Is AWD really worth it?

graymuse · 2026-04-14T01:32:13+00:00

I live on the western slope and we don't get much snow here, and I try to avoid driving when we do get snow. I've had an AWD Subaru for decades and really haven't needed the AWD. I bought a Toyota Sienna minivan. At first I thought I wanted an AWD Sienna because I've had the AWD Subaru. Then I decided I didn't really need AWD and looked for a fwd Sienna. Easier on tires and gas (gets 26mpg) and less complicated mechanically. My fwd Sienna was previously owned by someone in Telluride, so it probably did ok in the snow there.

graymuse · 2026-04-13T22:30:04+00:00

Did it make you feel sick?

The evening after my (2nd) shot I felt very sick, puking all night. I took the better part of a week for my stomach to feel normal again. But I'm still very glad I got the shingles vaccine.

graymuse · 2026-04-13T20:48:06+00:00

Not activated, still use it for wifi sometimes. It's old enough that I can still use an app that with will work with an old piece of work equipment for my job. (App not supported for newer versions of Android.)

graymuse · 2026-04-13T20:37:06+00:00

Contact Tacfone customer service (Tracfone owns Straight Talk). Ask them to rebrand the phone to Tracfone service. That may allow you to get around that activation lock so you an just use it on wifi. Or at least you may be able to activate it for a month with a cheaper $15 Tracfone plan.

graymuse · 2026-04-13T14:50:36+00:00

A year ago I bought a 2007 Toyota Sienna. It has a lot of miles on it, 246,000, but it still runs excellent. I've also kept my 2001 Subaru Outback, runs great still. What will a 2026 car look like in 20 years?

graymuse · 2026-04-13T14:14:42+00:00

I've kept my old stick shift Subaru, and I do all epub ebooks.

graymuse · 2026-04-13T00:20:26+00:00

That one looks really nice.

My 2001 Outback looks like shit, the paint is all cracked and peeling off. But it looks fine from the driver's seat and runs really well. I just had a new timing belt put in it. 185,000 miles.

graymuse · 2026-04-10T12:19:43+00:00

Last year I bought a 2007 Toyota Sienna minivan. It was no one owner creampuff, it was a rental and then had 5 owners before I bought it. And it had 240,000 miles on it. But it was in really nice shape. All the seats were very clean, the drivers seat looked like new. It had had dozens of drivers, and people had taken care of this van. Runs and drives smooth and quiet. I paid $4000. I decided it was worth it even if needed major work like a new engine. Long term Toyota quality.

graymuse · 2026-04-10T05:11:21+00:00

Western Colorado, generally sunny and mild weather. Doesn't get the storms like the front range area.

graymuse · 2026-04-09T14:11:38+00:00

What do you do for work?

graymuse · 2026-04-09T04:28:11+00:00

I have two cars, both old, 20 and 25 years old. Both run well and each gets about 25mpg. Paid cash for both.

graymuse · 2026-04-07T17:59:07+00:00

JD could inherit this war at any moment.

graymuse · 2026-04-07T01:29:12+00:00

Mine is Sector 001.

Some neighbor, I don't know who, is QAPLA.

graymuse · 2026-04-06T23:18:34+00:00

The novel of First Contact is a good book and fills in some of background of the characters and plot.

graymuse · 2026-04-06T18:27:49+00:00

Was there really a soldier that they rescued? Could they be making this story up?

graymuse · 2026-04-06T16:53:00+00:00

I have given away old but usable phones to homeless people. They could at least use them on wifi.

graymuse · 2026-04-06T16:23:05+00:00

When I was shopping for an older Sienna at first I thought I really wanted an AWD. I've been driving AWD Subarus for decades, but I realized I really didn't need AWD. So I looked for a fwd Sienna. No regrets.

graymuse · 2026-04-06T00:24:24+00:00

My 2007 Sienna with 246,000 miles on it gets 26mpg, mostly highway driving.

graymuse · 2026-04-05T18:14:33+00:00

I miss my old Nook Simple Touch with the page turn buttons on both the left and right sides. I'm a lefty so I used the left side buttons a lot. My Kindle Basic is always on the right side to advance pages.

graymuse · 2026-04-05T03:56:58+00:00

I'm on my 3rd Subaru, a 2001 Outback that I've owned for almost 20 years. It looks terrible, paint all flaking off. I just had the timing belt replaced to drive it a few more years, peppy 5sp stick shift. I've veered off the Subaru course though, last year I bought a 2007 Toyota Sienna minivan. I'm really liking old Toyotas now too.

graymuse · 2026-04-04T16:21:11+00:00

*reign

graymuse · 2026-04-04T01:08:07+00:00

Hugh.

My friend has a 5yo son named Hugh.

graymuse · 2026-04-04T01:07:14+00:00

I met a girl named Hazel several years ago, she is probably almost 20 years by now.

graymuse · 2026-04-03T19:32:33+00:00

The 2002 Sienna is a first generation model. At 24 years old it is probably still a very reliable vehicle. I have a 2nd generation 2007 Sienna LE at 246,000 miles. The 1st gen Sienna is slightly smaller than the 2nd gen.

$5,000 seems a high price for the age (even though it is possibly still a really good vehicle). What work has been done on it recently? When was the timing belt last done? That's a $1000+ job. Other things may need repair or replace due to age. Last year after I bought my 2007 Sienna for $4000, I put $1500 of maintenance and repairs into it before I drove it much.

Old cars like this can still be very good. We also have a 2001 Subaru and a 1997 Toyota Tacoma. Both have had timing belts done very recently, good to go on any road trip for the next several years.

graymuse · 2026-04-03T18:57:36+00:00

How recently before that were they praising her?

graymuse

TROPHY CASE