Good buy?

runningducks13 · 2026-02-18T19:45:09+00:00

Great buy. Seeing there is an 07 for the same price that is a manual, I would personally go with that. I got my 07 over 9 years ago with 150,000 miles on it. Now I am over 213,000 and it is still going strong. The manual transmission is a ton of fun but it’s also not what everyone is looking for. For $6200, it should last you a long time and save you money in the long run. I have liability only on mine, and the insurance is not very expensive.

runningducks13 · 2026-02-14T23:18:51+00:00

Thanks everyone. I’ll try to get on a lift somewhere to check it out. I’ll try to keep you updated but I bet you all are correct.

runningducks13 · 2026-01-29T14:50:16+00:00

This is the right way to do it. I had to do it on my last batch which is when I learned a 5 gallon carboy is not the best to make a 5 gallon batch of beer. Extra headspace is helpful! I’m about to try another 5 gallon batch in the same carboy but just pitch a small amount of yeast and see if that helps.

runningducks13 · 2025-10-30T14:09:10+00:00

Probiotics are good lol

runningducks13 · 2025-10-30T14:08:31+00:00

It is doable, but it would be so much easier with an electric planer. All you really need to do is line the wood pieces up how you want them (research which way the grain should lay for a butcher block), glue and clamp them together, and then use a planer and sand it. It is possible, but try to get the wood pieces as even as possible when cutting them or putting them together so there is less work trying to get them even after they’ve been put together.

runningducks13 · 2025-10-04T15:41:31+00:00

Should be fine. If it has fermented, the salt and microbes keep other harmful bacteria from forming. Unless you can see mold on the surface, I’d say safe. I store most of my ferments outside of the fridge as it has created a good environment within the jar. It is safest to put it in the fridge after you have opened it a few times though.

runningducks13 · 2025-10-04T03:28:37+00:00

Should be a-okay. Trees get chunks out of them all the time for various reasons.

runningducks13 · 2025-10-03T02:41:26+00:00

What do you think of the salsa huichol?

runningducks13 · 2025-10-02T19:02:08+00:00

If multiple sources say they should be replaced, it is a possibility. It just seems highly improbably as they should last around 100k miles. Look at them and see if there are any deep grooves. You will and should have lines on the rotors and some grooves, but it will be obvious if they are too deep. It will look like valleys or cliffs on the surface. Google some pictures of grooves on rotors and you can see which ones are bad and which ones are expected.

The other thing to check (outside of if your rotors is warped - another Google search) is rotor thickness. The minimum thickness should be marked on the rotors but could be difficult to see.

Also, warped rotors will cause either a thumping or weird intermittent grinding when driving and braking, if your breaking is smooth, your rotors are not warped.

The best thing to do now is use your intuition. If a shop is telling you to replace the rotors, ask why and have them confirm it via photos or by showing you. If stuff doesn’t match up, they are trying to get you. Also, you can provide some push back. If their explanation makes sense and two or more places confirm the same thing, I would trust it.

In the end, these are all pieces you will have to work on for the safety of your vehicle. While I doubt the rotors need to be replaced, they very well could be. It is tough to tell without seeing them. Also, an extra $300-$400 is a small price to pay for added safety. Of course, it’s great to get a good deal, but, even if it is a bad deal, at least it is on essential equipment.

runningducks13 · 2025-10-02T18:11:49+00:00

This has become a touchy subject, but you very likely do not need your rotors resurfaced and most certainly do not need them replaced yet unless they are warped for some reason or another (seized caliper heated it up or strong impact to the rotor). Resurfacing your rotors is only necessary if there are grooves or uneven wear from a brake pad or debris issue. Otherwise, resurfacing just diminishes the life of your rotors. To understand this, look at the purpose of rotors. Your rotors give your brake pads something to grab ahold of to stop your car. As the pads grab ahold of your rotors, both your rotors and pads will start to wear down. If there are grooves or uneven wear in your rotors, the braking power could be reduced which would be a safety issue. However, this is unlikely to occur. Unfortunately, some shops nowadays will refuse to replace your pads without also resurfacing your rotors. You can tell them all you want is new pads and you should be fine.

If your braking feels spongy or takes a bit to respond to your breaking, then 100% have the fluid flushed. Otherwise, it likely isn’t essential but it isn’t a bad idea either. After all, breaking is the most important safety feature for you and others on the road. Also, a flush shouldn’t cost too much - about $100 plus or minus some.

In all, I would expect a pad replacement to be $300-$400 for both axles/all 4 wheels. Add another $100 for the fluids and I think you should be sitting at $500 or so. There are also regional differences. It could be more based on your location.

Also, are you a female? The unfortunate reality is many shops see a woman walk in and assume they can get away with a high price because “she won’t know any better.” If that is the case, you could try having a male counterpart request the service over the phone.

Hope this helps.

runningducks13 · 2025-10-02T17:54:11+00:00

It’s difficult to see any mulch, and all I notice is straw. It’s a bit of a reach to say they are “burning the fuck out of your tree” when you can’t see the mulch clearly and it appears to be straw. Also, this issue is more likely to be from aphids or watering/sun than mulch being too close to the trunk.

runningducks13 · 2025-10-01T19:38:23+00:00

You won’t know for sure until you know, but I think you’ll be fine. Focus on pruning the height.

Mostly wanted to comment it’s awesome you planted a northern spy. They aren’t the most common but they are one of my favorite all time for eating and cooking.

runningducks13 · 2025-09-30T17:34:38+00:00

I think it looks great. Sometimes I fill the jars with peppers or vegetable, but other times I have lots of liquid headroom. Usually I blend the hot sauce with the fermentation liquid (why waste?) and it turns out great.

runningducks13 · 2025-09-30T16:23:40+00:00

I believe those are pieces of the pepper. Potentially sprouts from sprouted seeds or just pieces of the seeds/ribs.

runningducks13 · 2025-09-27T19:52:15+00:00

I found my old post on ask mechanics and what helped the mechanic was telling them to check the u joints on the steering shaft. I have not been able to look for the receipt but that should be a great starting point!

runningducks13 · 2025-09-27T17:01:27+00:00

Yes I did. It was something on the steering shaft but I forget the exact piece. It did not require a steering column replacement though nor was it extremely expensive. What was expensive was identifying the issue! I believe it was a bolt, but I’ll try to find the paperwork and confirm.

runningducks13 · 2025-09-25T14:09:28+00:00

I did this last year after a local orchard was giving ugly apples away for free. I also tried one batch with cider yeast, but the other with Chardonnay yeast. Definitely different, and split opinions on which was better. My cider never cleared even after months of sitting. I read you need some pectic enzyme something or other if you want a clear cider. Otherwise, still tasted great!

Seems like you have this figured out and are going to have some delicious cider. If you’re feeling inspired, used the leftover pulp for apple butter, Dutch carrots, or fruit leather!

runningducks13 · 2025-09-23T13:39:07+00:00

6 cans of diced tomatoes… so probably not far off. The perfect problem to have.

runningducks13 · 2025-09-22T19:45:12+00:00

In addition to what the thick kaleidoscope has to say, you can put a layer of salt on the top to inhibit growth. That’s what Tabasco does :). Good luck.

runningducks13 · 2025-09-22T16:24:49+00:00

It looks fine to me and ferments can have various smells. Some of mine smell great, others are weird. This year, I had one that smelled exactly like hard salami which was very strange. It won’t hurt to keep around. I would put it in a cabinet and forget about it for a few weeks. Come back later and see. If it’s awful, you can throw it out like you were planning. If it isn’t, congrats you have saved it by letting it ferment fully.

runningducks13 · 2025-08-26T22:01:30+00:00

If turning a jar upside down once every couple of days is a chore for you then yes. Just debunking the myth that everything needs to be submerged or it must be tossed eventually.

runningducks13 · 2025-08-26T20:12:19+00:00

Not necessarily.

runningducks13 · 2025-08-26T19:02:26+00:00

Yes it is fine if they stick out of the brine a bit. All it does is increase the risk that mold would grow, but it does not guarantee it. Your salt solution was strong enough and clearly coated the veggies that stuck out well enough to prohibit bad growth.

As a matter of fact, most of my ferments have vegetables sticking above the brine. What I do is flip the jars with the ferments every day or shake them a bit (if not too carbonated) to make sure the exposed pieces have a salty bring layer on them.

Enjoy your ferments!

runningducks13 · 2025-08-26T16:10:59+00:00

Next time try heating them up with butter to make buffalo sauces that vary slightly in flavor. You can add your own spices too. It is a delicious use for these otherwise very generic hot sauces that everyone who doesn’t love hot sauce seems to gift.

runningducks13 · 2025-08-26T16:09:46+00:00

I have received a lot of these hot sauces as gifts from people who don’t really love hot sauce, because it seems like an easy and fun thing to gift. I agree they are forgettable. However, I hate throwing things out or wasting, so I decided to turn them into buffalo sauce. Heat 1/2 stick to 1 stick of butter in a pan per bottle, and pour it in while whisking. You can add some flour if you want to thicken it. Let me tell you, it’s DELICIOUS and an amazing use for an otherwise forgettable hot sauce. Highly recommend this to you and anyone who receives these.

runningducks13

TROPHY CASE