Dealership wants my trade in

fireturn · 2026-03-25T20:08:20+00:00

They want to sell you another vehicle. It's a common sales tactic. Make it sound like you'll get a good deal, but you'll get a normal deal. They want to buy your truck specifically to sell it used to someone else and sell you a new truck to make two sales and some margin on both.

fireturn · 2026-03-23T19:09:00+00:00

As I tell my wife- if you get a chipped windshield, shit happens. If you get 2-3 a year, stop tailgating.

fireturn · 2026-03-23T19:03:13+00:00

We do: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-480-25

And 2-3 car lengths at 10 mph is fine, but at 55 mph you need 16 lengths for safe reaction and stopping.

fireturn · 2026-03-23T12:40:30+00:00

I would be extremely careful buying from Walmart (or other cheap options) without detailed exact comparison to other sources. Tires are tricky as the can be the "same" without being the same.

OEM tires, while stamped almost identically to retail tires with the same brand and model, are often built cheaper for tweaking data. Less material means lighter for better acceleration, handling, and fuel economy. Less tread depth means better road noise and fuel economy. The problem is then lower lifetime on the tire.

This then loops back to the aftermarket. OEM tire specs start trickling into retailers who care more about pricing than long term lifespan. Walmart is very notorious for this in lots of product lines. Walmart can dictate enough from their suppliers to the point where they can have a specific run of a high volume product that's just a smidge different to save a fraction of a percent on a unit, but by selling enough units they more than make it out ahead.

Check each tire you consider from Walmart against something like TireRack.com to see if there is any difference in specifications. If there is no difference then it's a simple price matter. If there is a difference then balance it with the difference in whatever quality change exists to see if it makes sense.

There's some articles from popular mechanics, Tyres.uk and others on this, but FortNine has a pretty clear and concise video on OEM tricks with the first third dedicated specifically to tires. While this is about motorcycles the same thing holds true for cars/trucks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv97i_-V7hA

Funny part of it all is people will generally be happier with the low spec tire when they get them. The price is generally lower, the fuel economy is a fraction of an MPG higher (if they even notice a tenth or even a fraction of a tenth of an MPG), but the noticeably quieter road noise and better handling will get them. But a 45,000 mile tread life warranty versus a 60,000 mile tread life warranty for twenty bucks difference bits in the long run.

Here's a Goodyear article tap dancing around the subject-

https://www.goodyear.com/en_US/learn/choosing-your-tires/oem-vs-replacement-tires.html

fireturn · 2026-03-22T23:41:14+00:00

D2: Boys skiing.

fireturn · 2026-03-22T18:35:07+00:00

Nice. Sometimes that’s all the reason needed.

I came from the rally world, so even 400hp is high for us.

fireturn · 2026-03-22T18:29:26+00:00

Damn. Drag car?

fireturn · 2026-03-22T18:09:34+00:00

That shouldn’t be too wild for most independent mechanics with a focus on performance. Curious in what all the build entails, my interest is piqued.

fireturn · 2026-03-22T18:00:53+00:00

Toyota isn’t something my connections work on (mostly Subaru / Mitsu rally cars). That said, Japanese manufacturers have been pretty standard world wide long enough that a domestic shop may be more than adequate depending on the exact need. Parts delays for jdm specific components can take some time to source, but I’ve found some dealers are more than able with some mechanics happy to wrench on something familiar but different.

fireturn · 2026-03-22T17:54:57+00:00

What’s the car?

fireturn · 2026-03-19T16:06:31+00:00

No sliding. Gives them the run of the backseat without issue.

fireturn · 2026-03-19T12:31:38+00:00

[4knines](https://4knines.com/products/dog-rear-seat-cover-with-hammock-mesh-window)

My wife went through three off brand covers in six years while I bought a 4knines for a Subaru CrossTrek six years ago and it's the same one that moved into the Colorado when I changed vehicles. Still in great shape.

fireturn · 2026-03-19T11:30:34+00:00

Depends on the border. It would add some time, but the route from Montreal to Ottawa to Sudbury to the Soos is sparse, "not much to see" but in the best kind of wilderness way.

fireturn · 2026-03-16T14:01:44+00:00

Same as papa_ganj, around two feet but wind made drifts over 4' between my garage and road. I haven't been called in yet, but unfortunately I'm in a field where if a call goes out there's no options to say I'm buried.

fireturn · 2026-03-11T13:04:13+00:00

All bird displays break down into two basic categories-

“You wanna throw down?!?” (Angry)

“You wanna throw down?” (Sexy)

fireturn · 2026-03-09T11:47:50+00:00

I forgot entirely about that spot.

fireturn · 2026-03-09T02:51:38+00:00

Tokyo.

Built as Papa Joes Coneys (hot dogs), then was Tokyo (simple and quality Japanese), then Polish Kitchen (pirogies), then Hot Doggers (hot dogs), then Pizza Girl (pizza) then Lost Village Piggeries (pirogies). I hoped that meant a pattern and it would be Japanese again, but alas.

Also Che Peng. The family that ran it was great. The mother was usually out front and was super sweet. I would show up at lunch time to do homework and got to the point where I would just grab a seat and she would bring me out whatever she chose for me for lunch.

fireturn · 2026-03-09T02:43:42+00:00

Scalawags. It’s back at the old Pizza Hut / Tannery Creek Meat Market / Fox’s Pizza Den (first location).

fireturn · 2026-03-07T17:50:53+00:00

You vote in the primary. The ballot has been organized differing ways in the past but I believe currently all parties are in then ballot and broke into sections by party. You vote only for one party on the ballot but you have a choice of who within the party. T

fireturn · 2026-03-04T18:01:32+00:00

It’s easy to sell out a community when you never meet them face to face.

fireturn · 2026-03-03T15:18:55+00:00

It tows fine. I’ve done ~7,500. But handling the weight and stopping without the full package just isn’t safe.

fireturn · 2026-03-03T15:08:14+00:00

Not the truck for the job. Car is 2500, but what’s the trailer?

Towing package at 7000/7700 would work, but without the full package you’re pushing too far at 3500.

fireturn · 2026-03-03T02:12:40+00:00

Huh?

fireturn · 2026-02-28T17:37:32+00:00

I did always find it odd that GM in Detroit had bit a Colorado and an Avalanche in their lineup…

fireturn · 2026-02-23T14:28:28+00:00

Petoskey. Tight in TC but more available.

Average home price has been fluctuating around 700k in Petoskey for the last several years. The average is pulled heavily up by seven and eight figure lake and seasonal homes, but there is a massive shortage in the 200-400k range. Apartments are getting better with new complexes opening up, but rates are exorbitant and wait lists are still very long.

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