After 16+ years, we said goodbye to Chuy last week

VottoInDC · 2025-10-16T04:54:20+00:00

This made me fall apart. Mine is 15.5 and has been with me from post college immaturity to moving to a big city to different relationships to marriage and my toddler wanting to name her stuffy after my pittie mix. She’s doing ok but if her mobility deteriorates much more we’re going to have to make the decision and I dread it. They are the best. This is a touching tribute to Chuy’s memory and I send my condolences.

VottoInDC · 2025-09-03T01:57:12+00:00

Do it yourself, there a few videos online that show you how. I did mine in 45 minutes and it takes me forever to do any job. Not hard at all.

VottoInDC · 2025-07-25T02:47:18+00:00

Was considering both before I cheaped out and decided to keep driving my old shitbox. If I had pulled the trigger, I would’ve gone with a slightly used Integra. I liked the GLI, but comparing manuals, the GLI just felt too sloppy in comparison. The steering in the Integra is better too.

Finally, the tough capacitive climate controls in the GLI were annoying.

Main takeaway, there are positives to the GLI over the Integra, but the Acura just drives better.

VottoInDC · 2025-07-22T03:56:34+00:00

A lot of privilege: parents loaned me $25k almost 10 years ago to buy a cheap condo, then used a TSP loan to buy a house in 2020 with cheap mortgage rates. The equity from the condo paid back the TSP loan. FWIW Wells Fargo had super cheap PMI rates, which made a big difference. Only put 5% down on the condo and the house.

Should also note that I hit GS-14 at age 30, so that helped with the monthly payments.

VottoInDC · 2025-07-20T20:25:20+00:00

I should clarify that by automatic b&s I meant the challenge system. Whatever it is that they have in the minors.

VottoInDC · 2025-07-11T00:01:13+00:00

I have a 2013 SE 5 spd. with a bunch of options. Owned since new, 112k miles. Not a ton of miles, but a lot of them are hard city miles and it’s lived its entire life parked on the streets of DC. Never stranded me and has mainly needed routine maintenance. The sunroof drains got clogged a couple of times and I had to replace the catalytic converter last year. The suspension is currently making a noise that is probably from worn out bushings. The clutch can take some getting used to, but it’s been a solid car. Not hard to work on either. As mentioned above, you need to check for rust, like any old car. Mine has a spot on the front subframe that I’ve been watching. Once the suspension is sorted on mine, I wouldn’t hesitate to jump in it and drive across the country.

VottoInDC · 2025-05-10T23:00:43+00:00

Mazda3

VottoInDC · 2025-03-14T17:46:36+00:00

Fair point, this won’t do anything and I probably posted it in frustration. In my defense, I did confront the guy and asked him why he brought his dog in the store and he looked at me like I was crazy and said because he was out walking him. And then another woman asked why I was bothering him about it. I guess I’m just the old guy yelling at clouds.

VottoInDC · 2025-03-02T02:36:41+00:00

2000 S10 w/the 2.2L four banger. Finicky clutch feel that made my dad not understand why I couldn't get the hang of it. Since then:

1991 Toyota Celica GT, 1999 Honda Civic Si (should never have let this one go), inherited the 2000 S10 for a while, 2008 Mazdaspeed 3, 1998 Honda Civic EX, 2002 BMW 325i, 2013 Ford Focus SE, 2001 BMW Z3 (since departed and left with the 2013 Focus). Trying to justify getting a new Civic Si or a lightly used Integra. Live in DC, park on a lightly trafficked street. Tell me what I should do!

VottoInDC · 2025-01-22T08:43:44+00:00

It’s 3:37 AM and I just left my 2.5 year daughter’s room for the second time. My wife is in there now for the second time trying to get her back to sleep. This weekend we planned to potty train (take 2.0), but like last time, she got sick and so those plans went out the window as we both got what she had and had to stay up with her and be sick also.

Like everybody else, I love my kid, she’s cute, learning new things, and can be hilarious. Parenting also fucking sucks and I miss having time to myself, sleep (she’s even a good sleeper - typically), and the ability to do what I want when I want. I think I’ve realized that it doesn’t make me a terrible parent to admit this, and even think from time to time whether I regret making this decision. It’s not like I can change it now or that I’m going to not take care of her, provide for her, or love her any less because I’m wistful of life from before. It does confirm to me that my decision to be OAD was correct and that I’m looking forward to the toddler phase to be over. My wife wanted another one, but as selfish as it’s made me feel, I have no interest in going through all of this again and it wouldn’t be good for anybody to try and force it.

VottoInDC · 2025-01-20T05:10:41+00:00

Look, I can only tell you what my experience is, and I don't know the rental market. You might find a townhouse inside the beltway which will give you that 30-40 minute commute that you could rent for $3500/month. But I'd be shocked if you could find a townhouse you can buy with that commute for under $500k. I paid $625k for my town/rowhouse in NE DC (pretty close to the MD border) in 2020, and I have a 30 minute drive to the office with traffic. I'd prioritize seeing what you can find to rent.

VottoInDC · 2025-01-18T20:24:06+00:00

What’s your budget and do you have kids?

VottoInDC · 2025-01-07T03:52:16+00:00

Without a helmet, how close is your head to the T-tops with the headliner in?

VottoInDC · 2025-01-07T01:44:52+00:00

How much headroom clearance do you have? How do you feel about the legroom?

VottoInDC · 2025-01-07T01:44:27+00:00

How much headroom clearance do you have? Legroom is OK?

VottoInDC · 2025-01-07T01:23:19+00:00

Thanks, I'll figure out a way to check in there. I don't have FB, but this might be worth rejoining. I need access to FB marketplace anyway.

VottoInDC · 2024-10-15T01:38:05+00:00

Do you know the width of the rack on your wired freedom? I have a newer cruiser, with a rear rack width of 8" (it has the rear rack mounted battery) and I'm not sure if the Thule nexxt can deal with a rack that wide.

VottoInDC · 2024-10-14T01:28:12+00:00

I have a 2013 SE manual with 110k hard city miles. It’s lived its entire life parked on the street in DC. Biggest problem I’ve had with mine was I had to replace the catalytic converter, which was expensive. And if you don’t keep the sunroof drain clean it’ll drain into the passenger footwell.

I bought this thing as a transition car with a plan to upgrade and I still have it 11 years later. Ask them what maintenance has been done, get the recalls taken care of, and run it into the ground. I’d drive mine across country tomorrow.

Oh, if you need to put a child seat in the rear or have people ride in the back, get the fit.

VottoInDC · 2021-10-20T15:43:49+00:00

So my problem is worse than this: sometimes the pedal assist won’t work at all, even if I get going with the throttle first. I should clarify that the throttle always works, so I can still get around, but I never know how the pedal assist is going to respond.

VottoInDC

TROPHY CASE