My new Explorer

[Abercrombieboy]

Well even though I am expecting some "SUV hate" comments over this ;o), I thought I would post a picture of my new truck. It's a 2002 Ford Explorer V8 Eddie Bauer. The price was right on it and I was looking for something that can pull a trailer and this one has the 7,000 lb. towing package. 5 Speed Auto, Control Trac 4x4, with either 4x4 Auto, 4x4 High, or 4x4 Low ranges. It has very few miles on it. The stereo kicks pretty nice, 290 watt, with subwoofer, and CD 6 in dash. I am getting to like the heated leather seats up north.

[chibianh]

I don't hate SUVs.. congrats on your new toy. Hope you enjoy it! :)

[Coca-Cola]

Be very careful. Those vehicles are dangerous at high speeds. My cousin bought one a few years ago and is still alive. Just take it easy.

[FightTheFuture]

well we shouldn't be that mad, hybrids aren't abundant in the market just yet. just don't swerve into my lane so you can make a phone call! looks nice though! all the folks in the 'D' are happy your investing in a ford.

[Powerbook G5]

I've been nearly hit and ran off the road by more than just a few SUVs, myself, so I agree with the not talking on the phone and swirving into another lane comment. People say SUVs are safer, but I am convinced that cars are only "dangerous" because of all the morons saying that SUVs are safer and then plowing into cars because they aren't paying attention.

[Mr. Anderson]

Congrats on the purchase....so what are you going to be towing?

D

[Powerbook G5]

A G5 cluster, of course!

[mactastic]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
A G5 cluster, of course!

Let's see... a 7000Lb towing capacity, and G5s weigh 40 lbs each, so you could tow about 150 of them, plus power supply and assorted cooling and tech gear. A nifty mobile supercomputer! Now to find a use for such a thing.;)

[Abercrombieboy]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
A G5 cluster, of course!

Yes of course that is what I will tow, computing power on the go! Actually 2 of my friends and myself did a 3-way purchase a year ago on a boat and I also have a couple snowmobiles on a trailer. I live close to the mountains here and ride in the winters. The Black Hills are a great area for different outdoor activities and I do a lot of snowmobiling, cross country sking in the winter, and some boating on the Missouri River in the summer.

I am happy with the truck, lots of power, and very solid built. I don't swerve through traffic on the cell phone either, actually I try and drive pretty safe and I am not big on gabbing on the cell and driving. I did a lot of research and I see where the 2002 Explorers and up have a lot of changes to make them less easy to roll. Longer wheel base, 2.5 in. wider track, indep. rear suspension, lower frame height, lower engine height, etc. I think the whole Firestone fiasco taught them a lesson or two.

[Powerbook G5]

See, who needs a PowerBook G5 when you have a mobile PowerMac G5 cluster. ;)

[chibianh]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
I've been nearly hit and ran off the road by more than just a few SUVs, myself, so I agree with the not talking on the phone and swirving into another lane comment. People say SUVs are safer, but I am convinced that cars are only "dangerous" because of all the morons saying that SUVs are safer and then plowing into cars because they aren't paying attention.

It's not just SUVs.. i've had my fair share of "small" cars do it too. It's all the driver...

[e-coli]

Originally posted by Coca-Cola
My cousin bought one a few years ago and is still alive.

Is the Ford purchase process really that harrowing? ;)

"You may have your new vehicle only after traversing this tightrope strung over a pit of poisonous snakes. Then you must carry this t-bone through a roomful of badgers. Only then may you earn your Explorer".

[DillHarris]

Congrats on your ride. I am looking to get an '02 or '03 next year... They are truly pretty sweet machines, especially the later models. 3rd row?

[Stelliform]

I have a 2000 Ford Explorer and I don't have any complaints. I bought it new Dec. 1999 and I have 71K miles on it now. Still runs great. Well I have one complaint... I is really dirty and needs some major cleaning, but I can't hold Ford responsible for that.... can I? :D

[Abercrombieboy]

Originally posted by DillHarris
Congrats on your ride. I am looking to get an '02 or '03 next year... They are truly pretty sweet machines, especially the later models. 3rd row?

No, I did not get the 3rd row seat. It did not matter to me cause I don't have kids or the need to haul 7 people. When the seat is up and you look back from the drivers seat, it screams mini-van! LOL But if you need the seating capacity then it is nice. You really can't judge the 02+ Explorers on the models that came before it because it is a completely new chassis. If you are looking for a midsized "truck based" SUV the Explorer is one of the best out there. Don't be scared by the Ford oval on the hood, they got this vehicle right, both in terms of fit and finish, handling and materials.

Now the only problem I can site is don't buy it expecting great MPG. According to the trip computer I finally hit around 18 on my trip back. I did get the V8 though and the V6 will get over 20. I figure if I am going to burn the gas I might as well have a truck with some balls... Also I like something smooth and quiet, and V8's are still the best, most natural engine design for smoothness. I guess you have to pay to have power. I don't feel bad though when I see all the Suburbans, Excursions, Expeditions, Sequoia's, etc. my Explorer seems small and economical... I guess with midsized SUV's right now it pretty much comes down to the Explorer and the Honda Pilot. Both have their strenghts. I just wanted a truck undercarriage and not a minivan one because I spend time in the Hills on trails, etc. and I have things to pull.

[Phil Of Mac]

Sexy!

My dad has a 1996 Explorer. Protected us well when we were rear-ended. Very good vehicle.

Take good care of that beast, and it'll take good care of you!

[kiwi_the_iwik]

Mmm - I DO like the Explorer. Congrats on your new purchase...

I just got a new Volvo V70 D5 last month - a silver Turbo Diesel - with Alloys & low profile tyres, heated leather seats, Triptronic 5-speed Automatic gearbox, electric everything, 4-disc CD changer, Satellite Navigation, and - get this - a widescreen LCD TV that pops up from the dashboard...

Great on long trips where you're stuck in traffic. I'm going to put a freeview digibox in there - maybe even a PS2 - just to break up the boredom. There are special places in the back where they can be put, so there's no major rewiring to be done at all. All I need is the mains inverter, which I already have. The Satellite Navigation is excellent - and the one DVD-Rom covers the whole of Western Europe, and links to various traffic systems to track jams and road works on the fly. Very cool...

:D

[jefhatfield]

congrats on your purchase

safety is half the driver, half the car

with most suv's the achille's heel is still rollover but more and more makers are making shorter and wider suv's to combat that problem since nearly a third of all traffic deaths are suv rollovers and many of those accidents involve just the suv

i like that fact that the hummer is so wide so it doesn't roll over...but it's width adds to its weight which gives it bad gas mileage...but with newer materials and better technology, hummer will one day make a smaller, but still wide(safe) suv which gets good gas mileage and that will be the one i get if i go for an suv

i have had three cars in my life and all were very different...currently, i have a volvo station wagon which is very safe and rugged but with 4 cylinders it lacks power...before that i had a nissan maxima station wagon and with its six cylinders and relatively small size, the thing was a rocket and i had to watch out for speeding by accident since it crept up on you...and my first car was a datsun 610 sedan and that thing was a tiny vw beetle sized car and its only advantage was gas mileage and ease of parking

my next car will be either another volvo or like i said, a smaller hummer type vehicle...i would like to see ford make the explorer a little shorter and wider...now that would be cool...i like the eddie bauer colors

[Stelliform]

Originally posted by jefhatfield

with most suv's the achille's heel is still rollover but more and more makers are making shorter and wider suv's to combat that problem since nearly a third of all traffic deaths are suv rollovers and many of those accidents involve just the suv


I sure miss the Dodge Ramcharger. That SUV was impossible to roll. Well not impossible, but I have almost rolled 2 explorers, and I only came close to rolling my Dodge once. (and I was sliding sideways in gravel at 20 MPH at the time, so I really can't blame the truck for that one.) Anyway I wish Dodge would bring back the Ramcharger. I am not a huge fan of its smaller replacement.

I found a pic of a Ramcharger from the same year as my old one. (1983) Mine was all blue though, but you get the point.

http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405731_3.jpg

[Zion Grail]

I've got not problem with people buying SUVs when they need them. You are doing towing - a very valid reason. However, soccer moms who NEVER need such capabilities... makes me sick, especially when they go and get an H2. So wasteful...

It's their choice of what to buy, but that doesn't change the fact that I think it's a poor one. It also doesn't change my support for stricter controls of gas milage and exhaust emissions.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Zion Grail
I've got not problem with people buying SUVs when they need them. You are doing towing - a very valid reason. However, soccer moms who NEVER need such capabilities... makes me sick, especially when they go and get an H2. So wasteful...

It's their choice of what to buy, but that doesn't change the fact that I think it's a poor one. It also doesn't change my support for stricter controls of gas milage and exhaust emissions.

now if the h2 could be lighter and more fuel efficient i would be ok with that one...i would get one and i know the hummers don't roll like the other suv's out there

i don't like gas guzzlers, especially now that we know some of that mideast oil money may go to al qaeda

and there is no reason for an suv if safety is your reason for the soccor kids but the thing rolls over

in a few years, it won't be an issue because the makers are listening to us and suv's will get wider, shorter, lighter, safer, more gas efficeint, etc

remember the huge boat caddies? when they fell out of public favor and the whole opec crisis came about, smaller cars then dominated the market...and the larger size of the boat caddies did not make them safer since they did not employ the crumple zone

[Phil Of Mac]

Originally posted by jefhatfield
and there is no reason for an suv if safety is your reason for the soccor kids but the thing rolls over

An SUV, or by that matter, any other car, won't roll over if you're a careful and good driver, and will roll over if you're careless enough. I know that by personal experience, as I flipped a Thunderbird once. Most accidents, including rollovers, are caused by driver error. The factor to correct is the driver, and the way to correct that factor is to drive carefully.

That said, if you're in an SUV and someone else crashes into you, your kids will be safer than they would be in a little Volkswagen or something. I know that from personal experience too.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Phil Of Mac
An SUV, or by that matter, any other car, won't roll over if you're a careful and good driver, and will roll over if you're careless enough. I know that by personal experience, as I flipped a Thunderbird once. Most accidents, including rollovers, are caused by driver error. The factor to correct is the driver, and the way to correct that factor is to drive carefully.

That said, if you're in an SUV and someone else crashes into you, your kids will be safer than they would be in a little Volkswagen or something. I know that from personal experience too.

a really bad driver can make any car unsafe...i have seen that too many times

suv's account for one third of all traffic deaths and mostly due to rollover...this explains the reasons why there is so much talk about suv and rollovers...but now in 2003, things are better than before

[Phil Of Mac]

SUV's are more top-heavy and present more of a rollover risk, true. The problem is ignorant, stupid, or miseducated drivers. You can't corner with an SUV like you can with a car. It's a truck, and should be handled as such.

If I was CEO of Ford, I would distribute with all SUV's a brochure about "How not to kill yourself or your countrymen with your SUV" explaining these things :)

[jefhatfield]

my dream suv would be one that is hard to roll over, even with a bad driver

i do not design cars, and i am not a hard core car enthusiast but i would love to see a car like this for the times

i imagine a smaller hummer type vehicle with airbags all over, special alloy superstrong frame, and great gas mieleage due to some hybrid type setup...but what would this cost? that's where the problem could come in

computers advance so fast and if cars did the same, we would have a vehicle that gets thousands of miles to the gallon and would cost us a few cents...but in the real world of cars, we have to live with small incremental advances in technology

...man, it's great to be a machead in 2003:D

[Phil Of Mac]

The military has actually built hybrid Humvees. They get respectable gas mileage, despite being the huge, powerful monsters they are! The tech is definitely there. I totally agree with you: that would be a great SUV.

[jefhatfield]

what is amazing about the military, in our country and others, is that tools of death and destruction can become tools of peace for the civilian later on

did you know that nylon panty hose were developed by the military? jet travel? the internet? well, kind of...i used to work with one of the men who created the army's arpanet, but no one there saw what could be done with such a capability in the internet...and there are many bitter ex-feds out there who wished they had seen the potential in ebay and priceline.com, to name a few...so it's a sore subject with the army to this day

one of the most fascinating developments of the 20th century in moving vehicles, besides theis crazy suv stage we are going through, is the history and development of the B-52 bomber which from beginning tests to projected final decommissioning will be 100 years if all things continue to go well with it

the vw beetle is another long lived invention that will continue to morph and exist from year to year and there is no end in sight even though vw has officially retired the life of the beetle in 2002 and restarted a "new" life of a new beetle but that is more a marketing and financial restructuing move

[Frohickey]

Originally posted by Zion Grail
I've got not problem with people buying SUVs when they need them. You are doing towing - a very valid reason. However, soccer moms who NEVER need such capabilities... makes me sick, especially when they go and get an H2. So wasteful...

It's their choice of what to buy, but that doesn't change the fact that I think it's a poor one. It also doesn't change my support for stricter controls of gas milage and exhaust emissions.

Well, soccer moms do tow, but they tow around lots of active kids along with their gear to and from soccer practice. Thats pretty valid to me. Though, valid reason has got nothing to do with it. Who am I to dictate to someone what they should buy for themselves with their money?

As long as they don't run into me while they are disciplining one of these kids while they are doing 35MPH, I don't care.

[G4scott]

Originally posted by Frohickey
Well, soccer moms do tow, but they tow around lots of active kids along with their gear to and from soccer practice. Thats pretty valid to me. Though, valid reason has got nothing to do with it. Who am I to dictate to someone what they should buy for themselves with their money?

As long as they don't run into me while they are disciplining one of these kids while they are doing 35MPH, I don't care.

a mini-van can do that safely...

I've had one such soccer mom in her King Ranch edition Ford F-150 pull out of Mr. Gatti's (a pizza/game-arcade place), and T-Bone my suburban...

I was driving the suburban because I was carrying my bike and other equipment that wouldn't fit in my family's other cars (except my truck, which my dad had at the time). The accident was caused entirely by bad judgment on the other driver's behalf. If I was driving my Ford Escort or lightweight Toyota truck, the accident could've been a lot worse.

I'm not saying that I need the SUV to protect myself, I'm saying soccer moms don't need the big ass honkers that they drive these days... A minivan, or even a subaru outback station wagon (which is what my mom has) is better. Heck, even the Subaru Forrester would be an improvement, because it's a small SUV. It is a true, sport utility vehicle, not a monstrous, mammoth tank like most other SUV's out there.

For towing, and hauling cargo (not kids), SUV's are alright, as long as the driver knows he/she's driving a bigger, more dangerous vehicle...

For hauling kids, get a minivan... They're designed to carry people, whereas your SUV's are designed to carry cargo...

This is just my little rant...

nice Explorer, by the way... :cool:

[Frohickey]

Originally posted by G4scott a mini-van can do that safely...

I've had one such soccer mom in her King Ranch edition Ford F-150 pull out of Mr. Gatti's (a pizza/game-arcade place), and T-Bone my suburban...


I think that we are essentially saying the same thing. If Mrs. Soccer Mom were driving safely in her H2, signalled ahead of time and never hit you, you would never have known about her.

Its the driver. Driver is supposed to be responsible. You have to stop making excuses or reasons that this lady t-boned you. To paraphrase Harry Calahan... "Woman's got to know her limitations."

[Stelliform]

Originally posted by Phil Of Mac
your kids will be safer than they would be in a little Volkswagen or something. I know that from personal experience too.

Are you talking about the new beetle? My friend has one, and a Dodge Intrepid t-boned him doing 30 on the passenger door. His car was knocked a good 20 feet away, but while the Dodge had significant steering wheel intrusion into the cab and was completely dead and had to be towed off, his bug just had dents on the passenger door, and the door still worked fine! After I looked at the photos I was convinced to get my kids a new beetle to learn to drive in.. :D

[Phil Of Mac]

New Beetles are incredibly safe. Just look at the design. But I was talking more about, say, Golfs and Jettas.

As for van vs. SUV: If you need to carry both cargo and humans, as my father often does with his rifle team, an SUV is a good choice. An SUV is a compromise vehicle. It can't carry as many people as a van, nor can it carry or tow as much as a truck, nor is it as economical and nice to drive as a car. It is a compromise between all these, with a comfort advantage all its own.

What's the advantage of a van over an SUV? They're both small trucks with large cabins. Vans can carry more people, but if you don't have a van-load of people, the cargo capacity, comfort, safety, and let's face it, coolness factor of an SUV justifies choosing the SUV.

If I was driving for myself, I'd get a car, personally. If you sign my petition (link in the sig), you'll see that my choice in vehicle is not an SUV. But if you have a reason or even a preference for an SUV instead? Just don't get mad when I pass you on the freeway, but even if you do, you won't catch up ;)

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Phil Of Mac
New Beetles are incredibly safe. Just look at the design. But I was talking more about, say, Golfs and Jettas.

As for van vs. SUV: If you need to carry both cargo and humans, as my father often does with his rifle team, an SUV is a good choice. An SUV is a compromise vehicle. It can't carry as many people as a van, nor can it carry or tow as much as a truck, nor is it as economical and nice to drive as a car. It is a compromise between all these, with a comfort advantage all its own.

What's the advantage of a van over an SUV? They're both small trucks with large cabins. Vans can carry more people, but if you don't have a van-load of people, the cargo capacity, comfort, safety, and let's face it, coolness factor of an SUV justifies choosing the SUV.

If I was driving for myself, I'd get a car, personally. If you sign my petition (link in the sig), you'll see that my choice in vehicle is not an SUV. But if you have a reason or even a preference for an SUV instead? Just don't get mad when I pass you on the freeway, but even if you do, you won't catch up ;)

hey phil...are you old enough to drive?

he he

my favorite mercedes is the very square looking suv model but i know it's expensive...very expensive

i am a volvo person myself, the poor man's mercedes as it used to be called

but now volvos have been priceed out of my market and many others and now they are almost as much as a mercedes

then the lexus became the poor man's mercedes and then the price went up and mercedes actually built some comprable cars that beat the price of the lexus

so now i don't think there is a poor man's mercedes out there

the rich people in my area will typically have a mercedes suv, a lexus sedan, and maybe a porsche to top things off or if they want to be fancy, they will have an nsx, viper, or ferrari for the weekend trips

but the really rich people, the ones who are hiding their wealth, drive old american made cars that couldn't get a grand for trade in value:p

[Abercrombieboy]

Well I knew when I bought an Explorer that I assumed a higher roll-over risk. There is a bright colored warning sticker on the sunvisor that shows a diagram of exactly what can happen if you treat an SUV like a sports car. It also tells you to wear your seat-belts at all times.

Now as far as the Explorer is concerned it is very stable and feels confident on the road. I would not want to try certain radical handling movements, but then again you would not want to do that in any vehicle except a sports car on a testing track because whether you roll over or spin out of control into the median at high speed, it's not going to be pretty.

[cubist]

One other thing about SUVs (and minivans FTM) is poor visibility to the rear. Be careful backing up. Did you get larger mirrors with the towing package?

Last year 58 kids were killed, mostly by their parents, by being backed-up over.

Also, as with any vehicle, check your tire inflation periodically. I think Explorers were unfairly picked-on in this case.

And for the other poster, there's a new Durango coming out this year which is bigger and wider.

[Abercrombieboy]

Originally posted by cubist
One other thing about SUVs (and minivans FTM) is poor visibility to the rear. Be careful backing up. Did you get larger mirrors with the towing package?

Last year 58 kids were killed, mostly by their parents, by being backed-up over.

Also, as with any vehicle, check your tire inflation periodically. I think Explorers were unfairly picked-on in this case.

And for the other poster, there's a new Durango coming out this year which is bigger and wider.

Mine has reverse sensors in the rear bumper. They are very effective while backing up. If there is any object, human or material, it begans to beep loudly. As you get closer to the object the beeps get closer and closer together until you hear a solid tone. Not only good for safety, but real nice for tight parking situations.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Abercrombieboy
Mine has reverse sensors in the rear bumper. They are very effective while backing up. If there is any object, human or material, it begans to beep loudly. As you get closer to the object the beeps get closer and closer together until you hear a solid tone. Not only good for safety, but real nice for tight parking situations.

you know my wife has a rollover sensor which makes a lot of noise and a correction policy

if i roll over her in bed...she makes a lot of noise and corrects the issue with her elbow:p

so much for rollover minutes

[Abercrombieboy]

Originally posted by Abercrombieboy
Well I knew when I bought an Explorer that I assumed a higher roll-over risk. There is a bright colored warning sticker on the sunvisor that shows a diagram of exactly what can happen if you treat an SUV like a sports car. It also tells you to wear your seat-belts at all times.

Now as far as the Explorer is concerned it is very stable and feels confident on the road. I would not want to try certain radical handling movements, but then again you would not want to do that in any vehicle except a sports car on a testing track because whether you roll over or spin out of control into the median at high speed, it's not going to be pretty.

This is what I am talking about. You have to remember what kind of vehicle you are driving and what it can handle. That goes for any car on the road. There is not a "dangerous" car on the road right now, just how they are operated.

[DillHarris]

Originally posted by Abercrombieboy
I just wanted a truck undercarriage and not a minivan one because I spend time in the Hills on trails, etc. and I have things to pull.

Exactly.

[DillHarris]

Originally posted by jefhatfield

i am a volvo person myself, the poor man's mercedes as it used to be called

but now volvos have been priceed out of my market and many others and now they are almost as much as a mercedes

I like the XC-90 and the newer XC-70 wagon, but unfortunately they are freakin expensive, like you said.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by DillHarris
I like the XC-90 and the newer XC-70 wagon, but unfortunately they are freakin expensive, like you said.

i hope volvo can get their pricing act together soon

just across the border from me in mexico, mercedes has some brand new, shiny, high tech plants that are cranking out some pretty decent mercedes for an amazing price...i go to the superlot in gilroy and i can now get a mercedes suv for under 30k...that is crazy and volvo better do something quick...he he..or my next volvo will be a mercedes:p

i remember when high tech computers went overseas and were assembled there...people thought it would not fly...as i look under my extremely trusty 4 year old ibook, it reads, "i was Assembled in Taiwan"...sometimes people from podunk come to silicon valley then come to cupertino to visit apple inc and wonder where all the macs are made...sorry dude, no factory here ;)

[kiwi_the_iwik]

Buy Volvos -

"They're boxy, but they're good."

:D

[Phil Of Mac]

Originally posted by cubist
One other thing about SUVs (and minivans FTM) is poor visibility to the rear. Be careful backing up. Did you get larger mirrors with the towing package?

Last year 58 kids were killed, mostly by their parents, by being backed-up over.

In 1999, 55 people were killed in accidents relating to hot tap water. The odds are still astronomical. But yes, be careful.

Originally posted by jefhatfield
hey phil...are you old enough to drive?

he he

No, I'm the only 15-year-old Washington State University student. :rolleyes: Of course I'm old enough to drive!

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Phil Of Mac
In 1999, 55 people were killed in accidents relating to hot tap water. The odds are still astronomical. But yes, be careful.



No, I'm the only 15-year-old Washington State University student. :rolleyes: Of course I'm old enough to drive!

i got to take driver's ed one semester early and was driving at 15, but did not drive alone until 16 when i started college but my parents only let me have the car for college and the weekends...it wasn't until i was 17 that they let me buy that car and have it all to myself full time and i used it for many years until i was 26...god, i miss that car even though it was a dilapidated datsun 610:p

i did have a friend in the farming community i lived in who got a special permit to drive with a permit at 14 and be a fully licensed driver alone at 15...sadly, he died that year from cancer but we all were glad that for one year, he was the coolest kid in town when he used to come to 8th grade in a car and he gave some of us joyrides and nobody found out...technically he was supposed to be in the car with an 18 year old but since he looked at least 18, he never got pulled over

had he lived, he would have been able to walk into a bar or local adult theater as a high school junior or senior:D

[sl4]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
See, who needs a PowerBook G5 when you have a mobile PowerMac G5 cluster. ;)

Yeah, but it'd be killer to carry the battery for that thing. ;)

[voicegy]

Originally posted by kiwi_the_iwik
Buy Volvos -

"They're boxy, but they're good."

:D

Actually, I miss the boxy look...and as far as them being "good"...I feel they are great.

The Volvo has morphed into yet another Ford Taurus roundy-oval thingy look-alike, which I detest. They now look like "fleet cars"...cars that are bought in bulk by corporations for their travelling salesmen. I miss the "brick"; and am hard pressed to decide on what my next car will be. Since Ford took over Volvo, I'm afraid I won't be the loyal customer I thought I'd be. The handsome, roomy, not overly sporty look of the 950 Turbo that I've had for years stole my heart...truthfully, I've yet to find a "look" in today's market that I would seriously consider, and since my baby is getting older, some kind of decision has to be made...sooner than later. *sigh*