Random observations about taxes, cycling, Lowe’s, and car names as my favorite month comes to an end. There is no unifying theme.
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Category Archives: Cars
Random Thoughts on April 30th
Posted in Biking, Business Beat, Cars, Government
Another One for My Collection
Look at me
On the way home from Port Orchard last Sunday, I added the photo shown above to my collection of pictures of rooftop mascots used by local auto dealers. This one can be seen atop the dealer showroom at Peninsula Subaru in Gorst. I don’t quite get the connection between Subaru and a giant eagle (wasn’t the Eagle made by American Motors?). Perhaps Subaru has a new slogan: “Buy a Subaru, as American as an eagle.”
As colorful as this eagle is, I rank it only third in my collection. My favorite photo is of a giant anatomically correct bull used by Poulsbo’s Courtesy Auto Group when they have their annual auto sale-a-bration (or whatever it is called) at the Kitsap Mall. In second place is a giant gorilla. The eagle does beat out the oversize basketball used at the West Hills auto complex during this year’s March Madness sale. I asked my friend R. B., who used to sell used cars, for a quote about rooftop mascots. “Look at me” was all he said. I guess it’s that simple.
Posted in Business Beat, Cars
Global Warning Score
Global warning score? We don’t need no stinking global warning score in Washington to help decide which new car or truck to buy, do we? I cannot answer the questions of whether we need the score or how much it influences a purchasing decision, but I can say that a global warning score, along with a smog score, is provided on a window sticker on new Toyotas—and probably on other makes too.
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Posted in Cars, Government
Cash from Clunkers
In 2009 the federal Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), better known as “Cash for Clunkers,” provided cash rebates of up to $4500 to owners of qualifying cars and trucks who traded them in on energy-efficient new vehicles. This year Democrats in the state senate want Washington taxpayers to return the favor by paying sales tax on the value of vehicle trade-ins. Call it “Cash from Clunkers.”
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Posted in Cars, Government
Selling It
I always try to be a good citizen when I’m selling stuff on Craigs List. I price my items reasonably, always provide a photo, keep up with the email from interested parties, and remove my ads as soon as the items sell. Ironically, the bad form I exhibited recently, which caused my ad to removed, led to a quick sale.
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Posted in Cars
Bumper Basher
The fancy chrome rear bumper on my Toyota Tacoma apparently does more than just look good. And house the license plate. While it came out second best when my truck was rear-ended by a PT Cruiser this morning on Wheaton Way, it appears to have prevented any damage to the rest of the vehicle.
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Posted in Cars
A Used Truck
Despite the overcast weather, my neighbor and I were excited during the 60-mile drive to Olympia on Friday to look at a used truck. Ever since he sold his massive Ford F250 a couple of years ago, my neighbor has been looking for a small pickup to replace it. On Craig’s List this one sounded great—a 2006 Toyota Tacoma regular cab model with low miles for $9800. But when we saw the actual truck, it just didn’t scream “buy me.” The experience got me to thinking about the difference between shopping for a used vehicle from a new-car dealer and a private owner.
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My People’s Choice Award
1931 Twin Coach Bakery Van
The Port Orchard Cruz, held yesterday along the city’s waterfront, doesn’t have a people’s choice award. With nearly 500 vehicles this year and thousands of spectators, counting all of the ballots would take too long. That’s what I learned from a couple of members of the Saints Car Club, which does a superb job staging the show. So I decided to award my own people’s (person’s?) choice award (see photo).
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Posted in Cars
That Was Fast
Good Old Government Cash
According to several news reports, the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), better known as “cash for clunkers,” was suspended yesterday, a casualty of its overwhelming popularity. Apparently bean counters need to verify whether the billion-dollar pot of government largesse is already empty. Meanwhile Congress is scrambling to add additional money to keep this stimulus vehicle running. It was obvious that anyone who wanted to participate shouldn’t delay too long because the program, as initially funded, was bound to run out of money well before its expiration period. But one week? The above photo of the reader board at Parr Ford, a Bremerton new-car dealer, helps explain what prompted some local residents to jump onboard.
Posted in Cars, Current Events, Government
Noisy and Not a Good Fit
The Haselwood Times, a weekly advertising circular published by the Bremerton-based Haselwood Auto Group, always includes a testimonial letter from a happy customer. This week’s letter heaps praise on two employees at the West Hills Detail Center who helped the owner mitigate excessive road noise in his 2009 Honda Sport Fit. After reading it I crossed the Fit off my list of possible new rides. It also made me question the wisdom of publishing any customer letter that describes a new car design or production defect in detail and then thanks the service department for dealing with it.
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Posted in Business Beat, Cars
