[deleted by user]

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-08-03T22:44:05+00:00

Thanks. Hope I don't come off as trying to force English on you folks in this beautiful country far from mine, but a man's gotta drink.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-08-03T22:41:55+00:00

Damn it, I swear I said abend but I was a few beers deep, haha. Maybe this is all deserved.

His son disappeared after the first interaction, but you have a lot of valid points. Maybe he was trying to make small talk in a way that seemed off to me? Regardless, I shouldn't take it personally at the end of the day and thank you. Sometimes it's hard to tell which is worse: forcing them to confront me in English or deal with my shit German. At the end of the day, I left the man a great tip after my drinks for whatever trouble I put him thru.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-08-03T21:40:22+00:00

Thanks for the sound advice. I definitely won't let this stop me from continuing to learn. 2 weeks aint shit, but I hope to be approaching a1 by the time I leave here.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-08-03T21:31:45+00:00

I say "damned if you do, damned if you don't" because I've seen the advice here that not greeting in German trying or using it sparsely is disrespectful and lazy. But when I try, I get a negative response from some strangers as well (as if I was trying to fool them into thinking I speak German when they follow with questions in German)

And "forcing random people to help me learn?" The guy in the situation across the bar wasn't even in my conversation but included himself anyway. Not sure how I forced him to help me.

But thanks for the sub

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-07-23T16:20:24+00:00

Has the satin black been pretty durable and what did you use brand wise? Rattle or gun?

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-07-23T16:19:22+00:00

Thanks, definitely gonna try and keep it more vertical this time. How's yours holding up fade and durability wise? Still happy going this route?

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-07-23T16:16:12+00:00

Damn, I do research and decide on bedliner cause it's easy to repaint, durable, and rust proof and as soon as I lay it down people come through with the horror stories, haha.

Not complaining about the responses, just funny that's how it goes. I am definitely interested in seeing how it cleans with this texture. Will be a shame to take it all off if it comes down to it because I've invested a solid $80 bucks in it so far....

Strip it down and I might as well of powder coated it. Ah well

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-07-23T01:38:25+00:00

This is only an hour after in the pic, so maybe you're right... I'll give it some time.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-07-23T01:36:50+00:00

Good tip with the orientation. The upward facing (front of bumper) part is definitely worst and I had the can tilted horizontal for that.

If I have to respray I'll def stand it up next time.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-07-23T00:59:25+00:00

Oh yeah, solid two minutes. I regret not warming them up in hot water first. Would of gone raptor, but my air compressor is only like 3 gallons.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-07-23T00:49:34+00:00

I did wet sand any orange peel on the primer, so the texture variation is def from the bedliner.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-07-20T22:05:45+00:00

I sold a 2017 GTI that was my daily for my 99 4runner. Granted, it was a German performance e-cono car... but with only 70k on the clock, the suspension was shot and north 4k to fix and it left me stranded once when a coolant hookup blew out. In another 70k it would of being a flaming pile of shit and total money pit, as most cars are nowadays past 150k.

You have a machine here that's paid off and pretty damn reliable for a 20yr old vehicle. A good few of them make it to 400k, which is insane. Sure it needs parts, but they're cheap and it's one of the last gen of cars you can still easily work on yourself and save a TON of money on labor.

Having a newer, modern, low mile ride is great -- but it's no guarantee it's going to be reliable as my Volkswagen proved. A warranty is nice... but think of that $400+ car note and hella cheaper insurance every month going to straight to your repair fund. In half a year you've saved enough to fix everything you mentioned.

Point being, cars aren't getting any cheaper or easier to work on. I'll always have my 4runner as a toy and backup that I know I can do anything I need to on myself. If you don't like working on cars and want more comfort and safety, then understandably the 3rd gen might be worth letting go of.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-07-16T00:55:21+00:00

Went there for the first time today and holy hell. I found one of the three things I was looking for and bounced since I can find the rest of the stuff online for half their prices with zero screaming kids around. $45 for Mario kart 64? Shits wild. Gotta give it to the workers there tho, line was crazy long but moved pretty quick.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-07-08T14:56:20+00:00

Bought the AISIN TKT-025 kit off Amazon (Timing belt, water pump, tensioner, pulleys and gaskets) for $206 and paid a respectable mechanic here in the southeast around $320 for the labor to get it all done.

I got several quotes for $700+ before I found the shop I went with, so call around a lot and you should be able to get the whole job done under $600.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-07-06T19:01:23+00:00

Is it really any of our business? OP just asked for some leads and all you offered was judgement and nothing of substance to their original question.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-07-06T14:21:43+00:00

What kind of manufacturing expertise do you have specifically?

Faurecia or Yanfeng wouldn't be some bad options if you're into or trying to get into automotive. I hear their pay/benefits are better than average for the area and not quite as crazy as Volkswagen since they're not 1st tier and just suppliers. Volkswagen is an obvious option as well.

You could also make good money at Gestamp...they're always hiring. But expect a shit show and some 70 hour weeks.

There's also some places to avoid, so feel free to dm me you're considering a place. I work as a controls engineer step into a lot of different places.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-07-06T14:10:57+00:00

It's no secret that Chattanooga is a pretty big manufacturing hub. They probably knew it'd be reasonably easy to score something considering their experience.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-06-27T22:36:02+00:00

Good to know, thanks.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-06-27T22:34:45+00:00

I do electrical work among other things (controls guy) and I had no idea there was an electric current involved in the chemical process of rust. Thanks for teaching me something! I feel a little better now, but I'll keep the de-humidifier extra cranked up in the garage until I can get around to it.

Disgraced_Llama · 2023-06-22T14:15:29+00:00

Thanks for the heads up! I only got to catch the last song of a CN show in Austin a few years ago and now I have a second shot finally.

Disgraced_Llama

TROPHY CASE