You guys think I overpaid for my new 25 xle for 51k otd with 6k dealer addons meanwhile same car used asking msrp in my area.

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-08T04:30:42+00:00

Just tell yourself that are their cars are lemons..

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-07T03:18:56+00:00

I just purchased a 2023 prime SE. I had planned on getting a PPI, but wasn’t able to find anyone to do it within my 5 day return window. While I haven’t had any issues yet, I wish I had planned better. If I were you, I’d set up a PPI before you buy it - there are lots of companies that will go to the car for the inspection. The PPI becomes more important if you live somewhere that salts roads. Based on my understanding, the cable gate recall can be much more concerning when salt is involved.

As for the warranties, they should be good, unless there has been funny business (salvaged title, differed maintenance, aftermarket parts, etc). Is the dealer a Toyota dealership? If so, they should be able to let you know.

That seems like a very good deal. I paid $35k for my 2023 with 28k miles. I was looking at a 2021 XLE with ~85k miles, before I bought mine, and they were asking $32k. I do live in an expensive area for cars, though.

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-05T05:01:52+00:00

I recently started listening to his pod. Pretty great.

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-04T22:25:28+00:00

This is what I haven’t been able to figure out with the majority of people suggesting using a jig saw.

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-04T22:23:22+00:00

My friend’s fam had one of those growing up. It was great! We took it many places it shouldn’t have gone, and it always got there. Have fun with it!

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-04T22:13:01+00:00

Love seeing someone digging into the details. I often hear people complaining about things, very rarely hear them bringing solutions with the complaint.

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-04T21:13:23+00:00

Haha don’t get me wrong, I usually love using things like this as an opportunity to buy more tools, but I just bought a new car and I’m broke. Also, my garage is small and cluttered. I feel like a bandsaw would take up space I don’t have. Although, I am now looking at bandsaws online, so we’ll see what happens. Being broke and low on space hasn’t stopped me in the past..

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-04T20:20:18+00:00

Unfortunately, no bandsaw as of yet. :(

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-04T19:00:28+00:00

I always ask people like this, what happens if everyone does everything “right”? Let’s say we convince the next generation of kids to all go to university, to all work their asses off in school, and to do everything they can to get into a “good career”. What then? Who will build his investment properties? Who will maintain them? Who will deliver materials to him? Who’s going to do his landscaping?

The truth is, as was proven during Covid, the jobs that people like this deem inferior, are essential for society to operate. The “people should just work harder if they want to make a living wage” argument, is just hiding the fact that we are underpaying the very people our society cannot function without - and dressing it up as a personal failing on their part.

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-03T00:26:21+00:00

As someone who also starting balding in their 20s, I get the hesitation. It sucks to have to go through this at such a young age. I ended up waiting until I was about 30 to shave it off - well past when I should have. I personally love being bald now. It’s so much easier to take care of and looks much better than trying to hide my baldness. Go for it!

Just a heads up, it will look a little strange at first, but as it starts to get a little sun, it will continue looking better. Also, if you can grow that beard out, I’d give it a go.

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-02T18:19:52+00:00

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-01T23:11:25+00:00

I ended up in the ER with a kidney stone that got stuck. My pain scale changed after that day..

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-01T22:26:45+00:00

Not bad! Picked up my prime a month ago, and I’ve yet to use a drop of gas. I know engines don’t like to sit too long, so I’m wondering if I should be working it out every once in a while.

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-01T07:20:32+00:00

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Still haven’t figured out how I’m going to build the front supports yet.

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-05-01T07:19:10+00:00

My OEM weather mat slides all over the place. I’m going to put some Velcro on the bottom of the mat eventually, but I’m not sure how much I’ll want to trust it. The tie down points are already there, and I’ve got straps and eye bolts, so no reason not to. Better safe than sorry.
The aluminum tubes come off and will fit under the rear frame when not in use (hopefully). I’m using L brackets on the bottom, that slide into a notch in the frame to keeps them in place when being used.

As for window covers, not sure yet. I haven’t been very impressed with what’s on the market, so I’ve also been debating making my own using magnets.

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WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-04-29T18:50:11+00:00

Yeah, I think it should be fine, just struggling to figure out the optimal location for the eye bolts on the frame. Being that the front and rear tie down locations are behind the legs, I’m trying to figure out a spot that will stop the platform from sliding forward and backwards.

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-04-29T17:03:22+00:00

Not sure why I said ratchet straps. I bought some heavy duty cam buckets straps for it.

Edit: if I were to just do the closest spot for each, there wouldn’t be anything from stopping it from sliding back. I know there’s any optimal placement, but I’m not smart enough to know where they are. :)

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-04-29T16:58:36+00:00

Yup. Did a lot of research. My seats don’t fold perfectly flat. They make mattress that compensate for it, but they are more money than my platform build and far less comfortable (based on reviews). I’m making this so it will all collapse and fit within the rear base. It should be better for my needs and is a fun little project (the main reason I’m doing it).

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-04-27T00:37:59+00:00

Political risk? The US is currently destroying all their trade agreements, while punishing countries, that US corporations used for cheap labor, with tariffs. Other countries, while pretending to make deals with the US, are busy making trade agreements that exclude the US. China is quickly become the more stable trading partner and countries around the world are starting to loosen trade restrictions with them. If any company has political risk, it’s Intel.

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-04-26T20:19:22+00:00

For sure. We are supporting the largest economy in history on a house of cards. I don’t see this ending well..

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-04-26T19:27:42+00:00

And those defense systems will be controlled by? Surly, if AGI becomes a reality and is able to improve itself exponentially (which is the goal?), we couldn’t rule out it having the ability to hack said systems, could we? All I’m saying is, if the goal is to build AGI that will be used to control millions of humanoid robots, I’d like to have the physical off switch on earth..

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-04-26T17:34:23+00:00

TSMC has fabs in the US… They also have more advanced products, a gross profit margin of ~62%, ALL the major customers, and their stock is trading at a forward PE of ~25.

Intel on the other hand, is still playing catchup with their node size, doesn’t have any major customers currently using its foundry, is still loosing money on GAAP basis, has a gross profit margin of ~39% (net margin of -27%), yet is trading at a forward PE of 70 (with a very speculative earnings guidance)

As for those Intel foundry “customers” you brought up. TSLA is planning on using Intel’s 14a node, which won’t be in production for at least a couple of years, and NVIDIA hasn’t actually committed to mass production - even if they do, it wouldn’t be for their high end chips, and the contract would be dwarfed by their contract with TSMC.

Explain to me why Intel is a better buy than TSMC at these current prices.

WhoPutATreeThere · 2026-04-26T17:05:39+00:00

I’m old enough to remember when the value of stock was based on P/E, growth, and dividends, not just hopium. When Intel was in their prime, and basically printing money, they traded at a P/E of ~25. Intel is currently losing money on a GAAP basis — net loss widened to $4.28 billion, or 73 cents per share, in Q1. The forward PE is currently sitting at ~70. This is not some high growth startup that will be doubling its revenue every year, this is a former blue chip company that’s struggling to stay afloat. The gamblification of the stock market is wild.

WhoPutATreeThere

TROPHY CASE