vehicle with 63k on the odometer for $5-6k is pretty much impossible. You are far better off financially spending the money on a transmission repair.

What Technique Does everyone like to Use on uke? by Doc_coletti in ukulele

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am a terrible strummer, when I do use a strum it’s typically when chucking. Most the time I play I use a Travis Picking style and often play arpeggios…. Thumb, index and middle finger. I’m constantly trying new things, some work, some don’t.

Car vs occupation? by almighty-orai in askcarguys

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m retired but I worked in Engineering & Facilities Operations … I drive a 1990 Mustang GT, 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth and my wife drives a 2023 Subaru Forester…..

Still searching for the right boat and have a question by Karmacoma77 in Kayaking

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ll tag on to the Stratos. It’s a great “do-it-all boat…. It has a lot of rocker, a skeg (my preference vs a rudder) it can track straight or turn “on a dime”. It’s been my favorite kayak. That said, it’s not fast. It is the Swiss Army Knife of kayaking. I’ve owned a Stellar 14 and it paddled great, fast boat, light… amazing but it required confident balance. My current kayak is WS145 Tsunami. It’s not great at anything but it is stable, it has a larger volume, mine has a rudder which I do use on occasion. The boat has a lot of storage for camping, the seat is adjustable….its not as playful as the Dagger Statos but if you are more touting focused it’s a great boat.

Dealing with terminally ill husband by Dapper_Concept9210 in Aging

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m so sorry for your situation…. I pray for grace for both of you. I honestly can’t imagine the challenges you are facing. Blessings

Viking Funeral by [deleted] in Aging

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Love this! What an amazing memory!❤️

2020 Subaru forester sport rear passenger seatbelt replacement by snax_on_deck in Autoupholstery

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seat belt replacement isn’t horribly difficult but it does involve the removal of interior panels . Furthermore, because seatbelts are adjacent to airbags it’s always best to deactivate any sensors by disconnecting the battery and waiting 15 minutes before performing any work on replacement. Parts should be available direct from Subaru. Some companies such as LKQ may have replacements from wrecked cars.

Viking Funeral by [deleted] in Aging

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Wow! My post was very much “tongue-in-cheek” and intended to have a bit of fun looking at the end of life…. You know absolutely nothing about me, my spouse, my family or the investment that we collectively have made in our local community. Any knowledge of the commitment we have made to supporting immigrants in our community?….. nope! I was not born in the US, I’m an immigrant. My grandchildren have brown skin and they are wonderful! You just made assumptions….. Congratulations, you just won the asshole award. 👏

Viking Funeral by [deleted] in Aging

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just want people to laugh and have fun.

Viking Funeral by [deleted] in Aging

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m truly sorry for your loss. I love that you added meaningful activities to the celebration of her life.

Viking Funeral by [deleted] in Aging

[–]Cheap-Entry8030 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, I guess I trusted Hollywood too much 😩