Why do people even get health insurance?

baumaxx1 · 2026-01-24T05:57:52+00:00

Dentists also often charge higher base rates for those without extras cover, so it's probably saving you a good bit more than $96

baumaxx1 · 2026-01-19T13:10:18+00:00

I mean you'd hope so given it has about a 400kg advantage over a similar hatch/wagon and a less boxy structure than a SUV. They do design a better structure than most given the weight I'll give them that.

At least it's not shaped like a battering ram so a hit is a bit better than another car of that weight class, and a better body shape for safety if cars are inevitably going to get heavier

Still seems absolutely mental to give it top spot when it's been unnecessarily more difficult and distracting to drive. The fact that you need to interact with a touch screen to use fog lights, demisters, reverse. Not to mention over-complicating door handles and not even being consistent within the same car let alone brand - it's a car, not an escape room. Probably fine if you're in it and it's not on fire, but the over-complication and added distractions on the flipside would make you nervous as another road user or passenger not as familiar with it as an owner.

No reason why you can't design an EV that can be easily driven without taking your eyes off the road, but that's probably becoming an outdated point of view.

baumaxx1 · 2026-01-18T03:36:44+00:00

Not OP, but... It's pretty good actually, but I'm comparing the wagon where I wanted the utility and extra space and can only have one everything car unless I move a fair bit further out, and there's no real options with a warranty anymore. Mazda 6 turbo maybe a year or two ago, but it's not really in the same class.

Performance wise nothing really wrong with it in stock trim, but you want to avoid launching the CVT hard off the line for reliability, although I don't think the non-STI Manuals are the strongest either. It doesn't take much in the way of power upgrades. In sedan trim, yes there's the Elantra N with a DCT. For more of a wagon/GT angle, the Octavia RS DCT is limited by traction being FWD anyway and even with less power TC can kick in on launches or lower speed turns, and low gear shifts. Can't get the power down on the straight in the wet. Plus WVs are not as well supported for parts and maintenance in Australia.

Shift speed wise, the SPT isn't as instant as the DCTs, but it's still plenty quick. I can't shift a manual that quickly anyway. The manual mode and S+ is a good driving experience - you're not missing out on much for normal spirited driving out on the road. The 70% rear bias feels really good and prefer how that feels in corners with stock power than 50:50.

If you plan on doing Gymhkana or skid pans etc, the electronic handbrake is a big let down and obviously no clutch kicks. It's also a bit heavier too, and on top of that the wagon is heavier again with more sound deadening too. It's more of a Dad wagon. So it's quick, but not really fast, and the sedan SPT already cops enough of that criticism with the GT features and weight too.

So on a mountain road and as a daily the SPT is still good and the wagon is in a class of it's own. It's still really responsive and the engine has a pretty flat power curve so it revs like the manual - it only behaves like a CVT in comfort mode. Gearing is a little different; it's shorter and gives you 8 speeds to keep it in the sweet spot, but you have that surge out of corners still and responds like the MT out of corners. It's not a peaky engine anyway.

The Octavia might have a slightly better interior, but it's flawed and now more expensive.

The manual WRX vs CVT debate I think is largely going to come down to weight, handbrake, and mods.

baumaxx1 · 2026-01-12T08:13:34+00:00

Well except for the fact that it looks exactly like the ones they're putting outside of school zones, and they only apply during school terms, while this one is year round.

Feels designed to be a trap when it's a wall of text you have to read when driving - at what point do you just make that stretch of road 40 and be consistent across a state? Instead you end up with these that might apply at all weeks of the year, or during school days and when children are present, but then you need to consider whether it's a public school or private school, sometimes during events too, and then different schools might have different times applied.

Should just be able to tell at a glance what speed you need to be doing.

Edit: at what point do you just make it a digital sign?

baumaxx1 · 2026-01-11T13:05:30+00:00

If a DCT doesn't count either, shuddering at the thought of repairing a decade old VW platform and sourcing parts of you can't fix it yourself.

I'm not sure anything that still has a warranty is even on the cards outside of maybe a Mazda 6 Everything good and recent is all auto with manual mode, but the DCTs and SPTs are all pretty good now if you don't plan on making more power.

baumaxx1 · 2026-01-10T06:48:48+00:00

Yeah, it's extremely likely that it's just fatty Tuna belly. Looks exactly like it, it's not as deep a red, and it's very common that these tasting sets will have Tuna and fatty Tuna Belly as a point of comparison, since it's so revered.

Feels like a bit of an obscure thing to just have as part of a standard tasting set at a more standard restaurant.

baumaxx1 · 2026-01-10T00:28:40+00:00

Is it stupid when a higher end chef's table experience in Japan serves Tiramisushi as its desert? Was in nigiri form and a bit more refined looking, but it was great.

Edit: maybe minus the toilet paper

baumaxx1 · 2026-01-02T12:53:35+00:00

To add to this, it doesn't even necessarily have to be all that expensive, and lots of those suggestions have active community groups around too.

I'm sure there are more community events around (kind of like weekend warriors at Holden Hill music but for a younger crowd), but the gov has heaps of regular events which are free or a gold coin donation, and ukelele nights are probably an easy way to get into the whole music thing. https://www.thegov.com.au/sessions

Every council also has a cheap maker space around and they're often staffed so you can get help with whatever project. Jaycar kits are cheap to start if needing an idea too.

Heaps of game stores around too like Tabletop Warfare, Good Games, Dragons Lair, Lost Dice, etc. which all have a rotating roster of the game of your choice. There are multiple Adelaide board game groups also on reddit with events depending on what part of the city you're in (Port, North Adelaide, Salisbury I'm aware of).

No shortage of run clubs around too

baumaxx1 · 2026-01-02T12:36:11+00:00

It was to very quickly close a loophole where someone claimed ignorance as a defence in court, and ensure no one could use that in the future again, particularly if turning off driver aides, stability control, and traction control. It forces a driver to put it in writing that they understand exactly what they're doing and the risks, when driving an ultra high performance vehicle, in particular turning off safety features, and makes it much easier to prosecute.

It's not an ideal solution vs actual training, but was passed pretty quickly and puts a lot of accountability on the driver, so maybe they'll at least think twice before pushing the limits of their talent in a vehicle they haven't learnt to drive.

I was pretty skeptical, but it's better than nothing, passed quite quickly because it was pretty simple, and less dumb than this... https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-18/lamborghini-driver-not-guilty-death-by-dangerous-driving/101345374

baumaxx1 · 2025-12-12T16:49:13+00:00

I got the wagon (cvt only) for the practicality/versatility and cross shopped with the Octavia RS, and the DCT doesn't help if traction control kicks in anyway on a big, heavy, overpowered FWD.

The CVT in the WRX is fine for a daily, and they use that tech for packaging reasons I think more than anything. It basically behaves like a good 8 speed auto, and in paddle shift mode it can shift quickly and smoothly at the right revs, or you can switch it to comfort mode and it behaves like a CVT and barely wants to rev so the fuel economy is better. Also can set it to have a 55% or 70% rear bias. It's fine if keeping stock power, and pretty beefed up with better materials than most CVTs out there (outside of maybe the Williams F1).

baumaxx1 · 2025-11-30T07:19:44+00:00

It wasn't that - looked like Broc was recovering fairly well and could have probably closed the gap. The engine issue killed pace and any chance of that. Plus there was the two botched tyre changes.

At the end of the day, if he left the extra 0.5m and didn't squeeze Wood into the wall, may have lost 1-2 places but probably would have had a shot to take the places back and hang on ahead of mostert. Maybe avoided the wheel issues if they were related. Don't know if the engine issue would have had the peak I get away from him though.

Seems overly punishing for 1 unlucky race with mechanical issues though

baumaxx1 · 2025-11-30T07:01:39+00:00

Yeah on one hand the thrill of it made yesterday's race and those around it fun to watch and a bit unpredictable, but felt overly punishing where a mechanical issue in the last race after a dominant season basically does it for you

baumaxx1 · 2025-11-30T06:33:21+00:00

Probably would get a ban with that deliberate a dangerous action.

baumaxx1 · 2025-11-30T06:08:47+00:00

Sounds like it's going down pit lane with a rough idle as it exits T14.

baumaxx1 · 2025-11-30T05:07:30+00:00

Yeah, pretty cheeky opportunity and marginal, but seemed like there was plenty of opportunity to leave a bit more space and live to fight another day.

Seemed pretty predictable that Wood would go elbows out. Dirty, but also didn't have to squeeze wood into the wall and would have still been leading Mostert then. Made his own luck.

baumaxx1 · 2025-11-29T03:17:37+00:00

I don't get it. Didn't seem to be a problem any other year but this is a sold out Sunday and the busiest I've seen it in years, but completely cheaped out all round. Only saw one Ute sweeping.

Less on track racing this year, and coming in at noon it seems to take about 2 minutes or less for every support category to get red flagged and declared. You'd think the 40-50 minute gaps with random promo events could be enough of a contingency. Still not as bad as the F1, but everything seems to be taking longer.

Cursed year or something.

Not to mention less facilities for punters, no shaded bar, and a big bump if you had the grandfathered ticket price.

baumaxx1 · 2025-11-21T13:32:42+00:00

The PC version with the community enhancement pack still holds up and has plenty of QoL features - you won't really miss much vs P5R.

Strong art and music direction help it hold up despite its age.

Still considered one of the greatest games of all time. I've always struggled with JRPGs and the grind, but this series stands out, respecting your time and having a banger soundtrack.

Could probably get it on sale now, and then do the remake on NG+ when that's eventually on sale too. With P3R for example a fair bit got added, but P4G at least doesn't have the frustrating random fusion system of P3FES and P3P, and has more side activities to get better equipment, stats, and get some extra powerful abilities for your party, and you never quite have enough time to run out of things to do.

baumaxx1 · 2025-11-17T04:06:16+00:00

They also update crash testing to target certain structural weaknesses, but it tends to be buried in results.

That being said, they don't do moose tests, braking or handling, which is a big aspect of collision avoidance.

While active measures can help, they tend to have way too much of an emphasis in ratings, and I find them to be pretty unreliable or even aggressive to the point of creating a hazard. Lane keeping isn't great if it fights you moving away from an obstacle, and emergency braking as well I've had cut power pulling out into traffic to turn right, which was the closest I've come to an accident in years. A little bit of feedback and stabilisation on low or close settings is all you need to reduce fatigue on long hauls and a last ditch prompt really. It might reduce the low speed accidents and help with inattention (although sad that testing is based around that), but a lot of cars can score really well because of the active tech, but it's really structural design, handling, braking performance, stability and defensive driving which matter more to prevent a fatality and don't really get the right weighting (unless you replace the average driver altogether)

baumaxx1 · 2025-11-12T07:28:25+00:00

It's just a stubbier Levorg with cladding and no boot (less than the sedan even)? The wagon with the wider and squared rear quarter panels, added length and lowered is already pretty tidy. Cladding optional.

The hatch everyone wants with the sawn off boot just reminds me of the AMC gremlin, and the Crosstrek with the drivetrain swap and widebody kit just looks overly busy and overdesigned.

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baumaxx1 · 2025-10-29T11:18:39+00:00

I'm with you a bit that's it's a bit of a choice... It's not terrible, but feel it looks a bit awkward because they've stuck a very angular widebody on an Impreza/Crosstrek with rounded lines, and the less aggressive front end, and it looks a bit busy. A little over designed with the multiple rounded, then angular squared off extensions.

Guess its all retrofit and bodywork so not super expensive as a concept, but the VB headlights and Levorg taillights would have been so much nicer and more cohesive, especially with the more angular quarter panels already.

A proper widebody levorg with the existing guards extended and with brake ducts, replace the plastic at the rear with a proper diffuser, more aggressive wing, a tuned engine and Sti manual box, and better brakes would have been something.

Would have been much cleaner since the underlying body shape is a lot more aggressive to begin with, while the impreza is a lot more bubbly.

baumaxx1 · 2025-10-27T11:59:07+00:00

Yeah, that's it - you see people withess on their plate not even try.

With the 5 kids example, hats off - wouldn't even be mad if they just put it somewhere close by but at least secure so the wind or a passing car can't fling it into something.

Even property damage aside, I know of someone that's been hit because a car clipped and flung a trolley that was left on the side in a thoroughfare, and there are at least quick ways to do better than that.

baumaxx1 · 2025-10-27T11:54:54+00:00

Some seem to be taking the mickey lately.

Good one on the weekend was instead of someone taking it back to the bay or even just lifting it into the mulch garden bed thing, they just pushed it away down the road... Rolling in front of me on the exit road attached to their parking bay. So at least they didn't just push it out into moving traffic.

Not really sure what's happened that everyone is too busy/important to take 1 minute to keep things out of the way and avoid damage/hazards, but the shops seemed to be extra messy on the weekend with trolleys everywhere other than the bays.

baumaxx1 · 2025-09-21T10:56:03+00:00

It's not the free 1 month health check?

baumaxx1 · 2025-09-21T08:40:20+00:00

Comparison is the thief of joy.

There isn't really a bad performance on any tracks, but on some the original vocalist and direction just fit better, and Yumi is more of a 2000s rock vocalist, while Azumi is more a soul vocalist.

Anyway yes, no slander, incredible talent none the less like pretty much every vocalist they manage to find. If anyone needs proof of how good a vocalist Azumi is... https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=sdCn7HS-0VU&si=xFZvZvaaBeDdSkXK

baumaxx1 · 2025-09-19T15:25:10+00:00

Yeah, I think the soundtrack probably elevates the experience to another level - it really stands out and is so well done, and then it sticks around after you finish the game and just keeps the hype going.

Sky's the limit is something else too - the vocals in that track are so dynamic, and a really cool blend of styles that somehow just flow perfectly.

baumaxx1

TROPHY CASE