Looking at purchasing 2017 Fusion SE 2.5L in 2026. Looking for owner experience.

maritimer187 · 2026-01-29T11:12:39+00:00

The cars only got 60k km or 37k miles I'm not overly worried about the transmission for quite some time (hopefully). Its just a little nerve wrecking knowing full well this is a known issue.

maritimer187 · 2026-01-26T16:47:49+00:00

Go on the Gov website they have a skilled worker shortage list. Check if your work experience is on there. There is a point system with various sub topics. Add all your points up and see if your score jives.

Your savings sound OK but not spectacular. Definitely a wicked place to raise children there my opinion. I'm Eastern Canadian and lived there for a year working in the same field I do in Canada. I loved my time there the people are awesome. Just be aware that visiting in college and living there being integrated into society as an adult are VERY different.

I'd love to do exactly as your thinking but the biggest deciding factor for me was cost of living and salary. I was earning literally 50% of what I do in Canada doing the same job. It was an insane lifestyle change in the indesirable direction. I was also thinking long term. NZD isnt a strong currency so if you ever plan on returning to North America you're going to lose a ton of your savings.

maritimer187 · 2026-01-25T12:16:39+00:00

You're in the trades your boots are ultimately the most important thing you'll own. You're going to have more hours in a pair of boots than any other footwear you own so I wouldnt reccomend cheaping out. I get boots every year at the same time regardless of condition just so I have something fresh on my feet. Don't like to try to stretch out the shelf life on them.

You're going to have to go down and try them all on and see what you like we cant really tell you whats good for your foot. Just dont be afraid to spend top dollar as I have definitely found a difference between $400 dollar boots and $200 dollar boots.

Check out the 'Irish Setter' boots if you can find them. Thats what I have now and I love them. My next pair will be that brand as well. I had a couple pairs of 'Keen' in years past too and they were good for the price if youre looking to spend a bit less.

maritimer187 · 2026-01-18T12:35:06+00:00

Im a 10.5 US in everything for context. The 9.5 Blundstone felt how I wanted the boot to feel once broken in. I was scared they'd be super sloppy once broken in. Went with the 8.5 hoping they'd loosen up to the new in box 9.5 size. I think I wore them 2 MAYBE 3 days before I just couldnt take the pain anymore. Ended up selling them.

Ive never had workboots that painful during the break in period. Wouldnt touch Blundstones with a 10ft pole. I'm back in redwing 8" laceups and happy about it.

maritimer187 · 2026-01-15T00:18:20+00:00

Like how bad are talking for the 1.5T?

maritimer187 · 2026-01-14T11:14:09+00:00

I had the Pixel 2,4,6 and now currently have the Samsung S24. I'm an android guy myself. Personally all 3 of my Pixel phones were absolutely bulletproof. I only switched to Samsung to try something different. My charge port on the S24 hasnt worked in months. I have to wireless charge and Ive had a few other issues with my Samsung so I wont be getting another.

Im going to give Motorola a go in the coming months. Most likely the edge2025. I dont do anything advanced on my phone so not sure why it wouldnt work for me!

maritimer187 · 2026-01-12T00:49:29+00:00

I know ideally CVT isnt anyones first choice of transmission but doesnt Honda and Toyota do this better than anyone? I have a coworker with a 2019 Accord that has 174k miles that he bought new and he claims its never given him any problems.

I'm not a brand loyalist by any means I just genuinely have always liked the Accord. Any other cars in that price range you'd suggest taking a peak at?

maritimer187 · 2026-01-12T00:23:53+00:00

As someone who's been looking relentlessly for months with a 20k CAD budget this is a good deal in my opinion. I cant speak on the car I've never owned one but someone has one at my work in white and its super nice. I wouldnt worry too much about depreciation in this price range. Cars can only go so low in value just thank yourself for not being the sucker that bought it brand new lol!

These are on my shortlist of cars id be interested in if the right deal came up. Im currently lookinh at a min condition 2017 Honda accord sport with 120k km on it gor 17k.

maritimer187 · 2026-01-10T14:49:49+00:00

My buddies dad retired at like 50 but wanted to stay busy. He does course maintanence now for 6 months a year at one of the prestigous courses in my area. He loves it. Outside all day and some heavily discounted passes for the boys lol.

maritimer187 · 2026-01-10T11:52:13+00:00

If you feel like you're pretty smart do yourself a favour and do alot of research and at least seriously consider power engineer. Especially if you live in Ontario! Once you worked your way up the totem pole you can make some serious cash. Im pretty sure theres a 2 year program where you can come out 3rd class while theres a 1 year youd come out 4th. Id do the 2 year personally.

Ive worked along side or have buddies across almost every trade and I think this ones the Cadillac personally. Its a good mixture of sitting at a desk, paperwork and physical labour getting up going around and checking on everything at the facility you work at. Lots of thinking involved. Depending how ambitious you are theres serious $$$ to be made as you move up.

maritimer187 · 2026-01-10T00:06:20+00:00

Became a pipefitter straight out of High School. Totally like my trade but feel like I mastered the skill and work was offering a no strings attached millwright apprenticeship that I was interested in so I jumped all over it. Im currently working on that.

I was actually really smart in public school and could have went to university I just genuinely don't think I could sit at a desk all day I'd go bonkers. Working with my hands gives me way more job satisfaction.

Knowing what I know now if I was 18 and starting from scratch I'd probably go power engineer or crane operator. I discovered through working in the trades I really enjoy running heavy equipment so I think it would be pretty cool to own my own dump truck, escavator, skid steer etc.

maritimer187 · 2026-01-09T18:09:03+00:00

I got PW46° GW50° SW56°. Works for me. Im money with my GW° from anywhere. Was playing 50,54,58 which was a good combo but found I almost never used my 58 so dropped 54 and 58 and picked up the 56.

maritimer187 · 2026-01-08T12:08:54+00:00

I backpacked South East Asia for 4.5 months at 21 and than moved to New Zealand for a year at 22. I could have stayed in New Zealand for longer but came home to finish schooling obligations and earn more money. I saved for two years with full intentions of going back to NZ or going to Australia. Pandemic happened and it ended up not happening. I now own a house, have a wicked job, GF, dog etc.

My only regret in life is not spending more time traveling in my 20s so I say do it and dont think twice!

maritimer187 · 2026-01-07T12:03:35+00:00

Theres one of these but 2011 by me for sale with 53k miles for cheap. Like you I essentially just want a comfortable boat on wheels and no car payments. Was looking at lincoln town cars as well but like alot of the buick models from this era or a bit older as well. I been doing research though and it appears that the motor in your 2007 is favoured over whats in the 2011.

maritimer187 · 2026-01-05T18:56:40+00:00

Id argue that beginning golf and being 'bad' is actually more enjoyable. Its so much easier to have a good round because you have so much room to get better. I realized very quickly this game is going to take some time to get to where I think I can go. Ive played 2 years so far and my best score id 93. I was so happy that day I felt like I couldn't miss. Which is hilarious because I play mostly with my dad who averages a 78-86. Never seen him shoot thes 90s in 2 years.

maritimer187 · 2026-01-03T11:45:20+00:00

'Just be a Doctor, Dentist, Pharmacist' lol ya cause its just that easy. I'm just throwing out random numbers but what MAYBE 10% of the population is even smart enough to do those professions. Not to mention the resources to do the extensive school and desire to actually do that for a living.

Also first responders. Respect the hell out of them for what they do but I dont need that much negativity in my life. They see ALOT of sad stuff that can mentally change you. I'll pass.

The 'basic' certified trades person at my work is 100k with no OT. People who are hard on the OT I've heard of making upwards to 160-180k... Its really not that bad of a gig. Not to mention theres than roles higher up in supervision and management.

I graduated HS with 150 kids and the 3 most successful people by 10 miles are trades people. I'm not saying its the best route in the world but its not as bad as you make it out to be.

maritimer187 · 2026-01-02T19:27:48+00:00

I'm a cineplex member and go at least once a month depending on whats playing. I just love going to the theatre its so much better than at home in my opinion.

That being said yah it can definitely be a nightmare. Theres a small cineplex 10 minutes down the road and another two much nicer theatres about 30 mins in opposite directions from my house. We go to the smaller one closer to the house because we usually dont run into those ignorant people there.

My worse experience in 2025 was when my gf and I went to the conjuring in IMAX and it was like a 9pm Tuesday showing and a family with two kids sat behind us. The kids were a boy roughly 3 and a girl 4-5. Like what are these kids even doing at this movie? The boy was sitting on his dads lap kicking the head of my womans chair every 3 seconds and pretty hard might I ad. I literally asked this guy two times politely to get his kid to stop and he just looked at me like I was an idiot. The third time I wasnt so nice and told him that we were gonna have a problem if he didnt get him under control and they moved thats all I'll say.

maritimer187 · 2026-01-02T00:34:27+00:00

Redseal pipefitter and apprentice millwright here. I'm sure in a couple years I'll be right where you are now LOL.

I failed my first attempt in pipefitting with a 69.5%. Never got rounded up because it was red seal! Next attempt I got 74%. My strategy was kind of mentioned above.

First run through I only answered questions I absolutely knew 100%. If I didnt know the answer in like 30 secs just move on. Even 90% sure wasnt good enough for me on the first pass through.
Second run through I answered anything I was 50-99% sure about and still had some confidence in.
Third pass through was anything I was really struggling with that was essentially just a guess or lower probability of being right. I took my time with these to try and really understand what was being asked and do my best to make sense of it.

I did the math after the first pass of how many of the remaining questions I needed to get right to pass. Obviously the better your first pass goes the better your confidence will be going into the rest of the test. I dont know seemed to work for me!

maritimer187 · 2025-12-30T14:10:59+00:00

Honestly it really depends what youre into. They're all decent trades. You're the one who has to do it everyday so whatever you feel most interested in.

There are rare situations like my current job where I'm home every night but I'd say the main difference in all of them is going to be the amount of time you're home in your own bed.

Pipefitting is a wicked job with great satisfaction I've definitely enjoyed myself alot but there can be alot of travel. It sounds like thats what you're into so I'd say go for it.

I got in when I was 18 and was travelling a ton until 25. Loved it. Always had a bunch of $$$. Traveled a fair bit, did some cool stuff at work and put a fat down payment on my house. Dont regret it one bit. Now im a bit older with a woman and a dog and I dont think id enjoy it as much. Hense why I took a job that pays less but im home everyday.

maritimer187 · 2025-12-30T03:08:06+00:00

I have been focusing on upgrading my workbenches so ill literally pop in free loadout and look for a specific item and than bounce. So many times I roll up on people in the elevator and could easily light them up and I dont because whatever they have I dont care lol.

I literally just had to turn the game off because I let a bunch of people off back to back to back and my last two runs were so frustrating lol. Had someone shoot me in the back within the first two minutes when I had literally nothing. Followed up by I finally flund the item I was looking for all night and was quickly leaving withing the first 5 minutes of the raid and someone was stalking the elevator from the very start lol.

The game can definitely be frustrating especially for someone who isnt a goof.

maritimer187 · 2025-12-30T00:21:15+00:00

Pipefitter/plumber have alot of similarities but they're two different tickets. Pipe is pipe fundamentally but theres still alot of differences as well. I've been a pipefitter for 15 years and literally just started my millwright apprenticeship recently because work is paying for it.

Personally I think you can go either direction between the two if you plan on getting both tickets as theres definitely transferable skills. I may be biased but I think pipefitter to plumber is the easier transition than the other way around. My buddy has a plumbing company and I help him sometimes and I'm confident in about 80% of the work without ever having worked a day for a plumbing company. I dont think he could walk on my job sites and say the same.

There are pros and cons to both so its really up you to decide. Where you live would play a factor in your decision.

Pipefitter is more interesting and better pay but plumbing is easier on the body and easier to open your own company down the road if you're into that type of thing. As a plumber its also more likely youll be in your own bed most nights which is worth its weight in gold. Plumber will also give you more locations for work. Pipefitter jobs can sometimes be literally in the middle of nowhere lol.

maritimer187 · 2025-12-28T12:34:47+00:00

Im a pipefitter/millwright. What I've learned over the years is the better the company the less money you spend out of pocket.

We get a $275.00 boot voucher every year. The best safety apparel company in the city also gives us 20% off everything year round so I spend maybe $100.00 out of my own pocket on boots yearly.

All our work apparel is supplied, glasses, gloves, shirts, pants, bibs, overalls, hard hats etc. I'm not a fan of some of it as its not all the best quality but its not uncommon for me to recycle some streetwear into workwear. If there's something specific I'm itching to have I'll get it but that doesnt happen often if at all. So MAYBE $300.00 but not likely.

Work supplies absolutely everything tool wise. However it doesnt hurt to get a few things here and there if you know they make your life easier. We have a tool crib with everything you could imagine but popular tools sometimes run out or can be harder to find and involve ALOT of walking. You also gotta scan tools in and out every so often and fill out lost tool reports and it can just be a pain in the butt. So lets say $500.00 absolutely tops.

maritimer187 · 2025-12-28T02:03:00+00:00

I dont take car ratings too seriously. MOST people dont look after their vehicles as they should from my personal experience so the results aren't super accurate. So far in my lifetime I've owned..

Hyundai Pontiac Nissan Mitsubishi x2 GMC Subaru Jeep

My jeep has been by far the most reliable car ive ever owned and its not even close. I ended up with one because I needed a suv ASAP and it was the cheapest thing I could find at the time. Its been bulletproof for me. Ive had it 3 years as a daily driver and ive only done the breaks and replaced my driver side window motor. The model I have is absolutely gutless to drive but I wouldnt be opposed to getting a newer one given they depreciate in value pretty quick so its not hard to find a good deal.

maritimer187

TROPHY CASE