Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
macs and vehicles....
- Thread starter krossfyter
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Gelfin
macrumors 68020
Heh. If it was in the middle of a gun battle that's probably why there was parking available. 🙂 Seriously, I've been here more than two years, and I've heard maybe one gunshot since I moved. I live out in the Sunset District, though, which is much safer than most places in the city.
Yeah, I only have street parking at my apartment. I hate it and my insurance premiums suffer for it. Thing is, there ARE garages attached to my apartment building, but they're always sealed up and the windows are boarded and stuff. Tenants can't use them. I'm picturing my landlord keeping bodies on meathooks in there or something.
Yeesh, yeah, my first job in SF was in SOMA. I had to walk three blocks from the Civic Center MUNI station to get to work, and it got kinda scary after dark. It was not really any fun in the daytime either. At the time everyone was whining about dot-coms and "gentrification," but walking down 7th and 8th Streets, I could never see how gentrification would be such a bad thing.
Anyhow, I never take my car downtown unless there's just no other option. I got the car because I work in San Mateo now. Besides being fun to drive, I got the Beetle because statistically it's one of the least stolen cars (I suppose thieves don't want a "gay" car either 😉), and in crash tests the Beetle sustained less damage and cost only a tiny fraction of what other cars cost to repair. Add to that that VW now includes safety features approaching Volvo-grade, and that the car is more or less built like a crash helmet anyway, and it was pretty easy for me to overlook the wannabe-hippie crap and buy one. In less than a year I've already had a crazy woman run into me on the freeway, and the Beetle's damage was pretty much limited to a couple of paint scuffs.
AlphaTech
macrumors 601
Re: '96 Tacoma Extended Cab...
Man, I hope you didn't pay a lot for that toy... ota... 😀
From my viewpoint, if you are going to have a truck, get 4 wheel drive. Also get an engine that won't strain when a second person gets into it (i.e. a 4 banger). Manual tranny is good, if you like it, but how many gears? My 2002 Ranger has a 5 speed automatic and power everything too. Plus the 4 litre V6 has more then enough power for anything I could possibly need to do with it. 😀 You can never have too much power.
Man, I hope you didn't pay a lot for that toy... ota... 😀
From my viewpoint, if you are going to have a truck, get 4 wheel drive. Also get an engine that won't strain when a second person gets into it (i.e. a 4 banger). Manual tranny is good, if you like it, but how many gears? My 2002 Ranger has a 5 speed automatic and power everything too. Plus the 4 litre V6 has more then enough power for anything I could possibly need to do with it. 😀 You can never have too much power.
AlphaTech
macrumors 601
a vw beetle will also teach you how to drive with your knees up at your ears, or in your chest. How to accept humiliation from every other vehicle around you, and how to make people snicker as you go by. To me, the vw bugs/beetles are fugly and I will NEVER own or drive one.
The only repair I needed to do to my last truck was a break job. I let it go a little longer then I should have, so I had to replace the front discs too (went over 40,000 miles, most of it stop and go highway or back roads). I now have a brand new 2002 model with more options/features that I wanted but couldn't get in the first one. Next time I need to move, I will have a trailer hitch on it by then, I will just rent a trailer and use that. With being able to tow almost 6000 pounds, I could probably put everything I own in the trailer. Then put the helpers that are assisting me move either in the cab of the truck, or let them ride in the bed.
If it has 4 wheels, it's a truck. If it has 2 wheels, it's a Harley or nothing at all.
Rower_CPU
Moderator emeritus
Re: Re: '96 Tacoma Extended Cab...
Not too bad...about 10K after warranty and new security system...well below KBB value🙂
I debated 4WD, but in the city I just don't need it. Plus it drops your fuel mileage and gas in CA is already expensive enough🙄
This 4 cylinder has great power, more than enough...especially compared to the 3 in the Metro.
5 speed manual w/ cruise baby! To me automatics are just wrong for trucks...if I'm hauling a load, the stick gives me much better control than an auto jumping into and back out of overdrive...to me it feels like I'm actually in control and not just along for the ride, probably similar to you on your "hog". 😀
Sorry it took so long to get back to you. We had a power outage at work...stupid construction workers hit a line or something...
Not too bad...about 10K after warranty and new security system...well below KBB value🙂
I debated 4WD, but in the city I just don't need it. Plus it drops your fuel mileage and gas in CA is already expensive enough🙄
This 4 cylinder has great power, more than enough...especially compared to the 3 in the Metro.
5 speed manual w/ cruise baby! To me automatics are just wrong for trucks...if I'm hauling a load, the stick gives me much better control than an auto jumping into and back out of overdrive...to me it feels like I'm actually in control and not just along for the ride, probably similar to you on your "hog". 😀
Sorry it took so long to get back to you. We had a power outage at work...stupid construction workers hit a line or something...
Alex...
Do you not think your ti 550 is fast or was it about my SS? My SS is supposed to go from 0 to 60 in 5 sec. I say supposed to b/c I have never tried it.
Do you not think your ti 550 is fast or was it about my SS? My SS is supposed to go from 0 to 60 in 5 sec. I say supposed to b/c I have never tried it.
alex_ant
macrumors 68020
Sorry - the Ti. I should have said, if you think the TiBook 550 is fast, you must not be running OS X. 🙂
Everyone is telling me to get more RAM, but c'mon, 256MB should be enough. It just should. I had 32MB in my computer 3 years ago and did just fine on that. *Sob*
Alex
jefhatfield
Retired
wow, you must make great money...i would love to afford the sunset district (or the richmond, castro, or nob hill), but tenderloin, soma, mission, and hunter's point is all i would be able to afford and all those areas in sf are dangerous
i had a friend move from northern central california to the mission district, because the rent was all she could afford, and she said she knew she must have been in one of the more undersireable neighborhoods with what she saw and any press on how the mission was being yuppified and made safe was a bunch of hogwash...way too dangerous
i guess if you came from the south bronx, the mission would look safe😛
AlphaTech
macrumors 601
Today 256 is nothing. The company that I work for just updated it's hardware standards and the minimum people will be getting in any Mac is 384MB. It used to be 128, but no longer. I wouldn't go any less then 512MB is any of my systems, no matter what OS you are running. I also have the GB of RAM in my 500MHz TiBook. Remember something, the more phsyical RAM you have, the less the computer will need to go to the hard drive to make virtual memory. Virtual will always be slower then real memory, since hard drives are typically slower then the memory chips are.
As for having 32MB in that computer, what size was it's hard drive??? Things have changed more then a little in the past 3 years.
San Francisco
I drove my '98 Prelude back and forth to work from my apartment in Bernal Heights (sandwiched between the Mission District and 101) and the Financial District for a good part of last year.
I guess I must have been lucky. Bernal Heights actually has a good bit of street parking. Probably the only place I saw in SF that did, though.
Of course, much of the time I took the Muni to work down Mission street.
While I must say that SF was a bit filthier than I would have liked, overall it's a pretty nice town. I'm back in Chicago now and I have to admit that it feels safer here. For example, I've never witnessed a purse snatching in Chicago. I can't say the same for SF (and I've lived in Chicago a lot longer.)
The most ridiculous thing is how people in SF need a lifetime ambition in order to own a house... Even if it's in one of the less savory areas of SF.
I drove my '98 Prelude back and forth to work from my apartment in Bernal Heights (sandwiched between the Mission District and 101) and the Financial District for a good part of last year.
I guess I must have been lucky. Bernal Heights actually has a good bit of street parking. Probably the only place I saw in SF that did, though.
Of course, much of the time I took the Muni to work down Mission street.
While I must say that SF was a bit filthier than I would have liked, overall it's a pretty nice town. I'm back in Chicago now and I have to admit that it feels safer here. For example, I've never witnessed a purse snatching in Chicago. I can't say the same for SF (and I've lived in Chicago a lot longer.)
The most ridiculous thing is how people in SF need a lifetime ambition in order to own a house... Even if it's in one of the less savory areas of SF.
lifetime achievement to own a house?
Man, you really need to come to London...
You would need to reincarnate to continue to save money to own a house...
You wouldn't believe the house prices in London...
Actually, you wouldn't believe the house rent prices in London, let alone to buy them! 🙂
Later,
Afonso
Man, you really need to come to London...
You would need to reincarnate to continue to save money to own a house...
You wouldn't believe the house prices in London...
Actually, you wouldn't believe the house rent prices in London, let alone to buy them! 🙂
Later,
Afonso
3rdpath
macrumors 68000
london flat prices
i thought home prices were out of hand here in california until my friends told me what they paid for their flats. holy cow!!!!makes my $325/sqft seem like a steal...in my opinion, home ownership is highly over-rated.
homes are a liability, not an asset.😱
i thought home prices were out of hand here in california until my friends told me what they paid for their flats. holy cow!!!!makes my $325/sqft seem like a steal...in my opinion, home ownership is highly over-rated.
homes are a liability, not an asset.😱
jefhatfield
Retired
Re: london flat prices
homes pay off in the long run, and with capital gains tax and other taxes and expenses, to make the profit worthwhile, it takes half a lifetime to see it work in a practical way...same goes for individual stocks
i have an acquaintaince that bought and sold eleven houses in fifteen years and came out of it all in huge debt...nothing in life comes that easy ...as the dot.bomb devolution has shown us🙁
homes pay off in the long run, and with capital gains tax and other taxes and expenses, to make the profit worthwhile, it takes half a lifetime to see it work in a practical way...same goes for individual stocks
i have an acquaintaince that bought and sold eleven houses in fifteen years and came out of it all in huge debt...nothing in life comes that easy ...as the dot.bomb devolution has shown us🙁
3rdpath
macrumors 68000
homes and stocks( er, what thread is this...)
i'm still not convinced that a home is an asset. i've run the numbers under many scenarios and when you factor in interest paid, insurance, taxes,( eathquake insurance here in ca), repairs and commission to sell-well its a pretty marginal call. i'll agree that after approx 18 years things look better but its still a tough call.
my house has had an insane increase in value since i bought it three years ago but:
1) its all on paper
2) everything else here has gone up pretty much the same-i'll only make money( and keep it) if i buy a comparable house in frognot, texas....
you do get the security that you won't get booted if you own a house and it will make your wife happy....( which has an infinite value😀 ) as compared to losing the house to your wife which has a very finite value...😡
my neighbor bought his home in 1989 and was upside down until this year-thats ZERO appreciation for 13 years. so in my mind its a toss-up.
as for stocks...my short terms % gains have been excellent( though i don't have the guts to play big dollars so the dollar gains aren't impressive). i thought it was funny that apple was just labeled a " strong buy"--where were the analysts when it was below $15.00?
anyway, my 2 cents....time for a stogie😀
i'm still not convinced that a home is an asset. i've run the numbers under many scenarios and when you factor in interest paid, insurance, taxes,( eathquake insurance here in ca), repairs and commission to sell-well its a pretty marginal call. i'll agree that after approx 18 years things look better but its still a tough call.
my house has had an insane increase in value since i bought it three years ago but:
1) its all on paper
2) everything else here has gone up pretty much the same-i'll only make money( and keep it) if i buy a comparable house in frognot, texas....
you do get the security that you won't get booted if you own a house and it will make your wife happy....( which has an infinite value😀 ) as compared to losing the house to your wife which has a very finite value...😡
my neighbor bought his home in 1989 and was upside down until this year-thats ZERO appreciation for 13 years. so in my mind its a toss-up.
as for stocks...my short terms % gains have been excellent( though i don't have the guts to play big dollars so the dollar gains aren't impressive). i thought it was funny that apple was just labeled a " strong buy"--where were the analysts when it was below $15.00?
anyway, my 2 cents....time for a stogie😀
jefhatfield
Retired
jefhatfield
Retired
i forgot to mention that muscular distrophy kills a lot of people before they even reach adolescence and my friend still can drive at 50!
What I have:
'99 VW Jetta (black) V6
What I want (although the jetta is still very awesome):
Aston Martin DB5 (sliver)
'99 VW Jetta (black) V6
What I want (although the jetta is still very awesome):
Aston Martin DB5 (sliver)
afonso
You are so right about London.....
It has to be one of, it not the most expensive city in the world to live in......
Rent is extortionate even in the less than desirable areas and justs gets worse the more central you become......
As for house prices..........😛
You are so right about London.....
It has to be one of, it not the most expensive city in the world to live in......
Rent is extortionate even in the less than desirable areas and justs gets worse the more central you become......
As for house prices..........😛
Mr. Anderson
Moderator emeritus
Re: homes and stocks( er, what thread is this...)
I bought my first house two years ago, and I'd say its a definite asset. Not only has the value gone up about 40% since then (the market is crazy right now) but in the US you can write off the mortgage interest on your income taxes. That's a huge savings, so long as you have a mortgage.
I bought my first house two years ago, and I'd say its a definite asset. Not only has the value gone up about 40% since then (the market is crazy right now) but in the US you can write off the mortgage interest on your income taxes. That's a huge savings, so long as you have a mortgage.
AlphaTech
macrumors 601
I looked at house prices withing MA a couple of years ago and then briefly when I was moving (thought about buying). To move to where I wanted (closer to work), the minimum cost of a house that doesn't require insane amounts of work is around $250-$300k (single family, two bed, one bath and smallish too). My sister bought a house back in 97 and it has already gained (on paper, according to the bank, not appraised value) over $25k. That one needed a good amount of work, which they have put into it so far, with more planned. If the market continues as it does (at least here in MA), her house will be worth even more. The only problem is, in order to move to someplace better, it will cost them more then they could ever get for the old place. With today's market, at least up here, you pretty much need to look at buying a house, and keeping it for a long time. A minimum of 10-15 years, otherwise you will loose out too much.
I am willing to rent the place I have now (apartment in a two family house, in a nice area, about 15 minutes from work where I have a driveway for my vehicles and a storage area in the basement). for at least a few more years. I would need a second income in order to afford a house that has what I want/need. Maybe when the truck and motorcycle are paid off I will look into houses again 😀.
I am willing to rent the place I have now (apartment in a two family house, in a nice area, about 15 minutes from work where I have a driveway for my vehicles and a storage area in the basement). for at least a few more years. I would need a second income in order to afford a house that has what I want/need. Maybe when the truck and motorcycle are paid off I will look into houses again 😀.
3rdpath
macrumors 68000
Re: Re: homes and stocks( er, what thread is this...)
the savings from your write-off of mortgage interest and taxes isn't 100%-it only saves you what you would pay in taxes. so if you're in the 30% tax bracket, you're only "getting back" 30% of each dollar you paid in interest and taxes. it certainly helps at the end of the year but its not a sound financial reason to buy a house. and when you factor in everything i mentioned earlier, well its still a toss-up.
i'm not saying home ownership is bad-far from it, just from a financial perspective its not the best use of capital. when you factor in the emotional issues ( and the premium you're willing to pay for them) it can certainly be a positive experience- but thats not the same as thing as an asset. ( financially speaking, since we've been talking $$$)🙂
the savings from your write-off of mortgage interest and taxes isn't 100%-it only saves you what you would pay in taxes. so if you're in the 30% tax bracket, you're only "getting back" 30% of each dollar you paid in interest and taxes. it certainly helps at the end of the year but its not a sound financial reason to buy a house. and when you factor in everything i mentioned earlier, well its still a toss-up.
i'm not saying home ownership is bad-far from it, just from a financial perspective its not the best use of capital. when you factor in the emotional issues ( and the premium you're willing to pay for them) it can certainly be a positive experience- but thats not the same as thing as an asset. ( financially speaking, since we've been talking $$$)🙂
seems i will be going the kit car route. this is the only way i can afford my dream car at the moment.
check out what i found...
this car is built on a twin turbo k-reg MR2 so it is fast and sounds good.
the seller is looking for around 16,750 which is fair value for this quality and detail on k reg twin turbo.
AWSOME!
check out what i found...
this car is built on a twin turbo k-reg MR2 so it is fast and sounds good.
the seller is looking for around 16,750 which is fair value for this quality and detail on k reg twin turbo.
AWSOME!
Attachments
jefhatfield
Retired
Re: Re: Re: homes and stocks( er, what thread is this...)
there are definitely more efficient uses of capital, but they are often over the heads of the average person so home ownership becomes an easy way out...in some areas, it really is the best use of capital...but not anywhere near silicon valley...🙁
there are definitely more efficient uses of capital, but they are often over the heads of the average person so home ownership becomes an easy way out...in some areas, it really is the best use of capital...but not anywhere near silicon valley...🙁