Man, I havent owned a car in 22 years.

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 1:10 pm Man, I havent owned a car in 22 years.

That sounds wonderful, actually, but would require for me a drastic change in circumstances. Maybe someday I'll get there.

I have a RAV4 hybrid that’s 17 months old. The software is buggy (like, one day it wouldn’t start) and the allegedly premium 11 speaker JBL system sounds like shit.

That said, the drivetrain is fucking awesome. Unless you have some allegiance or nostalgia for directly coupled internal combustion engines, there is no good reason not to get a hybrid. Completely smooth power bands, terrific acceleration, even for a lame ass compact suv, and more economical than a non hybrid. Traditional transmissions are obsolete tech, and Toyota has had a quarter century of proven reliability with their hybrid tech.

Mine’s a “prime” so it is chargeable with a 40-50 mile range before the gas engine comes on. Good for my driving habits, but it really depends on your situation.

I fucking hate that car stereo though.

I’m a certified Prius freak. I don’t care if being a Prius owner is kind of a loaded identity or whatever. Every time I blow past some dumbass $80,000 truck on the highway I think about how embarrassing it must be to get smoked by a Prius.

twelvepoint wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 4:23 pm I fucking hate that car stereo though.

It seems to me that this problem is not Toyota specific. I sometimes wonder if the average consumer is indifferent to mids and only wowed by piercingly clear highs and booming lows.

Also: Honda/Toyota, fuck yeah.

Over a decade ago I bought a 1998 Honda CRV, standard transmission, for $5k. It had like 130,000 miles on it. I drove it up to 210,000 before I decided the repairs were getting costlier and more frequent. I probably spent $2-3k on occasional repairs over the decade I drove it. I chalked this up to a financial win in the automotive life. I'm also pathologically opposed to paying interest on a car (and indifferent to my car being "cool").

Last month I bought my co-worker's 2012 Honda CRV w 98k miles on it. Car was $7k. I'm hoping for a similar journey.

The Russian guy who sold us my wife's Honda Odyssey at his used car lot said the Toyota Highlander and 4 Runner are his favorite cars ever created. Said he saw a Highlander with over 300,000 miles on it.

Dr Tony Balls wrote:Man, I havent owned a car in 22 years.

I would love that, but it is tooooough in southern california.

losthighway wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 8:00 pm Also: Honda/Toyota, fuck yeah.

Over a decade ago I bought a 1998 Honda CRV, standard transmission, for $5k. It had like 130,000 miles on it. I drove it up to 210,000 before I decided the repairs were getting costlier and more frequent. I probably spent $2-3k on occasional repairs over the decade I drove it. I chalked this up to a financial win in the automotive life. I'm also pathologically opposed to paying interest on a car (and indifferent to my car being "cool").

This is entirely me, I drove a 90s camry until it was totalled, then an accord that I gave to a friend when I moved to california, then this old Rav4 that's close to 200,000. I never wanted a car payment, I don't care about plugging my phone into an aux or being inconvenienced, and my ego can handle gutless little engines. Then I was in the hospital for a year with my spouse's cancer, two more years of chemo and now I just don't want to think about my car if we want to drive into the desert, to LA for a show, into the mountains, work every day. My brain receptors for concern have been worn thin.

ChudFusk wrote: Thu Mar 20, 2025 12:56 am I had some Wuhan hihats and they were like Play-Doh

What series did you have? I don't know what changed between now and then, but I finally had the time to play the new cymbals the other day and I can confidently say that none of them felt, sounded, smelled, or tasted like Play-Doh. They're pretty solid medium-weight cymbals. Honestly, you could strip off the Wuhan logos, spray paint a big stylized "A" on them, and nobody'd know the difference.

ErickC wrote: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:01 am

ChudFusk wrote: Thu Mar 20, 2025 12:56 am I had some Wuhan hihats and they were like Play-Doh

What series did you have? I don't know what changed between now and then, but I finally had the time to play the new cymbals the other day and I can confidently say that none of them felt, sounded, smelled, or tasted like Play-Doh. They're pretty solid medium-weight cymbals. Honestly, you could strip off the Wuhan logos, spray paint a big stylized "A" on them, and nobody'd know the difference.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Wuhan/457- ... 0433301.gc

Within months the edges looked like frayed labia. They were 50 bucks a pair when I got them so it was no great loss.

Ahhhhh. I haven't heard much good about the 457 series to be honest.