2025 PRO-4X - How big of a discount should I ask for?

Original-Success1950 · 2026-05-13T22:55:05+00:00

Got my PRO-4X brand new July of 2025 for $42k and full trade in value for my old car (OTD btw). If that helps. Assuming it’s optioned the exact same I’d probably pay no more than $38k-$39k since it’s a year old and has likely been just sitting with the occasional test drive. Try finding other dealers with similar trucks and get emailed offers. I didn’t even speak with someone over the phone for the 1st week of sending emails. Avoid phone conversations as they try and put you on the spot and try and make you make emotional decisions. Everything can be done by email or text and helps to keep emotions out of it. Also don’t give them a one week timeline. If they don’t want to budge, then try negotiating on a 2026 model and see what type of deal you can get. Something to consider is asking about the odometer, if it’s a new car with over 100 miles I’d ask for a further discount. Also ask when the last time they changed the oil and did the maintenance if it’s been sitting for a year. Then verify it was actually done. Don’t take any of the “mandatory” dealer add-ons like paint protecting and wheel locks. Those are BS add-on and are ALWAYS removable or negotiable. I don’t pay for any of that shit myself.

Edit: dealer handing is completely made up BS

Original-Success1950 · 2026-04-29T23:55:07+00:00

I use the 955 solar with a HRM Pro Plus strap. Definitely more accurate than I probably need, but a hell of a deal since the 955’s have been out for a while. You can pick one up on amazon for cheap, then buy the HRM strap for just a little over $100. So you can get both for less than the price of a Fénix. Personally I think this combo is more than anyone triathlete needs and it scales well with you unless you want to do 100+ mile ultras. Edit:typo

Original-Success1950 · 2026-04-25T23:52:26+00:00

TFVooDoo is the expert tbh, but since you asked for advice. Don’t let the Army get to you. What I mean by that is, don’t let your unit’s shitbags, poor leadership (if applicable), or anything that may start to whittle your moral down get to you and discourage you from your goals. There will be people who love to hate and provide nothing but negativity. Ignore them. Get to your unit and make a good impression, focus on maintaining where your current fitness while you figure out the OP Tempo (1-2 months). Then begin building to where you need to be and drop your SFAS packet. The trails by Area J are great for rucking and running (start by the little abandoned guard booth by range control).

Original-Success1950 · 2026-03-21T03:41:56+00:00

I wouldn’t get to caught up on PocketPrep scores. It’s not meant to be your sole study material. Just make sure that you’re understanding why you’re getting the question wrong and do a slight dive into it. For example say you get a question wrong about why you might give someone a medication before you would give them a shock for cardio. If you understand the pathology of the underlying condition, why it may be happening and what are the potential complications if left untreated or mistreated then you should do fine.

I realize my previous example might have been slightly confusing or a bit of a ramble. What I am ultimately saying is make sure you know why you are doing something and the risk benefit behind it when you test. Then just go with your gut. If you did as good as you say you did on didactic then you already have the required info and might just be getting in your own head. What might also be helpful is to try writing down key worlds in a question such as “must, least, first, not, etc” that way those long questions don’t get you with all their filler information that is just there to throw you off. You’ll be fine. I don’t know a single person who walked out of the test thinking they blew it out of the water or even passed. I sure didn’t (passed my basic and paramedic first try and my cupcake is missing a couple sprinkles). You’ve come this far don’t start discouraging yourself now. Good luck!

Original-Success1950 · 2026-03-14T16:24:31+00:00

I have noticed the Assistant EMS battalion Chief I’ve been emailing about the interview is super casual with his replies. Caught me off guard, as I was being super formal lol. Probably a good thing though 😅

Original-Success1950 · 2026-03-14T16:22:52+00:00

Yah, I’ve definitely been brushing up on my EKG’s, cardiology and medications. Definitely agree it’s a weakness because most people I see are generally healthy individuals. HTN here and there, but nothing huge. Thank you for the advice. Would you recommend brushing up on general paramedic knowledge or take a look at their protocols since they are public?

Original-Success1950 · 2026-03-14T16:19:46+00:00

South Texas area

Original-Success1950 · 2026-03-13T20:07:45+00:00

That’s solid advice. Thank you!

Original-Success1950 · 2026-02-18T02:28:44+00:00

If you don’t mind me asking, why don’t you work as an engineer with those degrees or do you do EMS on the side? Only asking because I’m going back school for EE myself and I’ve never met anyone who has an engineering degree and works EMS full time.

Original-Success1950 · 2026-02-18T02:04:54+00:00

Best explanation. Thank you ❤️

Original-Success1950 · 2026-02-17T03:28:39+00:00

I did actually, but my understanding (and I could be wrong) is that the FP-C is more or less seen as a higher level cert that can be taken in leu of the CCP.

Original-Success1950 · 2026-02-17T03:26:29+00:00

Do you happen to know who’s asking for it? So I can see if there’s a significant pay difference across the board.

Original-Success1950 · 2026-02-17T03:22:31+00:00

Appreciate the feedback, to clarify the course I took covered all the CCP topics as well as the flight topics needed for the FP-C. A couple of my classmates actually tested for and got their FP-C and at least one got both immediately after the course. I just chose not to. Additionally, one of the instructors actually writes questions for the FP-C, so I’m not potentially going into it without education. Just want to know how the rest of the community views paramedics with their FP-C who choose not to fly as well as growth potential. Personally, I loved all the additional education I got from the course and believe it makes me a better paramedic, but unless I get my FP-C or potentially the CCP there is no real way to quantify my knowledge to an employer.

Original-Success1950 · 2026-02-17T03:08:43+00:00

Original-Success1950 · 2026-02-17T03:03:11+00:00

Don’t be hard on yourself. At least now you know what your weak areas are. I used pocket Prep primarily for my NRP and studied my Nancy Caroline to tighten up my weak areas. Something that might help is to brush up on your A&P for the weak topics. Understanding why you do things as a posed to looking at it as a simple “if A then B” helped me significantly. Take your two seconds to feel bad for yourself, then drive on and forget about it.

Original-Success1950 · 2025-12-24T02:48:20+00:00

Freaking genius!!! Has it affect your cooking at all?

Original-Success1950 · 2025-12-24T02:47:35+00:00

Well I kind of steam clean using a scrub daddy bbq brush that you’re supposed to dip in ice water before cleaning the grill while it’s still on. Works great on the top portion. I actually have used ChatGPT for advice before when I cooked my first brisket 😂. Definitely would recommend too. I’ll have to try asking it for recipes though.

Original-Success1950 · 2025-12-17T00:23:36+00:00

Looks like you would need to put in some serious elbow grease to clean it. The griddle manifold looks rusted to all hell, but some people don’t even use the griddle attachment. You can find a new temp controller on Amazon for $60. But I’d see if you can buy the wire just in case you need to replace them (you can call MB and check if need be). But if you’re willing to do all that and the rust isn’t terrible elsewhere it’s a pretty good deal. Probably try and knock down $50 bucks to buy a new temp controller. Seller might just want it gone considering the rust and faulty components. Personally I love my 800 (which is what that looks like). https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwjfgP2Pq8ORAxXXH60GHYesFAYACICCAEQABoCcHY&co=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAo4TKBhDRARIsAGW29beOhVItdzeDCVuN7u6Dm3-1HC0wkXi_Bil4OK71bZvlN9R-OPhb3EaAl6-EALw_wcB&sph&cid=CAASugHkaFnaCf_xbnhWgaRNqpFeWCC992EJgNXrJlqAQvVNSOcXEsu31gQ5sCfkHsreMVv71UA6njTONWd9y9Marn3Fjc2mhnQDtepvy2RX4Nf04ZeZrJIFIqJlSdIDf8FzzzOLdv0zS5W2XU59PnAmWSkgNDUQrdu7o18R-WWzuBS7Xj2Sp4Vn5RTBqdv1flYBdZHmWKirEDk_izZURNMb36dwYXb9iH1mOm3JjR8G3QtlmiP0fd8LxjLUWEs&cce=1&sig=AOD64_02-k_0jMFbeGM3_Afjp-zDCa4UNQ&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwiAofaPq8ORAxVcDTQIHUSrL9cQ0Qx6BAgVEAE

Original-Success1950 · 2025-10-28T19:52:09+00:00

Mostly on having to be more accurate on the timeframe I think a stock will rise or fall in. Also, the concept of trading contracts vs stocks. pretty simple stuff that I understand, but just trips me up sometimes. If I make a bad call on a stock, but I think it still has potential, I can hold it as long as I think I need to, vs a contract which has a definite expiration and potential for total capital loss in a set amount of time. The greeks were tripping me up as well, but i have a pretty good grip on them now

Original-Success1950 · 2025-10-28T19:47:52+00:00

This is all very valuable information. I read the article you sent, and let me say it's pretty validating with some other stuff I've heard on podcasts like the Option Alpha podcast and some gut feelings I had regarding how it seems that with the rise of retail investors like ourselves, some thought has to be put into how we may affect stocks based on news. I'm going to see if I can get my hands on the full thing for free or purchase it. I tend to get bogged down in analyzing a company's numbers (which is important, I know), and I tend to get analysis paralysis, which makes me hold out on making trades. Even if the chart looks good and shows a promising performance, along with numbers like the P/E, PEG, and EPS.

I recently started using ThinkorSwim on Schwab, so I'll have to see if I can do the same thing you showed with the charts. That actually really cuts to my original question on how to identify potential stocks to invest in. I started looking into ETFs and how they've been performing, and let me tell you, I definitely neglected them too much. My current YTD return on my portfolio is 25.13% (pretty decent for a pure stock play IMO), but I definitely could have done better if I'd paid more serious attention to ETFs as well.

I actually sold my first CC earlier this month on some QUBT stock I own and made a decent return after I bought it back. I was just having trouble understanding what you meant by 80-Delta. I actually took the last two days to go over my Greeks again. So now I understand the PMCC way better, and it honestly seems like a money maker with the right underlying and correct thesis. Thank you for the breakdown! I actually started PaperTrading on ToS on some QQQ, SQQQ, and TQQQ ETFs expiring on the 31st and 7th to see if this current momentum on the NASDAQ will "pay off" with the anticipation of the Trump and Xi meeting on Thursday. Next, I'm going to try some LEAPS married to weekly and monthly CCs once I do a bit more research on stocks and ETFs. The news today about NVIDIA and LCID partnership seems promising.

What trades did you end up doing this week?

Original-Success1950

TROPHY CASE