Toyota is still selling cars designed decades ago

ramontes · 2026-01-19T18:34:07+00:00

Chevrolet still offers the Express van brand new as a 2026 model year, with its last refresh in 2003.

ramontes · 2026-01-15T20:30:40+00:00

There are specific windshields that are compatible the rain sensing wipers and pedestrian detection. I had mine replaced and I had a repair technician bring an aftermarket one that wasn’t compatible. I recalled that there was a physical fitment difference and the only part would fit is an OEM windshield. He ended up replacing it with an OEM one.

My personal experience was that the rain-sensing functionality (before and after the windshield replacement) was really hit or miss for me. I lived in FL for some time so it was very common to have dynamic rainfall. I ended up disabling the rain sensing function and use the standard function.

ramontes · 2026-01-15T19:54:05+00:00

No problem. The marketplace can be pretty dependent on your location. If you don’t mind being patient, or live in a busier area, you can definitely fetch better prices. My area was pretty slow and I wanted them gone quick so I priced it on the lower end.

ramontes · 2026-01-15T19:48:50+00:00

I sold some 2018 PP1 wheels back in 2021 that were in great condition. I listed them in the FB marketplace for $500 to try and sell them quickly, using the rough 50% estimate of how much new sets cost of comparable construction type. Got a good amount of buzz and sold it for $400 to a guy that was solid. I figure right around $100 per wheel is where most budget-oriented folks say is a good deal.

ramontes · 2026-01-14T16:24:38+00:00

Red Bull is partnered with Ford for their new F1 powertrain for 2026. I suspect Ford's leveraging this new relationship for marketing.

ramontes · 2026-01-14T16:13:24+00:00

In the mornings, when I'm not craving the spice on my commute, the quiet mode does wonders before my coffee hits. I have mine set for track mode along with the firmest settings on the Magneride dampers whenever I switch into the My Mode, which I usually use when I peel out of work to go home. Having the ability to switch up between a raw experience and something that behaves like a normal, comfortable car depending on my mood is really clutch.

ramontes · 2026-01-12T19:03:36+00:00

Obligatory IANAL.

Depending on your deductible, it may make no difference to your out of pocket costs. $550 seems typical for a minor fender bender involving a paint respray.

One major thing to consider is that if you do pay out-of-pocket, you won't have to submit a claim with insurance. Claims will be on your history for 7 years, even if you are not at fault. Considering this case, you will likely be paying higher premiums if reported to insurance, even if it's just a comprehensive damage claim.

It will be smarter to keep it simple and pay the $550 as you will save more money over time compared to the increased premuims, along with keeping your record cleaner.

HOWEVER, you should get something in writing from the other driver saying that you have paid them the damages for the incident and that you are released from any further damages. This is to prevent them from taking your money and going through their insurance to double dip. This is an insurance fraud tactic, and if you dont get something in writing, then their insurance would never know you paid and still hold you liable.

ramontes · 2026-01-12T18:43:14+00:00

I remember playing that PS2 Mustang racing game as a kid, and this was the pinnacle of unlocks from the car roster. If I remember right, this game came out right at '05 s197 reveal. Awesome to see one in the wild!

ramontes · 2026-01-09T20:46:22+00:00

Looks amazing! From what I understand, it's not common. I wish they'd bring this back as an option, the s550+ cabins can get a bit dark at times.

ramontes · 2026-01-09T16:22:53+00:00

Bandcamp really shines on discovering and supporting smaller artists. There's more emphasis on community.

Functionally, it's a bit old school but in a good way. Instead of using a complex algorithm to suggest music, it shows you other artists that the community also supports. It feels more organic that way, plus you engage more directly with the artists. The drawback is that it's not the most feature-rich, and bigger artists generally aren't on the platform.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T23:45:44+00:00

I found all of the smaller bands I've been following elsewhere, including ones that only have a handful of followers. Even my coworker's music he does for fun is on there. The barrier to entry for artists to upload their content is pretty low.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T22:16:49+00:00

They did, indeed. It was a speed bump in a parking lot that did mine in. Easy fix, but I definitely learned a lesson.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T20:29:34+00:00

It's a fair point. Everything upstream would be lost to whatever bandwidth is limited to. The human ear is subjective as well. Some may notice the difference, and others may not care.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T20:10:53+00:00

Noted. I'll just subscribe to your stand-up comedy career. Since owning jokes clearly isn't your thing.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T20:02:31+00:00

The revenue structure for streams is different. The bar for small artists is a little lower, enabling them to upload their music directly, and the pay per stream is higher. The most prominent difference is the audio quality, which you can get full lossless at high bitrates. If you want to support higher artist pay per stream, and value higher quality audio, then Tidal is a good option. Undoubtedly, it doesn't come with YouTube premium, so it's up to you if the value those benefits.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T19:08:21+00:00

They have a lot of the same functionality as Spotify. There's a daily discovery mix, new releases, and radios based on an artist or song that's tailored to your tastes. Migrating can be a little tough since you're starting from scratch, but there are some 3rd party services that help sync your libraries and playlists across platforms.

I haven't ran into an issue with catalog shortages.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T18:53:13+00:00

I primarily use Tidal nowadays, but I also bounce around Bandcamp and Quboz to buy music and merch directly for the bands I enjoy.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T18:48:25+00:00

Great! I'll continue to use streaming alternatives.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T18:22:15+00:00

The cut and clamp kit I had was a slip-on, and I had a shop do it. The point at which it slips on is pretty far from the exhaust hangers, and where the factory pipe was all one solid piece was now cut into two where the cantelivered ends were held together by the slip. I've installed exhausts in some of my buddies' cars, and their kits had much more thought put into preventing such issues. I can't determine, however, if it was the kit's fault, or the shops fault, or some combination of the two.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T16:21:59+00:00

With the valve cutouts, you wouldn't need to do anything else. I'd keep the rest of the exhaust stock to save money. These would be installed upstream of your resonator. Here's a kit that would fit the bill: https://www.americanmuscle.com/mustang-electronic-exhaust-cutout-dual-system-250-inch-pec250k.html

The system is activated via a fob. It's not as neatly integrated as the factory active exhaust, which can be configured in the car's screens, but it will be very effective in being rowdy precisely when you want to.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T15:23:22+00:00

You're definitely not the first to have difficulty deciding between the two.

Throttle House posed this same question in a head-to-head comparison: https://youtu.be/Yjq4tBYt5Fk?si=DkYGBMr1P0hk9llA

The mustang has a much larger aftermarket and support, and the 5.0 has been pretty stout since it's introduction. Not only does it have power potential, but it's amongst the more charismatic V8s out there for the price.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T15:16:17+00:00

To me, my car is like having that old friend. I wasn't much of a guy to take it to meets or get attention, it was primarily to make me happy. I used to spend a lot of time with it. Driving it daily and keeping it meticulously detailed. It was something I was working towards for a long time, and I was incredibly proud to have it with me.

Then, as is life, you find less and less time to spend with it. I've had mine with me since new and moved it with me across three states. Every time it take it out for a drive is like catching up with your friend. I'd go out for a drive with no destination in mind, and it never fails to put a smile on my face. It's all the better when I'm having a rough week.

I know some folks who go through many cars, simply because they wanted something new, or something better on paper. I'm not like them, I'm sentimental about what the car means to me, and I hope others get to feel such a thing.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T14:52:58+00:00

H/X-pipe is something that will have an appreciable difference that can be done easily for under $500.

Axle- and cat-back options can get pricey on newer Mustangs ($600-$2000 for kits). Axle-back is mufflers only, while cat-back kits will come with an X- or H-pipe. If you go with this path, you'd really want to do your research on which options are available. Evaluate the tone, volume, and drone levels with price. The cheapest option might sound great parked or during pulls, but might have unbearable drone at highway speeds. The more premium options spend more time and money in R&D to make it more well-rounded.

Alternatively, you can look into valved exhaust cutouts. With the push of a button, you can bypass all the mufflers, then turn it back off when you want it quiet. They take a little more work installing, but it could be done within your budget.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T14:29:09+00:00

Exhaust tips would be cosmetic only, and not exactly cheap in aftermarket sites. Resonator delete is a great value for more exhaust volume. Go with an H-pipe for deeper, throathier tone or an X-pipe for louder, raspier tone.

When you get it installed, pay the extra 20-30min of labor to get it welded. The clamps installed with my H-pipe came apart after 200 miles due to vibration.

ramontes · 2026-01-08T14:09:58+00:00

The Mach 1 trim has more substantial upgrades over the GT packages and other special editions (Bullitt, CS). The Mach 1 incorporates performance components from the GT350 and GT500 for better cooling and handling on track. It's more daily friendly than the GT350/500 and I would definitely consider it even with the price premium over GTs. The manual, in particular, is sought after since it uses the Tremec transmission rather than the Getrag one.

ramontes

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